New walkways, lights unveiled in Bellmore

The Bellmore business district has been spruced up with brick walkways and Victorian streetlights, installed as part of a recently completed streetscape project.

The work included installing the walkways and 20 streetlights on the south side of Jerusalem Avenue and Pea Pond Road, the northwest and southwest quadrants of Jerusalem Avenue-Newbridge Road, and the southwest corner of Jerusalem Avenue-Bellmore Road.

Hempstead Town Supervisor Kate Murray and council members Gary Hudes and Angie Cullin were joined by Nassau County officials and community leaders at the unveiling.

“Downtown streetscape projects benefit the entire community, notably business, consumers and property owners,” Murray said in a news release. “These improvements will complement a vibrant business community already in place in Bellmore.”

The streetscape project was funded through an intermunicipal partnership with Nassau County. The county secured $150,000 for the project through federal funds from the American Reinvestment and Recovery Act.

“This project is a great example of how Nassau County and the Town of Hempstead are working together to enhance our downtowns and business districts,” said County Executive Edward Mangano in a news release. “Beautifying and upgrading this intersection will help promote our local economy and attract shoppers to the area.”

The town has done several revitalization projects in 11 downtown business districts: Merrick, Levittown, Elmont, East Meadow, Franklin Square, Merrick, Roosevelt, Oceanside, Baldwin, West Hempstead and Seaford. The goal is to beautify and add new luster to downtowns, make shopping districts more inviting and create an identity for the community, Murray said.