Nassau County Legislator Dave Mejias recently arranged for the transfer of county-owned land to the Village of Farmingdale for a passive park, transforming an unused parcel of land into a pristine neighborhood park. Leg. Mejias secured a $50,000 grant to pay for the construction on the .38-acre site.

"Instead of a dilapidated vacant lot, the people of Farmingdale will now have a beautiful passive park to enjoy," Mejias said. "This new park is indicative of my commitment to the preservation of open space in Nassau County and the quality of life of my neighbors in Farmingdale."

The park, located at the corner of Bethpage Road and Main Street in Farmingdale, will feature all new landscaping, a walkway with benches, and a small waterfall. It replaces a vacant lot filled with overgrown weeds and trees. Construction has already started on the project.

A landscape architect from Farmingdale State College put the park's design together.

"This pocket park is very consistent with the new vision," Building Superintendent Ron Craig said at a village board meeting earlier this month. "We're adding more green space, preserving almost a third of an acre of wooded area and adding a significant amount of new landscaping."

The park is across the street from Northside Elementary School, the site of a new playground that was recently installed and paid for with a $125,000 grant secured by Leg. Mejias.

Getting the land was great, but getting the land and a grant from Legislator Mejias to put a park there was a double win," said Village Trustee George Starkie. "This is a great opportunity for Farmingdale, and it brings more green space to our area."