'Today it becomes official'

Part of Southern State Parkway will be renamed for Steven McDonald

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Gov. Andrew Cuomo signed legislation today that will rename a section of the Southern State Parkway in honor of fallen NYPD Det. Steven McDonald.

The law will rename 10 miles of the parkway — running from the western-most start of the Southern State Parkway to the Meadowbrook Parkway — the “Detective Steven McDonald Memorial Highway.”

“I am proud to honor Det. Steven McDonald and it was a privilege to sponsor this legislation,” Assemblyman Brian Curran said. “Today it becomes official.”

The parkway designation recognizes the life, service, sacrifice and family of McDonald, who was shot in 1986 in Central Park and left paralyzed until his death nearly 31 years later in January 2017. Despite his affliction, he spent his life spreading a message of forgiveness and peace to people around the world, and became a national hero.

“Our children do not have to rely on superhero movies to learn about heroics,” Sen. Todd Kaminsky said. “They just need to learn about Detective McDonald.”