Work is finished on a $6.3 million revitalization project at Whelan Park in the Village of Malverne, Nassau County. Spearheaded by New York State Homes and Community Renewal’s Office of Resilient Homes and Communities, the project introduces new recreational amenities and critical stormwater infrastructure improvements to the space, increasing resiliency along the Mill River watershed.
Previously prone to localized flooding due to its location atop a former pond, Whelan Park now features upgraded infrastructure including subsurface water retention basins beneath athletic fields and paved areas, porous pavement, bioswales, and improved grading. These elements are intended to reduce flooding, improve water quality, and bolster ecological health along the Pine Stream. Recreational additions include two Little League ball fields, a dog park, picnic area, and a pedestrian jogging path. Educational displays have also been installed through project work. Installations highlight the park’s history and the function of its new water retention systems.
Photograph from ribbon cutting at Whelan Park, via ny.gov.
Whelan Park is located near the Malverne LIRR station, providing direct rail access to and from New York City via the Long Island Rail Road’s West Hempstead Branch.
“New York is leading the way on climate adaptation and resiliency,” said RuthAnne Visnauskas, New York State Homes and Community Renewal Commissioner. “This state investment will mitigate flooding, improve stormwater management, and help enhance the local ecology around the Mill River while also making Whelan Park more family-friendly for generations to come.”
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I hope they pronounce the name correctly: “Wheelan” not Whalen