Community Corner

National Grid Backs Cinderella Makeover for West End

National Grid gives $25K grant to beautification association to spruce up neighborhood after Hurricane Sandy.


While towns such as Long Beach, whose municipalities were financially strapped before Hurricane Sandy, struggle to rebuild in the storm’s wake, funds available for beautification projects are minimal to nonexistent. National Grid has recognized this gap and offered to fill it.   

The gas and electrical company has helped to revitalized Long Beach’s commercial district, providing a $25,000 Cinderella grant directly to the West End Beautification Association (WEBA) that will go toward post-Sandy recovery efforts, some of which are already apparent.  

The grant will fund colorful banners that line existing poles along West Beech Street which read “East, Play, Shop, Surf: West End,” which were created by Parr Ventures, the company responsible for similar banners on Nautical Mile in Freeport.

Find out what's happening in Long Beachwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

“The banners really capture the spirit of the West End, define the business district and add color and vitality to Beech Street,” said Mary Ellen Pollina, a WEBA co-chair person.

Follow Long Beach Patch on Facebook.

Find out what's happening in Long Beachwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Part of the grant will also fund a large, illuminated kiosk that will be installed at the bus turnaround on West Beech, between Ohio and Nevada avenues, as well as the creation of a pocket park there, with benches, bike racks and other features.  

The kiosk will have a short panel with a bulletin board that will display the city's weekly summer updates on everything from beach concerts to local fundraiser events. The remaining long panels will be available for advertising.

“One of the long panels will feature a map of the West End with locations of the businesses, ATM machines, places to buy beach passes as well as illustrations of the churches, synagogue, firehouse and water park, so that visitors will know that the West End is not only a great place to ‘Eat, Shop, Surf and Play’ but a wonderful place to buy a house and raise a family,” said Pollina, who noted that the kiosk will is slated for installation in late July.

West End residents Larry Cerullo, who owns a landscape business, and Robin Terzi, a Realtor, came up with a design for the pocket park after talks with city officials about refurbishing the area last September. Pollina said the design concept is based on a need for a place where people can meet, read, enjoy a board game or otherwise relax in the West End.

“Our community does not have backyards and now the front porch will quickly disappear in the post-Sandy housing landscape,” Pollina said. “Our parades begin and/or end at this site and it should be a proper representation of our community.”

WEBA has focused its efforts on enhancing the West End commercial district, from planting flowers to cleanups to promoting sanitation code compliance and an improved commercial trash removal schedule, Pollina said.

WEBA officials submitted their application for National Grid’s Cinderella grant in April and it was approved in May. Their approval was formally presented at a press conference at The Saloon on June 4, when National Grid announced that it had provided 35 grants, amounting to $1.1 million, to various businesses in Long Beach, Atlantic Beach and Island Park.

City Manager Jack Schnirman called National Grid a “terrific partner” in the city’s post-Sandy recovery and said the Cinderella grant is “just so important.” “To see the banners going up, and hopefully you all saw them driving in this morning, and they look phenomenal,” he said at the press conference. “ … They’ll be part of the real economic development and recovery that we all need so badly.”

The National Grid Cinderella program provides economic development grants for eligible projects, typically earmarked for depressed buildings and areas, hence the Cinderella reference. Since its inception in 1966, the program has renovated hundreds of homes and businesses and has received national recognition, according to the company’s website.

"In response to the overwhelming need after Superstorm Sandy and in working with the West End Beautification Association, National Grid found an opportunity to provide a Cinderella grant to Long Beach,” said Kathy Wisnewski, a National Grid community and customer manager for Nassau County. “This grant will help beautify and rebuild the West End attracting business and assist in revitalizing this vibrant community."

MORE NEWS
How Did Tropical Storm Andrea Treat Your Street?
Boardwalk Decking Underway
With Shirts, Long Beach Students Help Storm-Ravaged Towns



Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.

We’ve removed the ability to reply as we work to make improvements. Learn more here