By Francis X. Murray
From the beginning of my tenure as mayor, I have believed that the heartbeat of our community can be found in our parks, fields and recreation spaces. These aren’t just patches of grass, courts or playground equipment; they’re where children take their first swing of a bat, neighbors cheer on a team and families play, relax and create lifelong memories. I’ve remained committed to ensuring that our youth have safe and accessible spaces to exercise and play, because these opportunities are vital for their health, growth and well-being.
That commitment has guided my administration’s work. Over the years, my administration secured more than $60 million in grants and gifts, leaving no stone unturned in pursuit of funding. We understand the financial pressures families and taxpayers face, and we’ve made it a priority to ease that burden while still enhancing our community’s resources. Much of this funding has been invested in improving our fields, courts, playgrounds and recreational facilities, which benefit every generation.
Our work began with major upgrades to athletic fields, the home base for countless youth and adult sports programs. The RVC Sports Complex saw improvements with refurbished restrooms between Klein and Barasch fields. Klein Field was converted from grass to turf, to accommodates play in all seasons. Following that success, turf replacements were completed at Darcy and Bralower fields, ensuring their longevity and safety. They also received new fencing to further ensure athlete safety.
New restrooms were installed at Hickey Field in 2015, and we created Joyce softball field. In 2020, Tighe Field was upgraded from grass to turf. At Lister Park, a scoreboard was installed at Barasch Field, basketball courts were upgraded and perimeter fencing was replaced. Safety cameras were installed at the Sports Complex and the John A. Anderson Recreation Center.
Through the Living with the Bay initiative, we ensured that recreational spaces also support resiliency. Bio-retention ponds were added at Tighe and Lister fields to manage stormwater. Pathways and lighting expanded safe access at Lister Park. Floodgates, new backstops and other storm-mitigation infrastructure were added to protect the fields and the community.
At Reverend Morgan Days Park, permeable pavement, floodwalls, and floodgates were installed, and at Smith Pond, a fish ladder, a scenic overlook, a pathway with benches and a fishing dock were added. A greenway path was created along Hempstead Lake. Both Morgan Days and Centennial parks gained permeable pavement parking lots. These projects show how sustainability and recreation can go hand in hand. The Living with the Bay initiative also allowed us to enhance the entrance to Stephen Tighe soccer field with landscape lights, a new sign, and restored the soccer ball with pavers to welcome players and families alike.
Veterans Park and the recreation center have also been transformed into true community hubs. The recreation center gained a splash pad, a new playground apparatus for our youngest children, and an inclusive playground, Mr. B’s Playground, so that every child, regardless of ability, can play together. We also refurbished restrooms; concession stands; handball, pickleball, basketball and tennis courts, and replaced sod on the Veterans Park soccer field. These improvements reflect the evolving interests of residents while preserving traditions we hold dear.
Looking ahead, we are proud to be working with the Rockville Centre Little League to secure funding to upgrade Hickey Field, one of our most treasured and historic ball fields. Generations of children have learned baseball there, and it remains a place where tradition and community spirit come alive. Our commitment is to ensure that the field continues to be a field of dreams for today’s youth and for generations to come. I’m also pleased to announce that my administration has secured a grant from the state for a new state-of-the-art playground at Reverend Morgan Days Park. This new addition will provide countless hours of play for years to come.
But we cannot achieve this alone. To continue the tradition of play that makes Rockville Centre so special, we need our partners in Albany to stand with us. We call on our elected officials to provide the funding and resources necessary to preserve, protect and enhance these vital spaces. The children of our village deserve nothing less than safe and vibrant parks and fields. With the support of our state leaders, we can make that vision a reality.
Rockville Centre has always been a place where families gather, children grow and neighbors connect. With continued collaboration, creativity and investment, we will keep the spirit of play alive for generations.
Francis X. Murray is the mayor of Rockville Centre.
