SOURCE:
https://www.newsday.com/long-island/towns/kings-point-park-alienation-parkland-j87gwd3j
By Joshua Needelman - June 18, 2025
A proposal to alienate 2.48 acres of Kings Point Park to create a parking lot for a community center died in the State Assembly on Tuesday.
The bill, proposed by Assemb. Daniel Norber (R-Great Neck), did not make it to the floor before the legislative session ended Tuesday. A companion bill proposed by State Sen. Jack Martins (R-Old Westbury) passed the Senate on Friday.
"It's a great victory for the community and the environment," Adrienne Esposito, executive director of Citizens Campaign for the Environment, said in an interview. "The village should go back to the drawing board and come up with a better plan." The Great Neck Park District, which leases the park from the Village of Kings Point, did not respond to multiple requests for comment.
The proposed bills would have allowed for the land to be turned into a parking lot for a community center to be used by the United Mashadi Jewish Community of America near the park's Steamboat Road entrance. In exchange, Kings Point would convey 13.48 acres of parkland to the Great Neck Park District, which leases the park from the village.
Kings Point Park — with 175 acres of sprawling green space, hiking trails and athletics courts — is a reprieve for Great Neck residents looking for a refuge from the familiar contours of suburban life.
It also comprises protected wetlands, which account for 90% of the grounds and serve as a bulwark against climate change, environmental advocates say.
Wetlands are areas of land covered by water, either permanently or during certain seasons, according to the World Wildlife Fund. They are home to various species of wildlife and function as natural filters that trap pollutants and treat contamination, including bacteria, in the soil.
Esposito said "about 80% of wetlands on Long Island have been filled in and developed."
"Wetlands are more important today than ever," she said. "They act as a natural barrier against sea level rise, winds and storm events. They are protecting the mainland. We should not be disturbing them. We should be protecting them as much as possible."
Parkland swap
The land proposed for alienation included a playground, basketball court and restrooms, according to a statement from the Great Neck Park District. "If the legislation is enacted," the statement read, "the Park District will replace the existing playground, basketball court and restrooms."
Martins and Norber did not respond to requests for comment. A person who answered the phone at the United Mashadi synagogue declined to comment Tuesday.
The Senate bill called for the village to dedicate 5.67 acres of parkland, which is off Middle Neck Road, park district commissioner Vanessa Tamari said in a text message.
The park district would also receive an additional 7.81 acres of wetlands owned by the Village of Kings Point. The 5.67 acres encompass the former Wildwood Pool and Tennis Club, according to the park district's statement. The 7.81 acres of land is to the north of the club, and those parcels are connected, Tamari said.
Petition bid.
A petition on Change.org had more than 2,340 signatures opposing the park transfer as of Tuesday afternoon.
"This bill contradicts the mission of the Great Neck Park District," the petition states. "It sets a dangerous precedent for the piecemeal destruction of our parks and undermines the public trust."
The park holds sentimental value for some residents. Jean Pierce, 85, of Great Neck, said her children grew up in the park's woodlands, playing "cops and robbers" and toasting marshmallows.
"You can walk in there and be away from all the hustle and bustle in the world," Pierce said.
Diane Motchkavitz, 67, who grew up in the Great Neck home built by her grandfather, said in a phone interview she wished the park district would have consulted the public more in the decision.
"Pave paradise to put up a parking lot," Motchkavitz said, referencing lyrics in the Joni Mitchell song "Big Yellow Taxi." "This is a lot [happening] behind closed doors, not getting it out into the public."