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Baseball season is now in full swing in Smithtown.
The town welcomed the start of baseball and softball season with the reopening and rededication ceremony of Flynn Memorial Ballpark April 23 in Commack.
Town leadership, local community members, veteran organizations, and members of Private First Class Daniel J. Flynn’s extended family gathered at the newly renovated ballpark in honor of Flynn, who lost his life while serving in the Vietnam War.
“I grew up with the Flynn family, we played together, we went to school together, and then ultimately after school, I ended up going to Vietnam, shortly after Danny did,” said Town Supervisor Ed Wehrheim. “I got the bad news while I was there, twenty days in Country and he gave the ultimate sacrifice — I think Danny is up there looking down on us and I hope we’ve made him happy and proud.”
The park was first renamed on March 6, 1979, in honor of Flynn. Prior to his enlistment in the U.S. Army, he played semi-professional baseball on the grounds of Kings Park State Hospital and received tryout offers from the St. Louis Cardinals.
The renovation of Flynn Memorial Ballpark began in 2019 and the completion marks the first upgrades ever made to the complex since 1979.
Flynn Memorial Park located at 29 Old Commack Road in Kings Park is the largest park reconstruction project to be completed by the current Town Board administration, officials said.
The town green-lighted several improvements, repairs, and renovation projects to the entire park system over the last three years.
The $7.8 million undertaking marked the first major upgrade since the park opened in 1979, according to Newsday.
The Town of Smithtown will have completed the restoration process of over 75 percent of the town’s parks and beaches by the end of this year.
Continue to follow greatersmithtown.com for updates on Smithtown’s continued projects and improvements.
Top: (From left to right) Joe Arico, Parks Director, Tony Tanzi, Kings Park Chamber, Supervisor Ed Wehrheim, Councilman Tom Lohmann, Councilwoman Lynne Nowick, Councilman Tom McCarthy, Town Clerk Vincent Puleo, Gary Flynn, John Flynn, Dennis Flynn, Richard Kitson, Vietnam Veterans of America Suffolk County Chapter President. Photo Credit: Town of Smithtown
