Elmont, NY – Assemblywoman Michaelle Solages today announced an important milestone towards achieving the vision of the Elmont Community Center: a deal has been reached, a location has been secured, and non-profit YMCA Long Island has been selected as operator for the new center.

"This is the moment Elmont has been waiting for,” said Assemblywoman Solages. “A community center has been a dream of our residents for years, and today that dream has a name, a partner, and a future. With the YMCA at the helm, I know this will be a place where our children grow, our families thrive, and our community comes together."

The Community Center was a core commitment made to the Elmont community from the Belmont Park Redevelopment project’s community-benefits agreement..

Working for years alongside Governor Kathy Hochul, Empire State Development, New York Arena Partners, and Legislator Carrie Solages, the Assemblywoman served as a tireless and steadfast advocate to ensure Elmont received what it was promised.

Other additions from the UBS/Belmont Park Redevelopment Community Benefits Agreement include upgrades to two parks, the first new Long Island Rail Road Station in decades, and a commuter parking lot for Elmont residents, as well as employment and career development opportunities tied to the redevelopment project.

The selection of the YMCA as the operator of the Community Center can give confidence to Elmont residents that the center will open with a wide variety of programming available to residents of all ages, as well as the know-how to effectively run them.

This announcement is the culmination of years of advocacy by Elmont residents, and the Belmont Community Advisory Committee, elected officials and non-profits, including the Elmont Cultural Center which have advocated for a dedicated community gathering place since 2009.

Elmont community residents will continue to play a key role in developing the vision for the Community Center as the project nears completion.

"To every resident who showed up, spoke out, and refused to give up, this is yours” said Assemblywoman Solages. “The Elmont community center will be a reflection of what we can accomplish when we work together.

More details about programming and opening date/timeframe of the Community Center will be shared by the office of Assemblywoman Solages.