Friday, October 2, 2026
The Oceanside Community Warriors recently gathered with local families, scouts and community members for a cleanup at Detective Luis G. Alvarez Memorial Park, continuing an effort to keep the special Oceanside gathering place beautiful and welcoming.
Held on Sept. 12, this year’s cleanup held particular significance as the community marked the 25th anniversary of Sept. 11, 2001.
The Warriors have taken an active role in maintaining the park, organizing cleanups about four times a year. Volunteers weeded flower beds, collected leaves and prepared the grounds for new plantings.
“The park is such a special place to Oceanside residents,” Jeanine Badalamenti, secretary of the Warriors, said. “We have taken it under our wings to make sure it is a place that we maintain, that is kept up to date, that it’s a pleasant place that everybody can go and enjoy it however they want.”
This year, the park also received a major upgrade.
Nassau County Legislator Patrick Mullaney provided funding for the installation of an underground irrigation system, which was installed by the county and recently tested.
The system provides water to the areas where vegetation has been planted, including the garden beds around the gazebo and beneath Alvarez’s memorial sign.
With the new irrigation system in place, volunteers were able to plant pansies and mums donated by Dee’s Nursery. The Warriors plan to return next month to plant bulbs and add mulch, creating a garden area that will require less manual watering while still receiving regular community care.
Over 50 volunteers participated in the cleanup alongside local businesses who helped support the effort.
The Warriors hope the cleanups do more than improve the appearance of the park.
“It’s to bring the community together,” Badalamenti said, “so that we’re all out there working together, one common goal to make our hometown a place we all want to live, raise our families and be proud of.”
The group’s annual Fall Festival is scheduled for Oct. 17 and helps fund the community projects. Proceeds from sponsorships and festival-day sales allow the Warriors to continue organization beautification projects throughout Oceanside. For more info, contact info@oceansidecommunitywarriors.com.
