Ten-year anniversary of playground built in memory of Madeleine Hsu

Join Family Night at West Islip Beach for a fun night in honor of Sandy Hook victim

Grace Mercurio

Posted 7/4/24

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Ten-year anniversary of playground built in memory of Madeleine Hsu

Join Family Night at West Islip Beach for a fun night in honor of Sandy Hook victim

Children beautifying a children’s playground. For the last 10 years, Troop 95 has been planting flowers, pulling weeds, and spreading mulch at Madeleine Hsu’s Playground, where the greater West Islip community will gather for Family Night at West Islip Beach. The purple and pink flowers are in honor of Madeleine’s favorite colors.

Photo courtesy of Legis. Flotteron

Posted Tuesday, July 2, 2024 12:00 am

Grace Mercurio

On July 1 of 2014, the Where Angels Play Foundation, public officials, and countless volunteers from West Islip united to build a new park at West Islip Beach in memory of Madeleine Hsu, a 6-year-old girl who was killed in the Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting. To celebrate the life of Madeleine and the 10-year anniversary of the playground, all are welcome to gather at Family Night at West Islip Beach, from 6 to 9 p.m. on July 11, which would have been her 18th birthday.

Each year, Family Night coincides with the anniversary of the playground’s completion as West Islip residents enjoy the playground dedicated to Madeline Hsu’s memory. Complete with food trucks, a DJ, raffle wheel, games, crafts, a striker bell, and a dunk tank, the evening is sure to be filled with family fun.

The night is sponsored by the Community of West Islip in cooperation with the Town of Islip, and local volunteers are largely responsible for planning the event.

“The different community groups come together, and we are not trying to out-ego each other, in a sense, of putting on the event. We just come together quietly and make sure it happens,” explained Suffolk County Legis. Steven Flotteron. “There is always a big turnout of at least 300 people there. Everyone looks forward to it.”

The event has free admission and parking, though attendees are asked to bring a lawn chair, and come down to West Islip Marina and Beach, located at 114 Beach Drive in West Islip on July 11. The rain date is scheduled for July 18.