A parade of HVS students, led by Stason Sutton and Kilby Pena, celebrates the opening of the JK Kids Park.

Albertson, NY — The Henry Viscardi School (HVS), a pre-K through 12th grade school established in 1962 to educate students with severe physical and orthopedic disabilities, today dedicated the new JK Kids Park at its Albertson, Long Island facility. Due to the extraordinary generosity of John and Janet Kornreich the new Park provides the Henry Viscardi School with one of the country’s most unique sporting and accessible play areas. The Park is specially designed for use by children with physical and medical disabilities. It hosts a track, playground and sporting events court.

John Kornreich speaks at the park opening. Listening behind him (from left) are his wife Janet, daughter Jennifer, son Joshua, NYS Assemblyman Thomas DiNapoli and the Town of North Hempstead Supervisor Jon Kaiman

In the words of John Kornreich “My family is extremely gratified to establish this wonderful park. It is difficult to express the great pride and joy we feel every time we see kids playing and having fun in the park. For many of these children, the park offers the unique opportunity to sit in a swing or to participate in basketball, track, field hockey and other sporting activities.”

Edmund Cortez, President and CEO of the Henry Viscardi School at Abilities!, stated the only way to truly understand our appreciation for this remarkable gift from the Kornreich family is to look into the eyes of the children as they play. “Regardless of a child’s disability, the park enables each and everyone of them to enjoy being a kid. I applaud John and Janet for their vision and passion to improve the lives of people with disabilities.”

New York State Assemblyman Thomas P. DiNapoli; and the Town of North Hempstead Supervisor Jon Kaiman participated in the ribbon cutting ceremony with students from the Henry Viscardi School and the altruistic donors John and Janet Kornreich.

Ribbon cutting on the track, (from left) Nassau County Controller Howard Weitzman, Thomas Di Napoli, Lucille Viscardi, HVS students Brian Faithfull, Alex Garrett, and Abhi Elisetty, Janet and John Kornreich, Nassau County Executive Thomas Suozzi, Abilities! President and CEO Ed Cortez, and Councilman for the Town of North Hempstead Tom Dwyer.

New York State Assemblyman Thomas P. DiNapoli stated, “I am honored to have been able to be a part of the opening of the JK KIDS PARK at the Henry Viscardi School. The New York State Assembly is extremely pleased to have been able to support this unique park, which is totally accessible for children with physical and medical disabilities. I look forward to continuing to work with Abilities! in the future. It has always been a national leader in the field of disability services.”

Nassau County Executive Thomas R. Suozzi stated, “The JK KIDS PARK is a wonderful addition to the Henry Viscardi School in Albertson. We are so fortunate to have people like John and Janet Kornreich, who live in Nassau County, who have the sensitivity and the foresight to contribute funds to build a totally accessible park for children with medical and physical disabilities.”

HVS is a New York State accredited institution of learning that provides the same programs as any other public school in the state. While state funding provides for a basic educational curriculum, significant program enhancements provided to students are funded by generous gifts from a committed community of supporters. This barrier free school addresses the individual needs of each student and provides a specialized educational setting along with often-required medical supports.

HVS serves children who reside in as many as 72 school districts on Long Island, New York City and Westchester County. The Henry Viscardi School is a resource to all of these districts when they cannot accommodate the medical needs of a child with a severe disability or multiple disabilities. Approximately 225 children with severe medical and physical disabilities are enrolled annually.

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