Rally to reopen Morley Park pool

Continued from Page 5

All speakers spoke with a common consensus: that Christopher Morley Park Pool is an integral part of the community.

Manhasset resident Jerie Gross said that she has been frequenting the pool since she was a child.

She said the closure of the pool strips away the privileges of outdoor activities and play that it offers other children, leading them into negative habits like social media instead.

“We’re closing these avenues for our kids to have outlets,” Gross said. “We’re just, you know, feeding more into the negative masses that are out there.”

She said the closure of the pool brings deep sadness to her as it represents the heart of the North Shore.

“It’s like taking a heart of a human,” Gross said. “You’re lifeless in doing this.” the speakers said it was absurd that approximately $6 million to repair the pool could not be parsed out from the county’s $3.2 billion budget.

“We have the funds, let’s just do the need to fix it up, we need to revitalize it and get it back into operation.”

Christopher Morley Park’s pool was closed by Nassau County after parks administration determined it needed to be repaired and funds were not allocated to do so. (Photo by Cameryn Oakes)

Many of the speakers demanded more transparency from elected officials who make decisions as such, with DeRiggiWhitton saying she only heard about the pool’s closure after receiving an email from a constituent.

Yan said there has been a level of failure by government officials in making this decision, including Nassau County Legislator Mazi Pilip (R-Great Neck) who Yan said has not done anything to help residents combat this issue.

Notice of Formation of MJCS23 LLC. Articles of Organization filed with Secretary of State of NY (SSNY) on 2023-03-31. Office location: Nassau County. SSNY designated as agent of upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY should mail process to MIKE ZHANG: 7823 LANGDALE STREET NEW HYDE PARK NY 11040. Purpose: Any lawful purpose

Notice of Formation of Project Henry SR LLC. Articles of Organization filed with Secretary of State of NY (SSNY) on 202305-30. Office location: Nassau County. SSNY designated as agent of upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY should mail process to LLC: 149 New Hyde Park Franklin Square NY 11010. Purpose: Any lawful purpose

Notice of Qualification of Excel Exterminating LLC. Certificate of Authority filed with Secretary of State of NY (SSNY) on 2023-0615 Office location: Nassau County. Limited Liability Company (LLC) formed in DE on 2023-0523. SSNY designated as agent of Limited Liability Company (LLC) upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY shall mail process to United Corporate Services, Inc. : 800 North State Street Suite 304 Dover DE 19901

Articles of Organization originally filed with DE Secretary of State (SOS). 401 Federal St. Suite 3 Dover DE 19901. Purpose: Any lawful purpose.

Notice of Qualification of Priority Exterminating and Odor Control LLC. Application for Authority was filed with the Secretary of State of New York (SSNY) on 06/15/2023. Office location: Nassau County. SSNY is designated as agent of LLC upon whom process may be served. SSNY shall mail copy of process to: Reg Agent: United Corporate Services, Inc., 800 North State Street, Suite 304, Dover, DE 19901. Principal business address: 149 New Hyde Park Road, Franklin Square, NY 11010. Certificate of Formation filed with Secretary of State of Delaware: 401 Federal St., Suite 3, Dover, DE 19901 on 5/23/2023. Purpose: any lawful purpose.

Desiree Woodson said that the pool’s closure is especially detrimental to underprivileged community members who don’t have other means to access cooling relief during the hot summer months.

“How important this pool is to so many people, especially those as we mentioned that might live in the minority,” DeRiggi-Whitton said. “It serves an incredibly important purpose for our area.”

Woodson pointed out that the park is located along a Nassau County bus line, allowing access for families who do not have their own vehicles.

With the reason for the pool’s closure attributed to a lack of funding, many of

Weihua Yan FOUNDER OF NORTH SHORE RESIDENTS FOR REOPENING

right thing,” Woodson said. “Get this pool open and functioning.”

County Executive Bruce Blakemen said previously that the pool was not utilized highly by the community, but Woodson said it was because it had fallen into disrepair due to the county’s neglect.

“It’s not right,” Woodson said. “We

“We deserve leaders who will understand the diverse needs of our community, as I know first hand the struggles of immigrant families, the value of hard work and the strength of unity,” Yan said.

Yan is challenging Pilip in the election for the Nassau County District 10 legislative seat in November.

“This is not about politics,” Yan said. “It’s about the well-being of our community.”

DeRiggi-Whitton said that Blakemen said he would reconsider the pool’s funding if he received enough feedback from the community.

“What we are doing is sending the message that it should be,” DeRiggi-Whitton said.