New Hyde Park announces $5 million state grant for south-side park; village has three years to develop

Mayor Christopher Devane announced that New Hyde Park will receive $5 million in state funds to build a new park on the village's south side. "There will be a new park on the south side, paid for with $5MM in state funds from Cuomo," Devane said, and he added that the grant includes a three-year development window.

The grant targets the south side, which the mayor said "took the brunt of the railroad construction," and the Village plans to use the funding to finish park design and construction. Devane said the Village expects the park to open in September if timelines hold. He described the park as part of a broader set of construction and community projects currently underway, including DPW renovations and a new community center.

Trustees did not take a separate vote on the grant during the meeting; the announcement was presented as part of the mayor's overview of ongoing projects. Village officials noted that the grant is time-limited: "This is a grant and we have 3 years to develop the park it or we will lose it," the mayor said, underscoring a deadline for design and construction activity.

Next steps outlined by the mayor and staff include finalizing design work, coordinating required approvals, and scheduling project milestones so the Village can meet the state-imposed timeline. The Board discussed community use goals for the new park and emphasized outreach to ensure it serves multiple neighborhoods. The meeting adjourned at 9:00 PM; no formal vote on the park funding was recorded in the minutes at this session.