The City of Glen Cove has received a $553,000 grant from the Nassau County Boost Tourism Program, which will help the city enhance parks and recreational facilities to attract visitors and bolster local tourism. The grant will fund several long-overdue up-grades, improving spaces that are essential to the community and that will attract regional sports tournaments.
Mayor Pamela Panzenbeck and Spiro Tsirkas, executive director of Glen Cove’s Youth Services and Recreation department, who collaborated on securing the grant, said they were excited about the funding’s potential to revitalize the city’s public areas.
“This is a true grant,” Panzenbeck said. “We have the money, and we’re using it to do more refurbishments. It’s wonderful because we don’t have to borrow the money to get these projects done.”
The funds, which were allocated less than two weeks after the city applied for the grant last month, will allow Glen Cove to make significant improvements to its facilities without accruing additional debt. According to Panzenbeck, the grant is one of the largest single funding sources the city has received in recent years.
“We get grants for all different things, but this came all at once,” she said. “It’s going to allow us to continue refurbishing things in the city that have been so long neglected.”
One of the most significant projects that will be funded by the grant is the renovation of the tennis courts at Stanco Park. The facility, which is used extensively for tennis and pickleball, is suffering from years of wear and tear.
“The tennis courts are cracked and in terrible condition,” Panzenbeck said. “They’ve been waiting to be repaired for a long time, and it’s wonderful to finally address this.”
In addition, four baseball backstops at Glen Cove City Stadium will be refurbished. “We use our stadium to bring tournaments and teams in to play, so that’s a great thing,” Tsirkas said. “The backstops have needed work for a long time, and once we fix one thing, it’s like a domino effect — we have to continue fixing more.”
Other projects include repairing the driving range at the city’s golf course, focusing on its structure and exterior walls, which will cost an estimated $18,000. Additionally, new fencing and curbing will be constructed at the sand volleyball court at Pryibil Beach, upgrades that are expected to cost roughly $50,000.
The enhancements funded by the grant are intended to increase tourism and community engagement. Stanco Park, which has a playground and facilities for golf, basketball, handball and basketball as well as tennis and pickleball, will become a more appealing destination for sports tournaments.
“Between baseball tournaments and other events, these upgrades will enhance the city and attract people to our facilities,” Tsirkas said. “Everything we do, and everything the department does, is for the kids. We want to give them the best and safest environments to excel in their sports and get out of the house to play.”
Panzenbeck echoed that sentiment, emphasizing the importance of creating spaces that benefit both residents and visitors. “We converted a decrepit playground into a sand-based volleyball court, and families love playing there in the summer,” she said. “Now we’re able to upgrade it further and make it even better.”
The grant’s quick allocation allowed the city to begin planning and contracting work almost immediately. “The funds came almost instantaneously,” Panzenbeck said. “We always have a list and a plan for what we want to repair next, so we were able to act quickly.”
According to Tsirkas, contractors are already preparing to start work, with fencing and backstop repairs at the stadium expected to start next week. The backstops should be completed within a month, while the fencing and volleyball court upgrades will be finished shortly thereafter. More weather-dependent projects, like the tennis courts, will begin in the spring, when conditions are better suited to asphalt and paint applications.
Tsirkas anticipates that all projects will be completed by July 4.
“This funding allows us to focus on what’s important — maintaining and improving the spaces that our residents and visitors use most,” he said. “We don’t stop looking for ways to enhance the city, and as long as the mayor and council continue to support these initiatives, we’re on the right track.”
The upgrades are part of a larger strategy by the city to boost tourism and improve infrastructure. The refurbished facilities are expected to draw more visitors, in turn supporting local businesses and enhancing the city’s reputation as a destination for sports and recreation.
“These projects aren’t just about fixing things — they’re about creating a better environment for our community and showcasing the best of Glen Cove,” Panzenbeck said. “We’re excited to see the positive impact these improvements will have on our city.”
