New York 2025-2026 Regular Session

New York Assembly Bill A08621

Introduced
5/22/25  
Refer
5/22/25  

Caption

Authorizes the village of Kings Point, town of North Hempstead, county of Nassau, to alienate and discontinue certain parklands for the purpose of providing additional parking for the community center being built by the United Mashadi Jewish Community of America, and to replace such alienated parkland with a new, dedicated parkland.

Summary

This bill authorizes the Village of Kings Point in Nassau County to discontinue and alienate 2.4817 acres of designated parkland so the land can be used for additional parking for a community center being built by the United Mashadi Jewish Community of America. In exchange, the village must dedicate 5.76 acres of other land as parkland, provided that the replacement land has not previously been used for public open space or park purposes. The bill also requires the village to ensure that the replacement parkland is equal to or greater than the fair market value of the land being removed from park use. If the replacement land is worth less, the village must make up the difference through additional parkland acquisition and/or capital improvements to existing park and recreational facilities. The measure further preserves any federal requirements that may apply if the original parkland was acquired or improved with federal assistance, including compliance with any conversion or substitution rules imposed by the U.S. Department of the Interior.

Impact

The bill would amend the legal status of specific village-owned parkland in Kings Point by allowing its conversion from protected park use to a non-park municipal use tied to parking for a private/community center project. It creates a statutory substitute-parkland requirement and a fair-market-value offset mechanism, and it conditions the conversion on compliance with any applicable federal parkland conversion rules. The practical effect is to override local parkland protections for the identified parcels while preserving a net parkland replacement obligation.

Sentiment

Based on the bill text and available context, the measure appears to be framed as a land-swap and parkland replacement bill rather than a broadly controversial policy change. The sponsor’s approach suggests support for accommodating a community center project while maintaining parkland equivalency through replacement acreage and value safeguards. No committee transcript or vote record was provided, so there is no documented public debate or recorded sentiment in the available materials beyond the bill’s balancing structure.

Contention

The main potential point of contention is the conversion of existing parkland to parking for a community center, which can raise concerns about loss of protected open space, even when replacement land is provided. Another possible issue is whether the substitute 5.76 acres is truly equivalent in usefulness and value to the 2.4817 acres being alienated, especially if the replacement parcel differs in location, accessibility, or recreational quality. Any federal funding history tied to the original parkland could also complicate implementation because federal approval and compliance may be required before the conversion can occur.

Companion Bills

NY S07868

Same As Authorizes the village of Kings Point, town of North Hempstead, county of Nassau, to alienate and discontinue certain parklands for the purpose of providing additional parking for the community center being built by the United Mashadi Jewish Community of America, and to replace such alienated parkland with a new, dedicated parkland.

Previously Filed As

NY S07868

Authorizes the village of Kings Point, town of North Hempstead, county of Nassau, to alienate and discontinue certain parklands for the purpose of providing additional parking for the community center being built by the United Mashadi Jewish Community of America, and to replace such alienated parkland with a new, dedicated parkland.

NY S09364

Authorizes the village of Southampton to alienate and discontinue the use of certain parklands.

NY A10407

Authorizes the village of Southampton to alienate and discontinue the use of certain parklands.

NY S09108

Authorizes the town of Niagara to alienate and discontinue the use of certain parklands and to convey such parklands to David Gaines.

NY A09007

Authorizes the town of Niagara to alienate and discontinue the use of certain parklands and to convey such parklands to David Gaines.

NY S07493

Authorizes the town of Niagara to alienate and discontinue the use of certain parklands.

NY S08009

Authorizes the village of Malverne to alienate and discontinue the use of certain parklands and to develop new parkland or capital improvements to existing parks within the village.

NY A08557

Authorizes the village of Malverne to alienate and discontinue the use of certain parklands and to develop new parkland or capital improvements to existing parks within the village.

NY A11343

Authorizes the village of Upper Brookville, county of Nassau to discontinue and alienate the use of certain parklands

NY S08271

Authorizes the city of Yonkers to alienate and discontinue the use of certain parklands.

Similar Bills

No similar bills found.