A ribbon-cutting ceremony was held Friday afternoon to celebrate the grand reopening of the newly renovated Harry Reiss Park on Blauvelt Road in Monsey, marking the completion of a major improvement project aimed at enhancing one of the community’s most popular recreational destinations.
Town of Ramapo Supervisor Michael Specht and community members gathered for the ceremony, officially unveiling the park’s new features and celebrating the investment in the town’s parks system.
The revitalized park now boasts a brand-new playground, upgraded walking paths, enhanced landscaping, and additional recreational amenities designed for residents of all ages. As part of the project, the Town is also installing a new pedestrian crosswalk on Blauvelt Road to make it safer and easier for children and families to cross the street and access the park.
The celebration also highlighted the excitement the project generated among local children. Dozens of neighborhood kids wrote heartfelt letters thanking Supervisor Michael Specht and the Town of Ramapo for renovating the park. The children also created and hung dozens of colorful handmade “Thank You” signs throughout the park, expressing their appreciation for the new playground and improvements. Their messages of gratitude added a personal and heartfelt touch to the ribbon-cutting ceremony, reflecting just how much the renovated park means to Monsey families.
“We’re proud to reopen Harry Reiss Park with upgrades that will benefit families throughout Monsey,” Ramapo Supervisor Michael Specht told Monsey Scoop. “The new pedestrian crosswalk on Blauvelt Road will make it much safer for children and families to access the park, and we’re excited to provide this beautiful space for the community to enjoy for generations to come.”
Harry Reiss Park is named in honor of Harry Reiss, a dedicated community leader who served as a Town of Ramapo Councilman from 1994 through 2007. Throughout his years of public service, Reiss earned widespread respect for his commitment to the Town of Ramapo and its residents, making the park a lasting tribute to his legacy.
Following the ribbon-cutting ceremony, attendees toured the renovated park and its new amenities. Town officials said the improvements reflect Ramapo’s continued commitment to investing in quality parks, recreational facilities, and infrastructure that improve the quality of life for residents across the town.
