Wednesday, July 16, 2025
The Village of Lawrence has announced a new array of projects, which will focus on beautification and restoration, with the aim of improving residents’ quality of life.
Lawrence Mayor Samuel Nahmias disclosed at the May 15 board meeting that the village had received a grant from Nassau County Legislator Howard Kopel for the restoration effort.
“I am extremely proud to announce that the Nassau County Legislature’s presiding officer, Howard Kopel, has worked through the budget and granted the Village of Lawrence $623,000 on behalf of the county,” Nahmias said. “The grant is for beautification, which includes replacement of all the (street) lights in Lawrence. (Security) cameras will be purchased with that as well, and Rock Hall Road will have a new road.”
There is no timeline for the projects, but Nahmias said that the plans include upgrading all 800 streetlights in the village, the installation of security cameras and license plate readers, and the full restoration of Rock Hall Road, including new pavement, sidewalks, and tree plantings along the street, which is a county road.
The village’s streetlights have not been modernized in 30 years, according to Nahmias.
Kopel emphasized that the projects are important not just for beautification, but also for residents’ safety.
“I live in the Village of Lawrence, I have lived here since 1987, I love this village, and I am delighted that I have an opportunity to do something for the village and for my fellow neighbors,” Kopel said. “I mean, obviously, there’s several safety aspects of it. There’s the cracked and broken blacktop that needs to be replaced. So that’s a safety issue, as well as a beautification issue. Everyone’s happier living in a in a pretty, well-maintained neighborhood.”
The announcement follows one almost two months ago about repairs to 11 streetlights on the Lawrence side of State Route 878, also known as the Nassau Expressway. The village acquired a grant of $150,000 for that project from State Sen. Patricia Canzoneri-Fitzpatrick. That project is on track to be completed by the end of the month.
In an op-ed column, “Samuel Nahmias: Lawrence is investing in safety, beauty and community” in the May 15-21 issue of the Herald, Nahmias also noted a new initiative to target the greenhead fly, an insect that has been a major nuisance for many village residents during the summer months. He claimed that the new program would significantly reduce the presence of the flies, and make the village’s parks, backyards, pools and public spaces more pleasant for residents.
Barry Ringelheim, an Atlantic Beach resident, said that he looked forward to seeing all of these new projects. “I think spending money for better lighting is a great idea,” Ringelheim said. “The cameras, I mean, I live in Atlantic Beach, and I sometimes wonder what could happen. I think it’s a very good idea.”
He added that Rock Hall Road typically experiences a lot of flooding, and that he hoped it could be renovated to benefit both drivers who use it and resident who live on it.
“Together, these projects reflect our administration’s firm commitment to delivering meaningful, tangible improvements to the Village of Lawrence,” Nahmias wrote in the column to the Herald. “Whether it’s a safer road, a brighter streetlight, a new sidewalk or relief from insects, each initiative is rooted in one goal: improving the quality of life for our residents.”
Have an opinion on the village’s projects? Send letter to mberman@liherald.com.
