The Parkhurst Civic Association was founded in 1972 by a group of Elmont residents, whose intention was to provide a forum for residents to voice concerns and act as an advocacy organization. The association represents the Elmont area bordered by Elmont Road to the east, Cross Island Parkway to the west, Dutch Broadway to the south, and Ludlam Avenue to the north. Aubrey Phillips, the civic association’s president, said those interested in joining Parkhurst can visit Parkhurst.Elmont.org. Links are available on their website for their monthly Zoom meetings, which are on the fourth Tuesday of every month at 7:30 p.m..
1. They have a working partnership with the police department
Phillips said as a community that is largely comprised of immigrants, it is important for the civic association to maintain an open relationship with the Nassau County Police Department Fifth Precinct. Problem-Oriented Policing officers, commonly referred to as POP officers, attend Parkhurst’s monthly meetings to update the community on local crime and receive feedback from concerned residents. Phillips said the civic association includes POP officers in their meetings so residents feel there is transparency between law enforcement and constructive conversations around what residents want addressed by the precinct. Public safety is a central topic of Parkhurst meetings, and residents often inform officers of issues they might miss while they are on patrol, such as problematic intersections on local roads, illegally parked vehicles or gatherings of disruptive patrons near local businesses.
2. They have a strong relationship with the Elmont high school
Elmont Memorial High School is located within the boundaries of Parkhurst, and Phillips says the civic association takes great pride in their involvement with it. As a result of their close relationship, the school is currently engaged in a state-run program called Seal of Civic Readiness. According to Phillips, students at Elmont Memorial receive credit for participating in community events organized by the Parkhurst Civic Association. These events, Phillips explained, are intended to teach young residents what civic engagement entails and prepare them to be productive members of Elmont. He said it’s important for students to understand that serving your community is not about recognition or monetary gain, but rather something they engage in because it’s the right thing to do. Phillips said the school’s partnership with Parkhurst is a central part of their students’ experience.
3. Leadership encourages members to take individual action
While Phillips said Parkhurst is largely a collaborative effort among the residents, he does not want members to feel as though they cannot take action on their own. Rather, the civic association empowers residents to take initiative and work on resolving issues in the time between their monthly meetings. Phillips said it is still important for members to keep the civic association in the loop, such as including leadership on emails sent on behalf of Parkhurst or giving them a call to let them know they’ve initiated measures to address an issue. At that point, Phillips continued, Parkhurst will better be able to monitor the situation and work toward a solution. He emphasized that the culture of the civic association’s meetings are informal, and they often try to keep the tone light and fun. The organization is not meant to be a controlling entity, but rather a helpful hand in resolving concerns.
