A New and Improved Washington Avenue Park

Washington Avenue Park in Seaford was re-dedicated this past Sunday on the heels of more than $1 million in improvements completed to the 4-acre parcel.

The renovations to the Nassau County-owned park's two Little League baseball/softball fields includes the installation of synthetic turf infields and re-seeded natural grass outfields. The fields, which are sunken below adjacent Washington and Jerusalem Avenues, will also be incorporating extensive drainage systems in an attempt to ensure that they can be played on rapidly following rainfall. The $1.1 million project is funded by the 2004 and 2006 Environmental Bond Acts passed by voters and Nassau County's Capital Improvement fund.

A major reason the improvements to Washington Avenue Park were accomplished was the hard work of the Seaford Wellness Council which were the bond applicants and sponsoring community group for the project. In his speech at the Sept. 12 ceremony Nassau County Executive Edward Mangano credited the efforts of the Seaford Wellness Council for helping to make the improvements to the park a reality. "I know a lot of people worked real, real hard to make the improvements that we are enjoying today," said Mangano.

Attending the Sept. 12 ceremony re-dedicating Washington Avenue Park were members of the Seaford Little League and Long Island Greyhounds softball travel team, who despite rainy conditions played games that morning on the park's two fields. "This field prior to it being turf would not hold the water," said Steve Piorkowski, head coach of the Long Island Greyhounds, whose home field is Washington Avenue Park. "Now anything that would have been puddles is going to be drained, the kids are going to play, we're not going to have to re-schedule games and they are going to get a lot more experience and playing time."

The facelift also consisted of adding new dugouts, stands for spectators and fencing. New ADA-compliant playgrounds have also been constructed for both pre-school and school-aged children along with new restrooms, parking lots, pathways and a fitness trail. There will also be a concession stand that will help supply revenue to support the Seaford Little League and Greyhounds softball teams.

"It is a renovation that is years and years overdue," said Nassau County Legislatiuve Presiding Officer Peter J. Schmitt (R-Massapequa). "I am delighted that this day has come."