Thanks to the generosity of Hicks Nurseries and the sponsorship of the Greater Long Island Running Club, the new "Grove of Champions" at the Eisenhower Park Fieldhouse was inaugurated on Nov. 7.

As part of the Sprint for the Parks hosted by the Greater Long Island Running Club to benefit the Nassau County Parks, three trees are to be planted each year in honor of the winners of the sprint and the first three trees (Hawthorns) have now been planted to add to the beauty of an already beautiful park.

"We are firmly committed to doing everything we can to support and foster our local parks," observed Lynn Kotler of the Greater Long Island Running Club, who serves as director of the sprint. "The new Grove of Champions is still another way of showing the support of the Long Island running community for our hard pressed Nassau County parks system."

The club had preciously presented a check for $5,000 to Friends of Nassau Parks, representing the entire net profits of the 2002 Sprint for the Parks.