The Rockville Centre Historical Society has begun an intensive survey of the Riverside Park neighborhood, the first step toward having the area recognized by National Register of Historic Places and local landmark ordinances.
The survey follows preliminary approval from the New York State Historic Preservation Office, which found that Riverside Park could potentially qualify as a historic district. The area is bounded roughly by Merrick Road to the north, Lincoln Avenue to the east, Shell Bank Place to the south and the Mill River to the west.
“This Riverside Park is so historic at a high level that the New York State Office of Historic Preservation said go forward,” Matt Cliszis, of the historical society, said. “This looks great, but in order to actually approve it, we need an intensive-level survey.”
Society members will photograph and document the nearly 200 buildings and structures in the area. “We will be doing archival research on multiple buildings within there, but we will be photographing and documenting building details for every building within that proposed district,” Cliszis explained. “For every single house, we have to write: What year was it built? Is there any historical significance of that house? What is the roof made of? What is the outside made of? All those details.”
The survey, he said, will likely take the organization over a year to complete, with many doing the work in addition to their regular jobs, but Cliszis said he hoped it would end up taking less time.
“It’s however quickly we can photograph and document each of those buildings,” he said. “I’m hoping that throughout the winter we can get this done, and then submit it maybe midway through 2026 for approval.”
Currently, he said, the only building in the village listed on the National Register of Historic Places is the post office.
The register is a federal recognition program managed by the National Park Service that honors buildings, sites or districts with historical, architectural or cultural significance, according to the NPS website. A listing is honorary, not regulatory — it does not restrict what the property owner can do with the property. The designation brings public recognition of a site’s historic value, and can make owners eligible for certain tax credits and grant programs for rehabilitation work.
“The National Register is an honor that opens the door to these credits for qualifying renovations,” Cliszis said.
A local preservation ordinance, on the other hand, is a law enacted by a city or village that provides legal protection for designated historic properties or districts. These ordinances can regulate changes to the exterior of designated buildings, which often require local approval for demolitions, additions or major alterations. While this kind of regulation provides for stronger local-level protection of a community’s historic character, it also introduces specific requirements for property owners.
Cliszis stressed that the goal is only to earn registration in the national register and that the historical society will not recommend new village ordinances. Residents of the proposed historic district would not be affected by new regulations or restrictions.
“The Rockville Centre Historical Society continues to do incredible work preserving and sharing our community’s rich history,” Village Trustee Katie Conlon said. “The village is proud to support their work, and looks forward to seeing the results of this important project. The board and I are grateful for their continued commitment to preserving the character and heritage that make Rockville Centre such a special place to live.”
Once the survey is complete, the historical society plans to host community meetings with the State Historic Preservation Office to answer questions and discuss the next steps.
Cliszis encouraged residents to get involved by sharing any information they have about their homes. Anyone with questions or information can contact the historical society at rvchistoricalsociety@gmail.com.
Additional reporting by Alyssa R. Griffin
