Community News

First Wantagh picnic in the works

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Looking to bring neighbors together for a fun-filled day, the Wantagh Lions Club is planning the first community picnic next month. You can even leave your wallet at home.

The Lions Club is partnering with other organizations to host the event on Saturday, May 30 at Wantagh Park. Gregg Markin, president of the Lions Club, described it as an “old fashioned picnic” that he hopes can become an annual event.

“The idea is for people in the community to all get together,” he said. “I think it’s something simple that’s overlooked.”

The Lions Club has already booked the pavilion and adjacent field space, so there will be room to accommodate thousands of people, he said. Markin encourages all attendees to bring a picnic basket full of food. The event will run from noon to 6 p.m.

Several organizations have already committed to the cause. The Wantagh Kiwanis Club will be running games, including a tug of war and a three-legged race. Volunteers from the organization and the high school Key Club will be on hand to run the events.

Kiwanis President Heidi Felix said she is hoping to add to the these activities, and has “a couple of things up my sleeve.”

“I just love the idea of it being a family affair, where the whole entire town is getting together to get to know each other,” she said. “It’s all about Wantagh and really getting back to the heart of what a community should be.”

Felix said the picnic is a chance to bring people together from the many different areas of Wantagh, including the Mandalay neighborhood in the south end, Forest Lake to the west, and North Wantagh, which belongs to the Levittown School District.

The Wantagh Chamber of Commerce has secured the Town of Hempstead Showmobile for the event, and will be providing entertainment. The Fire Department will be doing fire safety demonstrations.

Other organizations are welcome to participate and add to the collection of activities. Markin also said businesses are invited to come down, and can give away promotional items. The only catch is they can’t sell anything. “Everything’s going to be free,” he said. “A family can come down without having to spend money.”

One of the goals of the event is to let people in the community know about the organizations and businesses in Wantagh.

Markin said that the date was chosen so it would not interfere with either Memorial Day or graduations. It will be held rain or shine. Any organization or business interested in participating can call Markin at (516) 468-1682.