Donations Sought For New Westhampton Beach Park

The Village of Westhampton Beach is now accepting donations to help pay for Glovers Park.

Bronze memorial plaques, like those seen on benches along Main Street, are being offered at various price points. Proceeds from those sales will help offset the cost of the park’s benches, lampposts and trees.

According to Westhampton Beach Mayor Maria Moore, the village is in a position to offer plaques for 14 benches at $800 each and 10 decorative lamp posts at $500 each. Eight families can also purchase London plane trees for $250 each.

Also being offered is the chance to memorialize a three-tiered fountain that will be placed in the center of the park, which is located behind the Greater Westhampton Chamber of Commerce building on Glovers Lane and is expected to be finished this spring.

The land for Glovers Park was obtained by the village in 2008 using Community Preservation Fund proceeds. Over the ensuing years, committees were created and plans were drafted, but the park was never built.

The three landscapers who have helped the project come to fruition are Marcus Stinchi of Stinchi Landscaping in Westhampton Beach, Doug Nappi of Dragonfly Landscape Design in Westhampton, and Chris Tufano from Chip’s Evergreen Landscaping in East Moriches.

All three landscapers donated their labor for the project. Included was a draft layout that Mr. Stinchi put together early in 2015. All materials for the project were purchased using the village’s park fund.

When completed, the small park will boast a number of features that should help attract visitors. Last year, Ms. Moore said she wanted to incorporate a bocce ball court into the design; the court now sits at the back of the recreation facility.

The finished park will also include a fountain, walkways, benches and game tables that can be used to play popular favorites, such as backgammon and chess.

Because of the proximity of its office to the park, the Greater Westhampton Chamber of Commerce will sign out equipment and games for visitors.

“We’re so pleased to have turned an empty lot into a lovely park with recreational activities, and are grateful to all those who contributed,” Ms. Moore said in an email, specifically naming the village’s Department of Public Works, as well as Mr. Stinchi, Mr. Nappi and Mr. Tufano, for their efforts.