Greenport’s Third Street Park to get $100,000 in accessible playground upgrades

Greenport’s Third Street Park is set for roughly $100,000 in playground upgrades in Phase 1 of renovations, with work expected to begin later this month, Mayor Kevin Stuessi said Friday.

The first phase will include an ADA-accessible swing, four traditional swings, two toddler swings and a new early childhood playground. The work will primarily be paid for through Community Development Block Grant funding, with 20% from village expenses.

The park will also get an “Inclusive Orbit” spinner that wheelchair users can enter, with an accessible route from Third Street. The ADA-accessible swing will be directly beside it. Mr. Stuessi said the park will be reopened in time for the holidays.

“Installing new equipment over at the Third Street Park will be wonderful for the community,” Mr. Stuessi said. “It’s a very active park that is utilized by a whole variety of neighborhood kids.”

The playground for children ages 5 through 12 is relatively new and will remain unchanged.

The village will also hold a community event to solicit opinions on additional park improvements and other infrastructure needs residents would like addressed, he added. No date has yet been announced.

Further phases will use some of the $2.65 million in state funding announced by Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie and Assemblyman Tommy John Schiavoni last month.

The aid includes $500,000 for park improvements and $2.15 million for sewer and water-quality infrastructure meant to support housing and protect the bay.

The playground work builds on the village’s earlier approval of a $42,570 privately funded upgrade to the park’s basketball courts. That project includes larger polycarbonate backboards, collapsible rims, heavy-duty nets and protective pads on the poles.

“Our village after-school and summer camp utilizes it significantly as well,” Mr. Stuessi said of the park. “And it really plays off of all the wonderful work that’s been done at the Third Street Memorial Basketball Court Park thus far.”