Community enjoys new park weeks ahead of opening

With a ribbon-cutting ceremony scheduled for Saturday, March 30, Billy’s Park, named after Blue Point resident Billy Schettino, who tragically died, has already had a resurgent effect on the community with many children enjoying the newly built playground.

Originally to be completed in November, international shipping delays caused the opening date to be pushed back to the March 30 date.

President of the Blue Point Civic Association, Jason Borowski, said that the realization of the Roe Park project had “incredible” meaning for the Blue Point community.

“This park is an example of community members rallying around an idea with a ‘can-do’ attitude as opposed to a ‘can’t-do’ attitude,” said Borowski.

With the offering features like a skate park and a multisport court, it is the first of its kind in terms of amenities in Blue Point.

“The commitment of the town to daylight the portion of Purgatory Creek, which runs through the site, as well as the addition of native plantings later in the spring time, is also going to have a tremendous environmental benefit.  Most importantly, the park is a representation to the community of perseverance in the face of tragedy.  The constant throughout the duration of the project and unquestionably the driving force, even when progress seemed to be losing steam, is the Schettino family.  They are the real reason that Billy’s dream has come true, and it is extremely fitting that he will now be immortalized through this park that generations of Blue Point residents will be able to enjoy,” said Borowski.

The dream and vision for a park came from local youth William “Billy” Schettino, who tragically died in an accident before the plan could come to fruition, nearly 10 years ago.

Following his death in March 2012, Schettino’s family and friends continued to lobby lawmakers and elected officials for Roe Park to become actualized.

The Blue Point Civic Association became involved when then-legislator Robert Calarco attended a meeting and presented conceptual plans, but warned of a lack of funding.

BPCA member and local activist James Powers attended a Suffolk County Legislature budgeting meeting and gave an empowering, eloquent request for the additional funding to be assigned to the project.

The result was over $1 million allocated to the park from the county. After several additional years of negotiations, the land has finally been transferred from the county to the Town of Brookhaven.

Councilman Neil Foley said that the children enjoying the playground were just the first members of the community to benefit from the offerings of Billy’s Park.

“Everyone in the community will be able to enjoy this project and create lifelong memories of friendship, family, and fun,” said Foley.