Riverhead has received a state grant of nearly $2.4 million for its planned adaptive children’s playground on the Peconic River waterfront, the largest Long Island award in New York’s first round of NY PLAYS funding.
The grant completes the funding needed to build the park as designed, town Community Development Director Dawn Thomas said Wednesday. The project has been through the design process, she said. The new award brings its identified funding to about $3.69 million, the town said in a press release.
Thomas credited Community Development Department staff member Carissa Collins with preparing the successful application. “Carissa Collins led the charge on it,” she said.
“The project is designed to provide free, accessible outdoor play for children of all ages and abilities while advancing downtown Riverhead’s broader revitalization and flood-resiliency efforts,” the town said.
The playground is planned as part of the town’s broader Town Square project. Designed by LVF Landscape Architects, the playground includes accessible paths, inclusive play equipment, sensory landscaping and maritime-themed play structures, along with features intended to improve flood resilience. Construction of the playground is scheduled to begin next summer, Thomas told the Town Board at its Aug. 6 work session, where she presented a timeline for the downtown revitalization project, for which the town won a $10 million downtown revitalization grant from the state in 2021.
Gov. Kathy Hochul announced $67.5 million in NY PLAYS grants for 89 playground projects statewide Tuesday. The program, which supports municipalities and nonprofit organizations creating, expanding and renovating public playgrounds across the state, is part of the broader Unplug and Play initiative, which is expanding opportunities for children and families to spend time outdoors, be physically active and connect with one another.
With the final funding in place, Thomas said, “we’ll be able to build it exactly how it’s been designed, which is beautiful.”
The survival of local journalism depends on your support.
We are a small family-owned operation. You rely on us to stay informed, and we depend on you to make our work possible. Just a few dollars can help us continue to bring this important service to our community.
Support RiverheadLOCAL today.
