{"id":188336,"date":"2026-04-07T15:04:10","date_gmt":"2026-04-07T15:04:10","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/188336\/"},"modified":"2026-04-07T15:04:10","modified_gmt":"2026-04-07T15:04:10","slug":"village-to-open-new-park-along-lirr","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/188336\/","title":{"rendered":"Village to open new park along LIRR"},"content":{"rendered":"

New Hyde Park will open its new park on May 8, Mayor Chris Devane said, after six months of construction.\u00a0<\/p>\n

George L. Sakowich Park, located on 3rd Avenue near the New Hyde Park LIRR station, was constructed using a $5 million state grant.\u00a0<\/p>\n

The park includes two playgrounds for older and younger children, a grass lawn for sitting and playing, three pickleball courts, two dog parks and a fountain. Devane said he hopes it will create a place for people to build community, where they can spend quality time getting to know each other.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u201cI think it\u2019s more conducive to people. We may have entertainment, people can sit down in the grass, maybe have a picnic,\u201d he said. \u201cIt\u2019s a fitting end to years of construction of the railroad that the people on the south side of the village get a park.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n

He is referring to the LIRR Third Track project<\/a>, a $2.6 billion project started in 2016 to expand and renovate the LIRR and its stations. Devane said the project brought noise and air pollution from construction and trucking to the area.\u00a0<\/p>\n

The mayor said as part of that project, Former Gov. Andrew Cuomo made a deal with villages for $5 million in grants to renovate areas along the tracks.\u00a0<\/p>\n

He said that through a year-long process, the village was able to extend the intent of that grant to purchase a lot, install a new parking area for village commuters and create the park.<\/p>\n

\"TheThe park is set to open on May 8. J. Cav Scott<\/p>\n

\u201cIt was a barren, desolate parking lot,\u201d he said about the area, which had a sock factory, a house, a deli and a laundromat. \u201cOut of that, we were able to use a state grant to build a park.\u201d<\/p>\n

He said the village purchased the lot that currently holds municipal parking for $3.5 million, then a volunteer for the village donated equipment for demolition of the existing structures. Building the new parking lot cost about $300,000, leaving about $1.2 million to build the park. The village had to work with Nassau County to move an existing police booth, which is now beside the park\u2019s two bathrooms.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Village Public Works Superintendent Igor Sikiric said the village plans to increase tree coverage in the park and the surrounding area.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Devane said the park\u2019s namesake, who died in 2005, was a pillar of the village community.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u201cHis name is synonymous with the history of this village,\u201d a village\u00a0 Instagram post <\/a>said. It said Ethel Sakowich is the matriarch of the village and emphasized the whole family\u2019s service in the village government, the fire department, the Lions Club, the Elks Lodge, the plumbing business and other institutions. \u201cThis park is a tribute to George and Ethel and to the entire Sakowich family. They form the backbone of our great community.\u201d<\/p>\n

The village will hold an opening ceremony at 6 p.m. on May 8.<\/p>\n

\"VillageVillage officials hope the park will be a new place for people to build community. J. Cav Scott
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