Riverhead secures $2.4M grant for adaptive children’s playground piece of Town Square project

Riverhead was awarded a $2.4 million state grant that closes a critical funding gap to advance the adaptive children’s playground planned for the Town Square downtown revitalization project.

Gov. Kathy Hochul announced last Tuesday $67.5 million in grants through New York Places for Learning, Activity, and Youth Socialization (NY PLAYS) for 89 projects to build, expand and renovate public playgrounds across New York State.

Riverhead received the largest monetary award on Long Island, with the Village of Hempstead receiving $1.6 million and $750,000 for the Chabad of Mid-Suffolk.

The adaptive playground is one of the six key components of the $35 million Town Square project, which officially broke ground at the end of last year. The design is to create a free, outdoor playground for children of all-abilities and ages on the Peconic River waterfront. At the same time, the construction of the playground advances Riverhead’s broader revitalization and flood-resiliency efforts.

Thanks to the NY PLAYS grant, the total identified funding to be used for the playground’s construction is roughly $3.7 million. In previous years, the town received $245,000 from the state’s Downtown Revitalization (DRI) grant and $200,000 from the NY Department of State’s Brownfield Opportunity Area program for this piece of the Town Square project.

“This award is a major milestone for the entire Town Square project,” said Dawn Thomas, Riverhead’s director of Economic Development, Planning and Building, in a statement. “The adaptive playground is essential to realizing the Town Square vision as a lively, family-friendly and inclusive downtown destination.”

Ms. Thomas credited Carissa Collins, an associate administrator in the town’s community development office, for her work preparing the town’s NY PLAYS application, as well as the Community Development staff and others town departments for their efforts in moving the adaptive children’s playground forward.

NY PLAYS is a part of the governor’s Unplug and Play initiative, which encourages kids and families to put the digital devices away and get outdoors, be physically active and connect with others.

Councilman Ken Rothwell said the crucial Town Square component is “far more than a playground.”

“Recreation should be available to everyone, and this project reflects that commitment,” said Mr. Rothwell in a town press release. “It will be a welcoming, thoughtfully designed public space where children of differing abilities can play alongside one another and families can make lasting memories along the Peconic River.”

The playground is coupled with the upper and lower Town Square, riverfront improvements and a planned amphitheater — all of which connect Riverhead’s downtown destinations, including Main Street businesses, the Riverwalk and the Peconic River waterfront. Additionally, the Town Square project plans include pedestrian-friendly “complete streets” or streetscapes, a 94-room Hilton Tapestry hotel and a parking garage.

“Riverhead’s downtown is being transformed into a place where families, residents and visitors can gather, enjoy the waterfront and support local businesses,” said Town Supervisor Jerry Halpin in a statement. “This extraordinary state investment moves us much closer to delivering an inclusive playground that every child can enjoy, while creating another reason for families to spend time in our downtown.”