Residents gathered at Harvest House on July 16 to raise money for the relocation of Carbone Park, kicking off a community effort to build a larger, modern playground for Malverne’s youngest residents.
Hosted by the Mothers of Malverne and the Village’s Tree and Beautification Committee, the fundraiser brought neighbors together under the theme “Stronger Together” while introducing plans for the new park, which will be built on the former Malverne Police Headquarters property at 1 Britton Circle. Guests purchased wristbands for food and drink specials, with proceeds supporting future playground amenities.
The new park will replace Carbone Park across the street, nearly doubling its size while adding green space, parking, modern playground equipment, improved safety surfacing and shaded areas created by newly planted trees. Village officials also hope to include a restroom with a changing station for park visitors and families attending events at nearby Gazebo Park. The playground is being designed to be fully accessible, with inclusive play equipment, accessible swings and expanded sensory features that build on those at the existing park.
The project is expected to cost between $800,000 and $1 million. Village officials are seeking $750,000 through the state office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation’s PLAYS grant program by DASNY, while committing $150,000 in village funds and $100,000 in state funding secured by Assemblywoman Judy Griffin. If the grant is awarded, officials said, construction could be completed in a single phase. If not, the village plans to scale back its initial investment and complete the project in phases as funding becomes available.
The Mothers of Malverne has worked with village officials on the project for more than a year. The organization’s president, Monica Theodoropoulos, said that members have helped identify the amenities local families would like to see in the redesigned park.
“Our goal is to encourage the community to support bringing an update to the toddler park,” Theodoropoulos said. “And hopefully people will see the motivation behind us wanting to improve it.”
The new park is part of a broader village redevelopment plan intended to preserve green space while allowing the current Carbone Park property to be marketed for future development.
The village originally planned to sell the former police headquarters property after relocating police operations to the department’s new headquarters at 1 Arlington Ave. Village officials instead decided to relocate the park to the former headquarters property while opening the existing park site, which is adjacent to other multifamily housing along the Long Island Rail Road corridor, to development.
Initial work in the future park is expected to include the demolition of the former police station and the installation of sidewalks, fencing, landscaping and trees. Playground equipment, including slides and climbing structures, will later be relocated from the current Carbone Park so children can continue to have access to a playground with minimal interruption.
“It would double the size of the kiddie park that we have now,” Mayor Timothy Sullivan said. “It would create larger green space to offset new development in that immediate vicinity.”
Village officials expect the headquarters demolition to begin later this year, with construction starting shortly afterward. The transfer of playground equipment is planned for the colder months, with the new park opening in some capacity next spring.
Last week’s fundraiser featured guest bartenders Steven Halvey, head of the Tree and Beautification Committee, and Theodoropoulos. Beyond raising money, organizers said the event gave residents an opportunity to view conceptual renderings, learn more about the project and share ideas for future improvements.
“Throughout the village we’re going to keep this partnership going to really improve upon things that young families and new families across Malverne would like to see,” Halvey said about partnering with Mothers of Malverne.
Theodoropoulos said that the effort reflects the mission of the Mothers of Malverne, which has operated in the community since 1978 and is working to become an official nonprofit organization. In addition to organizing family events, the group supports local charities through toy drives, clothing donations and food pantry collections.
“Besides it being a social group, the emphasis is community and Malverne,” Theodoropoulos said, “loving our neighbors and supporting the growth of our children.”
Village officials encourage residents with experience in architecture, engineering, construction and park planning to contribute ideas as the design evolves.
As plans move forward, village leaders say their goal remains the same: to create a larger, modern, fully accessible park that meets the needs of Malverne families while preserving the community spirit that has defined Carbone Park for decades.
