JUNE 27, 2007, FARMINGVILLE, NY— Long Island’s first football field designed and constructed especially for wheelchair football, was dedicated today at “Diamond in the Pines” park by Brookhaven Town Supervisor Brian X. Foley, Parks Commissioner Jim LaCarrubba, officials from the United Spinal Association, and wheelchair football players from more than a dozen metropolitan New York communities.

   The game, played on a hard-surfaced field built to accommodate the players’ wheelchairs, is similar to flag-football. Six person teams face off on an 80-yard field; play two, twenty-minute halves; and “tackle” with a one-hand touch above the waist. Scoring and penalties are similar to NFL-style football with six points for a touchdown and opportunities for one and two “extra” points.

   “We are proud to serve not just Brookhaven citizens but to provide this much-needed facility for all Long Islanders,” said Supervisor Brian X. Foley.

   “As with our new playground built especially for children with disabilities, we recognize the need to provide all our residents with what they need to simply have fun,” he said.

   Brookhaven Parks Commissioner Jim LaCarrubba said wheelchair football expands the custom opportunities Brookhaven Town offers to those with special needs. “This new football field adds to the sporting opportunities Brookhaven has created for those in wheelchairs, including wheelchair basketball, softball, track and field, hand cycling, table tennis and standard tennis. We’re also working on wheelchair soccer and weight lifting,” he said.

   Matthew Rocchio, Deputy Commissioner of Parks and one of the major forces behind the new facility explained the park is not limited to wheelchair use. “We designed this to be multi-faceted. It’s going to be great, for example, for introducing urban flag football, which is played on a hard surface, not on turf.”

   Supervisor Foley detailed importance of parks to the town. He said, “Parks bring people together. They unify a community; they provide a central focus for more than fun, they are a source of civic pride and community stability. Since our first day in office they have been a priority of this Administration and with the opening of this new facility, it’s great to see our hard work paying off.”

Office of the Supervisor
One Independence Hill • Farmingville • NY 11738 • Phone (631) 451-6955 • Fax (631) 451-6677