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Legislator Wieder: Kennedy Park A Vibrant Space For Children And Their Families

Joins Village Of Spring Valley Officials In Opening Ceremony

Rockland County Legislators, Spring Valley Trustees, neighbors and a host of very happy children celebrated the opening of a new park with a ribbon-cutting ceremony, ice cream and pizza for the kids, a chance to try out the spectacular new playground.

“It’s an honor to join with so many community members and to witness the sheer joy of children enjoying this new park,” Rockland County Legislator Aron B. Wieder said. “Parks are about so much more than a place to visit. They are spaces that make our quality of life better and make our community a more desirable place to live. Now, this corner of Spring Valley has such a vibrant space.”

Kennedy Park, a pocket park located at 142 Old Nyack Turnpike in Spring Valley, has been completely rejuvenated. Where once there stood a drab parcel of land, now can be found colorful new playground equipment, including climbing areas, large slides and swings; benches; a gazebo with picnic tables; fencing; and rest rooms.

The park is geared toward families with children ages 2 to 12 and is ADA accessible.

“This park provides a convenient location to some 200 families who live nearby and now have a place where they can take their children to enjoy being outdoors,” Spring Valley Deputy Mayor Yisroel Eisenbach said. “I thank everyone who worked to make this a reality. It truly enhances our community.”

Also participating in the ceremony were Rockland County Legislators Joel Friedman, Toney L. Earl and Aney Paul; Village of Chestnut Ridge Deputy Mayor Chaim Rose; State Senator Bill Weber; Village of Spring Valley Trustees Joseph Gross and Asher Grossman.

“I know myself and my colleagues in the County Legislature are proud to have backed the grant program making these green spaces possible and I thank everyone involved, from the County Executive to our County departments who focused on the details that helped make this a reality. I also thank everyone who made today such a special event.”

The project was approved for up to $200,000 through the Rockland Resilient Recreation Grant program, which continues to award municipalities and non-profits from between $5,000 up to $200,000 for investments in public urban green spaces. The total grant program is using up to $5 million in federal American Rescue Plan Act Funds that were awarded to Rockland County.

Public surveys conducted by County government show that residents want increased public green spaces, which grew in popularity during - and since - the pandemic.

The County has already provided funding to several projects, including Nyack’s Memorial Park for various improvements; Good Samaritan Hospital for the expansion of its Garden of Hope; and Haverstraw Bay Park, one of the County’s most widely used parks, for new surfacing around the playground for a safer experience. Nearly two dozen additional park projects around Rockland are also in development. Projects are located in each of the county’s five towns.

Rockland County Legislators, Spring Valley Trustees, neighbors and a host of very happy children celebrated the opening of a new park with a ribbon-cutting ceremony, ice cream and pizza for the kids, a chance to try out the spectacular new playground at Kennedy Park in Spring Valley. The project was approved for up to $200,000 through the Rockland County Resilient Recreation Grant program. Participants in the ceremony included (above, left to right) Village of Spring Valley Trustee Asher Grossman, Village of Spring Valley Deputy Mayor Yisroel Eisenbach, Rockland County Legislators Joel Friedman, Aney Paul, Toney L. Earl and Aron B. Wieder.

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