YSR.

Town Supervisor Michael Specht and the Ramapo Town Board held a grand reopening Friday afternoon for Harry Reiss Park on Blauvelt Road, marking the completion of a series of upgrades to the park.

The improvements include a new playground with swings, climbing equipment and other updated recreational features designed to enhance the park for children and families in the area.

Town officials said the upgrades were part of an effort to improve the park and provide residents with a more modern and welcoming space for recreation and community use.

Children welcomed the reopening with creative handmade thank-you signs displayed throughout the park fence, expressing their appreciation to Supervisor Michael Specht, Town of Ramapo Board, and Yossi Margaretten for leading the improvements of the park. The celebration concluded with a ribbon-cutting led by Specht alongside dozens of local children. Following a countdown, the ribbon was cut and the children eagerly rushed onto the brand-new playground, officially opening the renovated park.

In remarks just before the ribbon cutting, Supervisor Specht said the park was named after former Ramapo Town Councilman Harry Reiss, who cared deeply about the future of the town and its children. Specht said the improvements were made so neighborhood families could better enjoy the park, while noting that the project is still not complete. He said additional grass will be planted, a walking trail will be added around the park, more benches will be installed for parents to watch their children, and a new crosswalk will be constructed on Blauvelt Road to help pedestrians reach the park more safely.

The reopening marked the completion of the main upgrade work and officially unveiled the newly improved park to the public. Specht also thanked Harry Reiss’ family, several of whom attended the ceremony, saying Reiss would have been proud to see so many children enjoying the park named in his honor. He also thanked the Parks and Recreation Superintendent Michelle Antosca, Yossi Margereten and the Town’s Parks Department for their work on the project.

The Town of Ramapo said the project reflects its continued investment in local parks and recreational spaces throughout the town.