Contact: Kara Hahn

The Suffolk County Legislature's Presiding Officer William J. Lindsay (D-Holbrook), the County Executive Steve Levy, Assemblywoman Ginny Fields (D-Oakdale), Islip Town Supervisor Phil Nolan and local community leaders joined today to break ground for the foundation of a more than 15,000 square foot indoor basketball building, the beginning of Phase I of a public-private partnership to create a 4-acre Community Youth Complex in Sayville which will serve as a comprehensive sports and activity hub for local youths.

Suffolk County is partnering with Terry Cullen of Non-profit South Shore Community Sports Center, Inc. to develop a long-desired skate park, a future part of the sports complex planned for this four acre plot on Hanson Place in Sayville. The desire was expressed by local teens for a need to have a place to skateboard and by local residents who witnessed the destruction by skateboarders of sidewalks and ramps in parks and areas throughout the County.

The plan is to build a Community Youth Complex on a four acre site which will include facilities for:

The planned sports complex will greatly improve the pre-existing conditions of this property and will include the appropriate drainage, sewerage, underground electric, sufficient parking and professional landscaping. "This is probably the most important district initiative I had been involved with since I have been in public office. It is taking an area of Sayville that had been in disrepair and it will transform it into a facility that is absolutely needed by our community."

"After years of effort, I'm proud to say we've finally found a solution that will bring this much-needed youth athletic complex to the residents in and around Sayville," said County Executive Steve Levy. "Creating this type of complex has been a huge priority for me for a long time and I'm thankful to Presiding Officer Lindsay and Terry Cullen for their belief in the project and for their hard work in making it a reality. I will do everything I can at the county level to assure this plan is successful and that this facility is enjoyed by our local residents for years to come."

Assemblywoman Ginny Fields was able to contribute funds to assist in the development and Islip Town Supervisor Phil Nolan and his colleagues contributed greatly through the planning process. "This community has been in need of a positive outlet for its youth for many years. Finally we have a public-private partnership which will provide this resource for our young people," said Assemblywoman Fields. "I am proud of the role I played and happy to have secured a substantial grant for the development of this much needed community center."

"This sports/community center is the result of joint efforts between Assemblywoman Ginny Fields, Legislator William Lindsay, Islip Town Supervisor Phil Nolan and the private sector," said Terry Cullen, of South Shore Community Youth Sports Center, Inc. " It will serve our community's youth today and for years to come. This is a dream come true!"

E-MAIL: info@sayvillechamber.com