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Village reveals plans for new playgrounds

Project funded by federal grant

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Three Valley Stream parks will have new playgrounds this summer, and their equipment will be designed with unique themes, according to Building Superintendent Tom McAleer.

The playgrounds will replace the existing ones at Barrett Park, Kay Emerson Park and Arlington Park. The designs include a pirate ship-shaped apparatus and partially “submerged” whale and octopus for Kay Emerson’s nautical theme, a sports theme at Arlington and a nature theme at Barrett, complete with large bugs to climb on and oversized cattails.

The project will cost a total of $580,000, funded entirely by a community development block grant. The grant is federal money that the village applied for through Nassau County to be used on a project that would increase residents’ quality of life. Valley Stream applies each year and gets a different amount each time, McAleer said.

“We’ve always been granted what we applied for,” he said. Last year’s grant funded new sidewalks on Central Avenue.

It was through references that McAleer learned of the company hired to build the playgrounds, Miracle Recreation Equipment, of Syosset. He and other village officials visited several of their sites in Lynbrook and Franklin Square.

Deputy Village Clerk Richard DeAngelis went along on those visits.

“It is unbelievable,” he said. “Their work is just phenomenal. Arlington is really going to surprise people.”

Sal Romanello designed the playgrounds. He said the village asked for special themes, something that has become more common in the last five years, according to Romanello, who has worked in the playground equipment industry for 20 years.

“Valley Stream has some unique pieces that will really set it apart from other towns and draw people to those playgrounds,” he said. He said the unique features are nicer from an aesthetic standpoint than traditional equipment and make for a more inviting atmosphere to bring community members together to enjoy it.

DeAngelis said the existing playgrounds are expected to be closed for one month each as the new equipment is installed, though the company can build two parks at once. Everything is expected to be completed by July 1.

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