A family legacy that’s as strong as bricks

My father did it and here I am 20 years later continuing it.”

James Skinner Jr., Vice President, East Meadow Chamber of Commerce

The idea to create a town square in East Meadow goes back a long way. It was in 1996 that Patrick Curry, the East Meadow Chamber president, came up with the idea. James Skinner Jr. was only 10 years old when East Meadow Town Square was actually completed in 2001. His father, James Skinner Sr., was the president of the East Meadow Chamber of Commerce at the time and spearheaded the project, even adding his own touch to the popular gathering place in Veterans Memorial Park, which is on the corner of Prospect and East Meadow avenues — personalized bricks. Now, 20 years later, the younger Skinner is following in his father’s footsteps.

In 2000, before the beautification of town square was completed, Chamber President Richard Bivone held the hamlet’s first holiday tree lighting there. With  approval from the Town of Hempstead and help from the chamber, the beloved event was held, and residents have been enjoying the tree lighting ever since.

Town square really took shape in 2001. Skinner, with the help of Bivone, worked with the Town of Hempstead to acquire a gazebo, lighting, landscaping and benches.

But the plans didn’t stop there. Skinner gave residents an opportunity to purchase town square–personalized bricks.

“They created the square 20 years ago and they had the foresight to lay down the foundation for us to be able to continue the brick program in the future,” Richie Krug Jr., president of the East Meadow Chamber said. “We wouldn’t be able to do this right now without that.”

Now 20 years later more bricks will be added to the town square walkway. James Skinner Jr., as the chamber’s vice president, will be spearheading the project.

“It’s only fitting that James Skinner Jr., is continuing the program that his father did,” Krug said. “It’s a really cool story.”

The idea for the bricks was the brainchild of the elder Skinner, when he was looking for a way to raise money to make the town square project happen. At the time they had gotten grants from the state to complete the project but it wasn’t enough.

“The project was needed,” Skinner said. “The town was not designed like Levittown or Garden City where it had a central downtown and meeting place.”

Skinner grew up in East Meadow. He said that Veterans Memorial Park has always where everyone congregates to use the pools, tennis courts and basketball courts.

“We declared that East Meadow Avenue was our main street,” he said. “What better place to put your town square than on your main street.”

The brick sale didn’t wind up covering all of the costs but it covered some. The rest of town square’s costs were covered by state grants and fundraising efforts by the chamber.

Bricks were put in sporadically until 2009, Skinner said. There are almost 1,000 bricks currently in the park. He has one for his family and one for his company.

Now, the 20th year since town square’s completion, the chamber wants to bring the project back.

“Twenty years is a long time,” James Skinner Jr. said. “A lot of people moved out but a lot of families moved into East Meadow.”

There is no specific timeline for the new bricks arrival, but chamber is hoping it will be done by May. There’s space available for more than 800 bricks to be added.

All the funds collected from these bricks will be going to the hamlet, whether it be for projects to help beautify it further or in case money is needed.

“It’s a great way to give back to the community,” James Skinner Jr. said. “During Covid we used a lot of money to help out businesses in East Meadow.”

Skinner said he remembers when the project was originally coming to fruition, despite being a 10 year old.

“I remember talking about the gazebo and seeing the installation of it,” he said. “I went to a bunch of meetings whether it was for the chamber or Kiwanis.”

It’s cool to be continuing a project that his father originated, Skinner said.  And if it was up to him, the whole park would be covered in personalized bricks.

“It’s great for the community,” he said. “My father did it and here I am 20 years later continuing it.”