Improvements planned for Freeport's public parks, local and state officials announce

A boy on a bicycle did laps around two basketball courts at Martin Luther King, Jr. Park in Freeport Wednesday afternoon. Webs of patched-over cracks on the courts   didn’t slow him down as a fiery burst of orange and yellow leaves cascaded down in the nearly empty park.

At the other end of the park, a boy took shots at the hoops on the park’s third basketball court.

The courts are slated for $80,000 in upgrades that officials and stakeholders hope will make the park a destination. Martin Luther King is a pocket park on Stevens Street, bounded by residences on two sides and commercial buildings on a third.

Donna Raphael, president of the Freeport and Roosevelt branch of the NAACP, said the improvements will “greatly improve the access”

“Our young people really want, not even just young people, people in general will be able to come out and play in a safe space,” Raphael said.

Assemb. Noah Burroughs (D-Hempstead Village) secured the funding for improvements to the basketball courts. He also secured $20,000 to upgrade the bathrooms at Bishop Frank O. White Park and make them ADA compliant. A gazebo will be also be built there at a cost of $50,000. He said the projects grew out of feedback from the community.

“I wanted to talk to the parents and I talked to the kids and we did a poll and the majority of them said that they identified that park [MLK] and a few other parks that needed some improvement,” Burroughs said.

Raphael, Burroughs and Freeport Mayor Robert Kennedy toured the village’s parks to look for improvements.

While Freeport is known for the Nautical Mile and its waterfront, Raphael said parks on the northern side of the village haven’t had as much funding “to really make the kinds of improvements that would make it more not only accessible but safe for our youth and families.”

Raphael said the resurfacing of the basketball courts at Bishop Frank O. White Park several years ago increased its use dramatically. A basketball camp held there this summer had to turn young people away because so many wanted to participate, Raphael said.

“That is the hope that we can have more activities down there,” Raphael said. “There's still a lot of work that needs to get done but it's great to see that we are all working together to get started to ... ensure that families have a safe place to play."

Burroughs said as a former athlete and educator himself, he knows the importance of having good recreational facilities.

“Making sure the kids have a safe and enjoyable place to play is important," Burroughs said. “We do expect an uptick of usage in Northeast after the renovations take place," he added, using the locals' name for Bishop Frank O. White Park.

Kennedy said the contracts have been put out to bid and once the funds come in, work can be completed in 60 days.

“I'm glad that the kids can use these parks close to their home and not have to go to other neighborhoods and have to travel,” Kennedy said.