The Village of Spring Valley has been awarded $242,620 in state funding to improve Unity Park near Hoyt and West streets, part of Governor Kathy Hochul’s newly announced $67.5 million in funding for 89 playground projects across New York State.
According to correspondence from the Governor’s Office obtained by Monsey Scoop, the funding will allow Spring Valley to enhance the existing recreational space at Unity Park. The grant was awarded through the state’s NY PLAYS program, part of Hochul’s broader “Unplug and Play” initiative. The program provides funding to municipalities and nonprofit organizations to build, expand and renovate public playgrounds across New York.
A significant amount of credit for bringing the funding to Spring Valley goes to Yossi Reich, a community volunteer who is not employed by the Village but has devoted substantial time and effort to assisting with grant opportunities and other initiatives. Reich played a crucial role in helping secure the Unity Park funding.
Nida Sharif, Spring Valley’s Director of Community Development, also played an important role in the grant process. Sharif heads the Village’s Community Development Department.
The grant comes as Mayor Schenley Vital and his administration continue efforts to move Spring Valley forward through improvements to Village facilities, infrastructure and public spaces.
“We are very excited about this grant and are looking forward to seeing the improvements and enhancements at Unity Park,” Deputy Mayor Yisroel Eisenbach told Monsey Scoop. “This is another important improvement for the Village, and we are hopeful that this will not be the last, but the first of several additional grants and projects that will continue improving Spring Valley for our residents.”
