The Locustwood Gotham Civic Association brought Elmont residents together for its annual block party, filling the neighborhood with food, music, games and plenty of time for neighbors to catch up.
Families gathered throughout the afternoon to enjoy food served by volunteers while a DJ played music. Children played with bubbles, took part in outdoor games and enjoyed a bouncy house as parents and neighbors sat together and talked.
For Bob Barker, president of the Locustwood Gotham Civic Association, the block party has become an annual tradition that continues to grow.
“Every year we’ve started to do this block party. It’s getting bigger and bigger, but it’s something important,” Barker said. “It takes a lot of work, it takes a lot of energy, but most importantly, I love to see everyone coming together as one big family. That’s what we are here in Elmont — one big family.”
Barker said the event is meant to give residents an opportunity to do something simple but important: meet the people who live around them.
“The only way that we do this is by having a block party where everybody can come out,” he said. “You can meet your neighbors.”
He said those connections can be harder to make when much of everyday communication happens through phones and computers. Getting people together in person, he said, allows neighbors to build relationships and become more familiar with one another.
Lizabeth Villafane, president of the Argo Civic Association, attended the block party and shared a similar sentiment.
“You talk to each other on the phone or the computer, but it’s different when you meet in person,” Villafane said.
Barker also used the gathering to remind residents about the importance of looking out for one another.
“We have to look out for each other,” he said. “Because what happens to me today can happen to you tomorrow. What affects you today affects me tomorrow. It affects the person down the block.”
Barker said he enjoyed seeing people of different ages at the event, from older residents who have been part of the neighborhood for years to young children running around and enjoying the activities. Bringing those generations together is part of what makes the block party special, he said.
The event was also a community effort. Barker thanked the volunteers, DJ and others who gave their time and resources to help organize the afternoon. While putting together an event like the block party requires work, Barker said seeing residents come out and enjoy themselves makes the effort worthwhile.
The civic association stays active in Elmont throughout the year. Barker said the group organizes community cleanups and provides scholarships to Elmont Memorial High School students. It also works on local concerns, including traffic and development around UBS Arena and Belmont Park.
Armando Varela, director of constituent services for Assemblywoman Michaelle Solages, attended on behalf of the assemblywoman and thanked Barker for continuing the tradition.
“Thank you, Bob, for having us every year for the community,” Varela said. “It’s very important that you come out and just share everything together.”
Councilman Thomas Muscarella, who was born and raised in Elmont, also attended and emphasized the importance of events that give residents an opportunity to come together and strengthen their community.
By the time the afternoon was underway, the block party had the feel of a neighborhood gathering rather than a formal community event. Children moved from one activity to another, music played in the background and neighbors spent time talking over food.
For residents, the afternoon offered a chance to see familiar faces, meet new neighbors and enjoy time together close to home. For the civic association, it was another way to build the connections that Barker said are at the heart of a strong community.
The block party may only take place once a year, but Barker said its purpose extends beyond the afternoon itself: encouraging neighbors to know one another, support one another and continue looking out for the community they share.
