New York State Parks Announce Accessible Recreation Improvements at Valley Stream State Park
Newly Renovated Basketball Courts and Accessible Pathways Expand Recreational Opportunities on Long Island
The New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation (OPRHP) today announced the completion of significant accessibility and recreational improvements at Valley Stream State Park, including three newly renovated basketball courts and improved accessible pathways. The three courts were fully resurfaced and refurbished and are now ADA-compliant.
This project expands recreational opportunities at the popular Long Island park while making it easier for visitors of all abilities to enjoy the amenities. The improvements are particularly important for Valley Stream and the surrounding communities, where the park serves as an accessible and affordable destination for recreation, exercise and community gathering.
“Our State Parks should be places where everyone feels welcome and has the opportunity to get outside, be active and enjoy time with family and friends. These improvements at Valley Stream State Park put that commitment into action by removing barriers and creating more opportunities for people of all abilities to play,” New York State Parks Commissioner Kathy Moser said. “With Governor Hochul’s continued commitment to expanding more access to recreation, we are making our parks more inclusive while giving New Yorker’s more reasons to unplug and play.”
Located closer to the parking area, the courts are connected by wider, obstacle-free accessible pathways that improve access for players and spectators. The redesigned courts can accommodate wheelchair basketball tournaments on all three courts simultaneously, while also providing great flexibility for games, clinics and community programming. The courts complement Valley Stream State Park’s other recreational amenities, including accessible playgrounds, soccer fields, tree-lined trails and shaded picnic areas.
Assemblymember Michaelle C. Solanges said, “Valley Stream State Park is a treasured gathering place for families across our community, so I am overjoyed about these improvements which will ensure even more of our neighbors can enjoy everything it has to offer. By making these courts and pathways more accessible, we are creating more opportunities for people of all abilities to stay active and come together. I’m grateful to New York State Parks and the Foundation for Long Island State Parks for continuing to invest in a park that means so much to Valley Stream.”
“Valley Stream and the surrounding communities are basketball towns,” said Bryan Erwin, Chairman of the State Council of Parks and Foundation for Long Island State Parks. “We are thrilled to provide hoops communities with a state-of-the-art court, funded in large part by the Foundation for Long Island State Parks. Play has already started, games are going full tilt, and a new group of players is already saying, ‘we got next.’”
The project was made possible through funding from the Foundation for Long Island State Parks Inc. and an All Are Welcome grant.
The New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation oversees more than 250 parks, historic sites, recreational trails, golf courses, boat launches and more, and welcomes over 86 million visitors annually. For more information on any of these recreation areas, visit parks.ny.gov, download the free NY State Parks Explorer app or call 518.474.0456. Connect with us on Facebook, Instagram, X, LinkedIn, the OPRHP Blog or via the OPRHP Newsroom.
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