It took a village to build Landgraf Park

Olia Dwan and Frank Ayala of Jetblue helped with the construction of Landgraf Park.

Donovan Berthoud/Herald

Chris Horvath of Island Park instructed a team of volunteers.

Donovan Berthoud/Herald

Cliff Trotta and Heather Jackman helped Chris Horvath as he put together a new swing set.

Donovan Berthoud/Herald

Island Park Mayor Michael McGinty addressed a crowd of volunteers before work began on Landgraf Park on August 1.

Donovan Berthoud/Herald

More than 200 volunteers helped to build a new park at 184 Waterford Road.

Donovan Berthoud/Herald

Bruno Bacciotti, left, and Robert Ohare

Donovan Berthoud/Herald

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Over 200 volunteers from Island Park, KaBOOM!, American Express, and JetBlue helped to bring Landgraf Park, located at 184 Waterford Road, to life on August 1. Mayor Michael McGinty, Deputy Mayor Stephen D’Esposito, and village trustee Joseph Annarella worked side by side with volunteers all day mixing cement, installing chain link fence, and spreading mulch.

Community organizers, village clerk Constance Conroy and Columbia Ciccimarro, oversaw various committees. The hard work of all the community volunteers paid off when the sparkling new park was finished and a ribbon cutting ceremony was held at 2:30.

Town of Hempstead Supervisor Kate Murray and Councilman Tony Santino, who donated Dumpsters, garbage boxes, and the bandstand for the day, joined the crew. Nassau County Legislator Denise Ford and State Senator Dean Skelos were also on hand.

“The involvement of the entire community was truly terrific,” said Anthony D’ Esposito, Island Park’s public information officer “The children and their parents were involved in every aspect of this project, including the actual design of the playground.”

The park officially opened on August 4 at 5 p.m.