A vital athletic and recreational hub on the South Fork is on the brink of a sweeping modernization. Southampton Town Supervisor Maria Moore announced that the town has been awarded $675,000—the maximum possible subsidy—from the state’s Office of Parks, Recreation, & Historic Preservation (OPRHP) and its Environmental Protection Fund (EPF). The matching grant clears the runway for a total revitalization of Hampton West Park in Westhampton, ensuring the facility meets contemporary safety and accessibility standards.
The state grant operates on a reimbursement basis, covering up to 50% of eligible development costs. Because Southampton Town proactively budgeted $1.87 million for these upgrades within its current capital plan, Supervisor Moore confirmed that the project is fully funded to move forward immediately.
Located at 700 Stewart Avenue across from Suffolk County’s Gabreski Airport, the 15-acre community park has served as a heavily utilized athletic cradle for generations of local families, youth soccer clubs, and Little League teams. Originally deeded to the town in 1983, the park’s courts date back to 1978 and have largely relied on repetitive surface restriping to stay relevant—including a recent retrofit that repurposed older tennis courts into four pickleball courts to meet surging local demand.
The upcoming overhaul, spearheaded by the Southampton Town Parks and Recreation Department, will replace the weathered infrastructure from the ground up. Crews will systematically rebuild the existing basketball, tennis, and pickleball courts with brand-new surfacing, high-durability perimeter fencing, and updated sports equipment. Crucially, the blueprint integrates the latest in “accessible design” elements to resolve safety and compliance shortfalls for all residents, including disadvantaged communities.
According to Parks Director Kristen Doulos, construction will move at an accelerated pace, with a projected completion date by the end of 2026. Once finalized, the park will safely preserve its status as a top-tier, barrier-free public resource for the East End.
🔗 https://parks.ny.gov/sites/default/files
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