Babylon Town, LI group to discuss revitalization plans for Deer Park
Babylon Town and Vision Long Island are studying ways to revitalize Deer Park. Seen here is a stretch of Deer Park Avenue, south of Long Island Avenue. Credit: Newsday/Alejandra Villa Loarca
Babylon Town and a planning group are studying ways to revitalize the hamlet of Deer Park, including the creation of a more defined downtown.
The town and Vision Long Island, a Northport-based smart growth planning group, will hold a meeting Saturday with residents and business owners. After an introduction, participants will be broken up into smaller groups to discuss ideas.
The event is the culmination of revitalization efforts that go back three years and were slowed during the pandemic. Some of the areas of discussion include economic development, beautification, traffic and infrastructure improvements and sewers.
“We’ve had several starts and stops,” said Babylon Deputy Supervisor Tony Martinez. “We want to hear the ideas and wants of the community of what they would like to see Deer Park look like.”
He said the areas targeted will be: Long Island Avenue from Half Hollow Road to Carlls Path; Deer Park Avenue from Nicolls Road to Bay Shore Road; Bay Shore Road from Deer Park Avenue to Brookdale Avenue; and Commack Road from Long Island Avenue to Bay Shore Road.
Because the hamlet is spread out and lacks a “main” street, town leaders and residents have long sought “some kind of cohesiveness” to bring Deer Park together, Martinez said. In an ongoing survey conducted by Vision Long Island, out of 144 respondents, 110 said they thought Deer Park should have a main street. Ideas on where it should be varied widely, but most included Deer Park Avenue or Long Island Avenue.
Vision Long Island, which is being paid $25,000 by the town, will produce a report on what projects will be pursued and a timeline, while the town investigates possible funding sources, Martinez said.
The Saturday meeting will take place from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Robert Frost Middle School, 450 Half Hollow Rd., Deer Park.
Denise Bonilla has worked at Newsday since 2003 and covers the Town of Babylon, including the villages of Lindenhurst and Amityville.
