$4.1M Coming To Wyandanch For New Park Space, Upgrades

WYANDANCH, NY — New York will provide $4.1 million for two projects aimed at expanding and improving public recreation space in Wyandanch, Gov. Kathy Hochul said Friday.

The funding includes $3 million for a new Great Lawn as part of the Wyandanch Rising redevelopment and another $1.1 million for upgrades at Wyandanch Park.

The Great Lawn project will create more than one acre of town-owned open space for active and passive recreation, according to the governor's office. Plans call for a dog park, playground and community garden.

The $3 million in capital funding will be administered by the Dormitory Authority of the State of New York.

At Wyandanch Park, the additional $1.1 million will go toward renovations and upgrades to its playing fields. The park includes facilities for football, junior baseball, basketball, handball and tennis, along with a playground, picnic areas, restrooms and free Wi-Fi.

“Every New Yorker deserves access to vibrant public spaces where families can gather, children can play and communities can thrive,” Hochul said. “These investments will build on the progress already underway in Wyandanch and create new recreational opportunities and community amenities that will benefit residents for many years to come.”

Hochul announced the funding during a visit to Wyandanch, where she toured the most recently completed portion of the Wyandanch Rising redevelopment and presented two ceremonial checks to the Town of Babylon totaling $4.1 million.

“Transforming a community isn’t about a single project. It’s about sustained investment and a shared commitment to the people who live there,” Town of Babylon Supervisor Rich Schaffer said. “These investments will create vibrant public spaces, strengthen neighborhood pride and build on the extraordinary momentum of Wyandanch Rising.”

Wyandanch Rising is a long-term redevelopment initiative aimed at revitalizing downtown Wyandanch following decades of economic distress and disinvestment. The effort has brought new housing, businesses, public spaces and other community amenities to the area.

“This $4.1 million in funding from New York State for projects within the Town of Babylon supports the locally driven improvements our community has long wanted to see,” State Sen. Monica Martinez said said.

A construction timeline for the Great Lawn and Wyandanch Park improvements was not included in Friday's announcement.

"These improvements to the Great Lawn and Wyandanch Park will enhance quality of life, create more opportunities for families and youth and strengthen our community for generations to come," O’Pharrow said. "I look forward to continuing to advocate for investments that help our neighborhoods thrive."