Officials Attend Grand Opening For Mark Woods Playground In New City

By Idy Perl

On Friday afternoon, local officials gathered for the grand opening of the new Mark Woods All Inclusive Playground in New City. 

The playground is named for Clarkstown Councilman Mark Woods, who passed away in May of 2024. Woods was an army veteran and a former NYPD officer who was committed to his community and beloved by all who knew him. Among those in attendance at the opening ceremony were Clarkstown Supervisor George Hoehmann, County Executive Ed Day, Congressman Mike Lawler, Senator Bill Weber, NYS Assemblyman Pat Carroll, and more. 

Congressman Mike Lawler had a close relationship with Woods and choked up while delivering his speech at the ceremony. "It is a tremendous honor to recognize Mark and his commitment to service, his commitment to community, his commitment to our country, " Lawler said. "One of the great honors of being an elected official is the ability to meet so many people across our community, and along the way you meet very special people. People who are dedicated to helping others, care deeply, and want to do right by people. He was somebody who was committed deeply to the cause of service, to the cause of justice, to doing what was right."