Serenity Gardens, a park for people with special needs, opens in East Islip

Islip Town has opened a new park crafted for people with special needs, the culmination of a multimillion-dollar effort that’s been in the works since at least 2018.

The park, called Serenity Gardens, was built on 1 acre at Brookwood Hall in East Islip. A town government-linked nonprofit called The Parks Foundation of Islip — created to fund projects on town-owned property that aren't covered by the regular budget — raised about $2.2 million in donations for the park and began construction in July 2023.

The park includes swings large enough for adults, musical instrument features, walkways, a bathroom building and central gazebo, as well as a koi pond and a waterfall. 

It is split into four sections, according to Parks Foundation vice president Matthew Barbara. The target demographics include people with Alzheimer’s and dementia, developmental disabilities and autism, and visual and hearing impairments, as well as seniors and veterans.

“If you’re someone who’s deaf, you get to see the waterfall [and] you get to see the fish,” Barbara told Newsday. “And if you can’t see, you can sit here and hear the water — it’s just peace.”

Delayed by pandemic

The Serenity Gardens property was previously undeveloped woods, according to Barbara. Islip Town spokeswoman Caroline Smith said fundraising for the project began in late 2018.

The Parks Foundation previously expected the park to open in late 2023, Newsday has reported, but Barbara said the pandemic delayed progress.

The park’s features and equipment were chosen in consultation with the Long Island-based EJ Autism Foundation, according to Dwayne Diesu, who also serves as a vice president of the Parks Foundation.

“The park isn’t just for people with different needs than others. The park is for everybody. But there are specific things that we’ve done to try to concentrate on being an all-inclusive park,” he told Newsday. “All of that equipment that’s in the back there is all basically chosen by people who have autism.”

'We're very grateful'

Islip resident Thomas McDougall, whose 16-year-old daughter Brynn has special needs, said Serenity Gardens is one of the few local parks designed specifically for people like her.

“We’re always looking for parks and places to take soon-to-be adults with disabilities,” he told Newsday at the park’s opening last Thursday. “I’m pretty well versed with all of the neighborhoods on Long Island, and I’ve never seen a park that’s dedicated to [individuals] with special needs — especially outdoors.”

“We’re very grateful that this was put together,” McDougall added. “I think this will have a major impact.”

Serenity Gardens will be open every day between sunrise and sunset.

The Parks Foundation plans to install an additional fountain feature at some point, although it’s unclear when. Smith and Diesu said fundraising efforts for the fountain are ongoing.

“Hopefully people come here [to the park] and use it — seniors, veterans. You’ve got the bocce ball court back there,” Diesu said. “It’s just a place to come and chill — that’s it.”