MAY 16, 2006, FARMINGVILLE, NY – Gabrielle Morge loves to go to the park with her sisters, Emily and Sarah, but due to her disabilities there was nothing at Peppermint Park, the town park down the road from her home in Medford, that she could use.

“We would travel all the way to a park in Islip Town just to find a handicapped accessible swing for Gabby to use,” said Gabrielle’s mother, Meredith Morge. “It was so disappointing to have a park so close to our home and not be able to play there.”

Gabrielle’s parents, Matt and Meredith, reached out to then Suffolk County Legislator Brian X. Foley with the idea of placing a handicapped swing at the park. Much to Mr. Foley's dismay, his outreach to the Town of Brookhaven advocating for the installation of this special swing fell on deaf ears for over two years.

A few weeks after he took office in January, Supervisor Foley contacted the Morges to tell them he was working to get a swing for Gabrielle. Matt Rocchio, the new Deputy Commissioner to the Town's Parks Department, was quick to research these special swings and find a spot for them in Peppermint Park.

“I am very glad that we were able to get this swing for Gabby so quickly,” said Supervisor Foley. “We’re going to go the extra mile to ensure that the quality of life concerns of all of our citizens are met - that is what the culture of competence is all about.”

And now Gabby finally has her swing, thanks to the efforts of the Foley administration and its resurgent Parks Department.

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