Rep. Gillen Announces $2,000,000 in New Federal Funding for Hickey Field Accessibility Upgrades for Rockville Centre Challenger League
ROCKVILLE CENTRE, NY — Congresswoman Laura Gillen (NY-04) joined local families and leaders at this year’s Rockville Centre Little League Parade and 75th Annual Opening Day ceremony and announced that she secured $2,000,000 in new federal funding to rehabilitate Hickey Field and improve ADA accessibility. Rep. Gillen secured the federal Community Project Funding (CPF) through the Fiscal Year 2026 appropriations process to invest in new Hickey Field turfing, ADA-compliant restrooms, and wheelchair-accessible pathways.
“When I was running for Congress, I made a commitment to Little League President Peter Klugewicz and Challenger League founder Gene Kirley that I would deliver for Hickey Field,” said Rep. Gillen. “Now, I am proud to have secured and brought back $2 million from Washington to improve this field and make it more ADA accessible for our Challenger League. We send a lot of tax dollars to Washington, and we don't always get them back. I worked tirelessly with Peter, Gene, and our local elected officials to secure this investment. I look forward to returning for the ribbon cutting when this vital renovation is done.”
“At our Opening Day Parade, celebrating our 75th Anniversary, our players, coaches & parents received great news from Congresswoman Gillen that we're receiving $2 million, which will allow us to upgrade our signature field to once again be the envy of Nassau County,” said Peter Klugewicz, President of the Rockville Centre Little League. “Hickey Field is home to our Challenger League, which plays every Sunday morning. The upgrades made possible by this new funding will allow all of our players access to the field equally. Congresswoman Gillen has been working side by side with us since her election in November 2024 to secure funds for this much-needed project.”
The Rockville Centre Challenger League, started in 2012 as a division of the Rockville Centre Little League, provides an adaptive baseball program for individuals with physical and intellectual challenges. A lack of ADA accessibility at Hickey Field has prevented the League from expanding to serve a broader range of Special Needs families. The new funding Rep. Gillen secured will directly address those accessibility challenges.
The funding for Hickey Field in Rockville Centre is part of $13 million in Community Project Funding that Rep. Gillen secured for Nassau County to invest in community infrastructure, enhance public safety, and improve the quality of life for residents across NY-04.
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