Cricket coming to Eisenhower Park

Eisenhower Park in East Meadow is getting two cricket pitches. Nassau County Executive Laura Curran joined Senator Kevin Thomas, South Asian and West Indie community groups, USA Cricket board member Ajith Bhaskar Shetty and local athletes on Monday to unveil the pitches at Field 11 and Field 16.

“After soccer, cricket is the most watched and most played sport in the world and in Nassau County we are welcoming and supporting the game with great enthusiasm - along with the rapidly growing South Asian community,” Curran said.

The pitches were constructed using the county’s golf and parks maintenance staffs and with help from the Office of Asian American Affairs. Within the next few weeks, the county will also begin installing a pitch for youth leagues at Cow Meadow Park in Freeport.

"As the first Indian-American Senator in New York, I recognize how important the sport of cricket is to the thriving South Asian community we have here on Long Island,” said Senator Kevin Thomas. “I am proud to see the addition of cricket pitches to Eisenhower Park — yet another great place for people to get outside, engage in our community, and have fun.”

Currently, teams play on portable pitches they transport to Eisenhower Park, Bay Park in East Rockaway and Cantiague Park in Hicksville.

The pitches are open to the public starting this weekend and permits are required for playing, which are avaiable for the 2019 fall season and must be submitted by Sept. 21. Those interested could e-mail ncfield@nassaucountyny.gov.