The Village of New Hyde Park is taking a new approach to its annual street fair on Jericho Turnpike this year with its new Community Day event at Memorial Park.
The reasoning behind the cancelation of the annual street fair was because of the third track project that is currently happening throughout the village. Back in April of this year the Covert Avenue grade crossing was shut down in order for it to be eliminated, which is only a few blocks away from the street fair. During a village board meeting earlier this year, the board said that the new Community Day event would avoid traffic and safety hazards from the construction.
“This year, we will not be having our annual street fair on Jericho [Turnpike],” said trustee Richard Pallisco at last week’s public meeting at village hall. “Instead, on Saturday, Sept. 14, the village will be hosting Community Day at Memorial Park from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. If needed, the rain date will be the next day on Sunday, Sept. 15.”
Northwell Health is the event’s primary sponsor along with The Katie McBride Foundation and New Hyde Park Funeral Home, among others.
“Northwell Health has been a committed partner of the Village of New Hyde Park for many years,” said Regional Director of Corporate Community Relations for Northwell Health Matthew DePace. “With the yearly street fair on hold in 2019, we wanted to continue this commitment by partnering with their first annual Community Day event. Long Island Jewish Medical Center and North Shore University Hospital have signed on as sponsoring partners this year and will provide information on the range of services available at both sites. We’ve also added Zucker Hillside Hospital and Cohen’s Children Medical Center as co-sponsors this year who will both bring a level of family fun and interactivity to the event with games and more. We cherish this and all collaboration with our towns and are honored to be a continued supporter of the people and the Village of New Hyde Park.”
Northwell Health is also providing their Wellness Bus and will offer blood pressure, dermatology and diabetes screenings, flu shots and general checkup.
Some of the scheduled events include live music, food trucks, magic shows and other children activities, participation by local merchants, displays by local charitable organizations and the New Hyde Park Chamber of Commerce, performances by local cultural organizations and participation by local Scout troops, schools, houses of worship and the New Hyde Park Fire Department.
Live music from the band His Boy Elroy will be provided from 12 to 3 p.m. as well.
“Our street fair has always been a great success and it will be missed this year, but we hope that this event provides an opportunity for our community to enjoy and celebrate all the things that makes the village a great place to live. As was the cause of the street fair, the bulk of the work and the planning for this Community Day has fallen on the lap of [village clerk] Janet Bevers, which I want to thank for all her hard work in doing this.”
At last year’s annual street fair, which drew thousands of people to the area, approximately 130 sidewalk vendors participated while 150 specialty merchants also provided goods.
For more information about Community Day, visit www.vhnp.org or call village hall at 516-354-0022.
