The Town of Babylon dedicated a permanent memorial at Tanner Park honoring individuals lost to substance use disorder. The memorial, intended for families throughout Long Island, included a love lock fence where families could place a lock bearing a loved one’s name or photo, an inscribed brick walkway, a pergola with benches, and educational information about treatment and prevention resources.
The dedication capped “Steps for Hope and Healing,” a ceremonial car parade co-hosted by the Towns of Babylon and Oyster Bay during National Recovery Month. Participants gathered at Marjorie Post Park in Massapequa before traveling across the county line to Tanner Park in Copiague.
The event was held Saturday, September 19. Gathering, coffee, and bagels began at 9:30 a.m. at Marjorie Post Park, followed by the car parade at 10 a.m. The memorial dedication took place at 11:15 a.m. at Tanner Park, followed by speakers, resource tables, light refreshments, and raffles.
Town of Babylon Supervisor Rich Schaffer and Town of Oyster Bay Supervisor Joseph Saladino participated, along with keynote speaker John Venza, vice president of Residential Services and Business Development at Outreach Development Corporation. Families and advocates involved in developing the memorial also attended.
The memorial began with an email Karen Pike sent to Supervisor Schaffer on May 23, 2022. Pike asked the Town to create a place where families who lost loved ones to substance use disorder could sit quietly, reflect, and leave a lock bearing their loved one’s name. A committee was subsequently formed, with the Town working alongside Pike, Tracy Mieschberger, and Venza to develop the memorial.
Teri Kroll of Copiague Community Cares and Janice Talento of Drug Free Long Island assisted with planning “Steps for Hope and Healing” and the events leading up to the dedication.
“Addiction is a disease, not a moral failing,” said Supervisor Rich Schaffer. “When we hear someone has cancer, we’re all quick to help the family. When the disease is addiction, too often people look away. This memorial gives families a place of peace and reflection, and it tells them the person they lost mattered.”
Pike placed the first lock on the fence, followed by committee members and attendees who wished to participate. Families unable to attend the dedication could add a lock in the future.
Commemorative bricks were also available for families wishing to honor a loved one on the memorial walkway, thanks to a donation from the Cassata Foundation. Families could obtain information from Colleen Perrone of Beacon Family Wellness Center.
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