Big-Hearted Business Gives Back: New Playground Dedicated

HAMPTON BAYS, NY — A big-hearted business gave back to the community in a way that will touch countless lives, donating funds for a new playground for kids.

Children joined Southampton Town Supervisor Jay Schneiderman Thursday to cut the ribbon for the new playground at Good Ground Park in Hampton Bays, which was made possible due to a $50,000 donation by Douglas Elliman Real Estate.

The new playground for children ages 5 to 11 was built adjacent to the toddler playground, which opened last year, officials said.

The ceremony began with a Flag Day recognition with the American Legion Post 924 Color Guard and the National Anthem sung by Lindsay Dunn. Attendees included the Hampton Bays Chamber of Commerce, the Hampton Bays Civic Association and the Hampton Bays Beautification Association, along with several local business owners.

Carl Benincasa, regional vice president of sales, represented Douglas Elliman at the gathering, which brought out a number Douglas Elliman agents and employees, as well as a crowd of Hampton Bays residents, their children and even a few pets.

Coming soon, the park will also feature a walking trail around its perimeter. This year about a dozen concerts and other events are planned for the sunken amphitheater, including movie nights and the debut of Shakespeare in the Park.

"This park is an amazing place; it's already become a community center," Scheiderman said. "And, of course, playgrounds are not just the place to play and have fun, but also a place to make friends."

Schneiderman referenced Benincasa, with whom he worked in the past; Benincasa was a Southampton Town attorney prior to signing on with Douglas Elliman.

"Douglas Elliman has decided to donate the money to build the new section of this playground right here. It was $50,000," Schneiderman said. "So the moral of the story is, making friends is a really important thing to do. In lots of ways." He laughed, continuing: "The support that our friends give us is critical — to have people around you who care about you. And that's really the essence of this park too, to bring the community together, to understand we are one community, to support each other in every way that we can. And to have fun."

The park, he said, adds a lot of fun and recreational opportunities to the Hampton Bays area. The supervisor thanked all who do great work in the community, including the Chamber of Commerce, various civic associations, Douglas Elliman — and Benincasa.

"I knew how important this park was to this community from having worked on it with the town, and when I got to Douglas Elliman," Benincasa said. "We were looking to give back to this community in a very tangible way. We thought this was an incredibly great way to do it. I am so thrilled to be here, to be with all of you and to be a part of this park and this playground. And I hope that families will enjoy it for years to come."

Good Ground Park is located just north of Main Street at 9a Squiretown Road and is open to the public from dawn to dusk.

Patch photos courtesy Douglas Elliman.