_______ Malverne/West HeMpstead ______
HERALD Also serving Lakeview
Lakeview Day returns in August Page 2 VoL. 33 No. 30
JuLy 23 - 29, 2026
$1.00
His legacy is set in stone NYPD renames Police Academy for Malverne’s Steven McDonald By ALySSA R. GRIFFIN agriffin@liherald.com
Sue Grieco/Herald
The McDonald’s were joined by Mayor Zohran Mamdani, Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch, and other elected officials to celebrate the dedication.
The New York City Police Department renamed its academy the Detective Steven D. McDonald Police Academy at a ceremony on July 16, honoring the late detective who spent his final years in Malverne and whose message of forgiveness became known around the world. McDonald, who grew up in Rockville Centre before later settling in Malverne, remained an active member of the NYPD for more than three decades after a shooting in Central Park left him paralyzed from the neck down. Although he relied on a ventilator to breathe, he continued mentoring recruits, supporting wounded officers and speaking about forgiveness, peace and nonviolence until his death in 2017, at age 59. New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani, Police ConTinueD on Page 10
Community rallies for new Carbone Park relocation By ALySSA R. GRIFFIN agriffin@liherald.com
Residents gathered at Harvest House on July 16 to raise money for the relocation of Carbone Park, kicking off a community effort to build a larger, modern playground for Malverne’s youngest residents. Hosted by the Mothers of Malver ne and the Village’s Tree and Beautification Committee, the fundraiser brought neighbors together under the theme “Stronger Together” while introducing plans for the new park, which will be built on the former Malverne Police Headquarters property at 1
Britton Circle. Guests purchased wristbands for food and drink specials, with proceeds supporting future playground amenities. The new park will replace Carbone Park across the street, nearly doubling its size while adding green space, parking, modern playground equipment, improved safety surfacing and shaded areas created by newly planted trees. Village officials also hope to include a restroom with a changing station for park visitors and families attending events at nearby Gazebo Park. The playground is being designed to be fully accessible, with inclusive play
equipment, accessible swings and expanded sensory features that build on those at the existing park. The project is expected to cost between $800,000 and $1 million. Village officials are seeking $750,000 through the state office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation’s P L AYS g r a n t p ro g r a m by DASNY, while committing $150,000 in village funds and $ 1 0 0 , 0 0 0 i n s t at e f u n d i n g secured by Assemblywoman Judy Griffin. If the grant is awarded, officials said, construction could be completed in a single phase. If not, the village plans to scale back its ini-
tial investment and complete the project in phases as funding becomes available. The Mothers of Malverne has worked with village officials on the project for more than a year. The organization’s president, Monica Theodoropoulos, said that members have helped identify the amenities local families would like to see
in the redesigned park. “Our goal is to encourage the community to suppor t bringing an update to the toddler park,” Theodoropoulos said. “And hopefully people will see the motivation behind us wanting to improve it.” The new park is part of a broader village redevelopment ConTinueD on Page 5