Mineola, NY— On June 26th, the Nassau County Legislature unanimously voted to pass a land transfer that Legislator Mazi Melesa Pilip has fought for in the Great Neck Community. This transfer will grant the Great Neck Park District access to a vacant land parcel that is currently the property of Nassau County, located along Woods Road in Great Neck, New York.
The county had no use for the land parcel besides for stormwater overflow, but the Great Neck Park District has plans to maintain and improve upon the current stormwater retention system. The Great Neck Park District controls an existing parcel of land adjacent to the transferred parcel, the Parkwood Facility. The acquisition of this land parcel will unify the Parkwood Facility Complex and allow for a more cohesive passive park that residents throughout the county will be encouraged to use.
The Parkwood Facility is a sports complex that is home to the Parkwood Family Aquatic Center, the Parkwood Tennis Center, the Andrew Stergiopoulos Ice Rink and a recreational center. With this procurement of land, the Great Neck Park District plans to refine the parcel by improving the storm water retention basin, maintaining the trails on the property, enhancing the appearance of the property through landscaping projects, implementing new educational amenities on the property, and continuing to protect the areas of this parcel that have been designated as regular wetlands.
Legislator Mazi Melesa Pilip, whose legislative district includes Great Neck, was an instrumental figure in negotiating the transfer of land and collaborating with the various departments and officials who have been working on this land transfer.
“I am very pleased to announce that legislation I sponsored and worked with the Great Neck Park District unanimously passed the Legislature this week,” Legislator Mazi Melesa Pilip said.
“The legislation allows our Park District to acquire a parcel of land on Wood Road. The shared vision to create and protect parkland for not only for the residents of Great Neck but all residents of Nassau County is the result of the effort. My thanks go to the Park District, all the Commissioners and the Village of Great Neck for their partnership, assistance and support.”
Great Neck Park District Superintendent, Jason Marra, stated: “The Board of Commissioners of the Great Neck Park District and I would like to thank Nassau County Officials and staff for the effort, time and attention expended to enable the Park District to acquire for park use the County’s Wood Road parcel, most of which has for decades been an inaccessible stormwater retention basin. A special thank you to Legislator Mazi Melesa Pilip for her leadership, cooperation and shared vision to create new parkland not only for the residents of Great Neck but for all Nassau County residents. We plan to clean, improve and maintain the storm water retention basin function, while enhancing the parcel’s aesthetics, and making it inviting and accessible for passive park use. Enhancements will include landscaping, maintained walkways and educational amenities consistent with wetland attributes of the parcel. The Park District is very excited to get started with full design plans."