Elwood -
Supervisor Chad A. Lupinacci and Councilman Mark Cuthbertson announced new
extended hours for children with special needs at the Sgt. Paul Tuozzolo
Memorial Spray Park at Elwood Park, starting on Tuesday, June 18.
Councilman
Mark Cuthbertson said, “I thank Agnes Musi for contacting me and bringing this
important issue to light, including and accommodating children of all abilities
at our parks and in our Town is so important, we look forward to the children
enjoying the splash park during the summer months.”
Councilman
Mark Cuthbertson received an email from Agnes Musi, Vice President of the
Elwood Special Education PTA, requesting time be set aside at the Sgt. Paul
Tuozzolo Memorial Spray Park for children with special needs. Cuthbertson
forwarded that request to the Director of Parks and Recreation, Greg Wagner,
who loved the idea and presented it to Supervisor Chad A. Lupinacci.
Supervisor
Chad A. Lupinacci stated: “We decided to extend the hours for kids with special
needs, who are always welcome at the park all the time, to make it easier for
all children to navigate the spray pad and enjoy the great amenities the Town's
Parks and Recreation Department offers. Parents should also know we have two
water-use wheelchairs on-site for use in the spray park!”
Children
with special needs will be able to visit the Sgt. Paul Tuozzolo Memorial Spray
Park early on Tuesdays and Thursdays, starting Tuesday, June 18. While official
spray park hours are 11 AM to 8 PM, 7 days a week, children with special needs
may now use the park exclusively from 10 AM to 11 AM on Tuesdays and Thursdays,
to be joined by the general public from 11 AM to 8 PM.
The
spray park is open to residents with Resident Recreation Photo ID Cards
(children under 13 years old will be able to use the spray park if accompanying
parent/guardian shows a Resident Recreation Photo ID Card – exception only for
those who have Picnic Permits for that day), which may be purchased at Town
Hall in the Parks and Recreation Department (Room 103) Monday through Friday,
9:00 AM to 4:00 PM, call (631) 351-3089 for information. Recreation ID Cards
may also be purchased at the Dix Hills Ice Rink, call for hours, (631)
462-5883. Non-residents may only enter the spray park if they are accompanied
by a resident with a Resident Recreation Photo ID Card.
The Town
Board accepted a donation of two water-use wheelchairs for the Sgt. Paul
Tuozzolo Memorial Spray Park at its August 7, 2018 meeting. The chairs were
donated by Town employee Margo Myles and her husband Sean, who wanted children
with special physical needs to be able to enjoy the spray park. The chairs,
which have specially-designed wheels, are valued at $2,178.
In
the photo: Water-use wheelchair for the St. Paul Tuozzolo Memorial Spray Park.
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