Captain Omer Neutra Memorial Park

Captain Omer Neutra Memorial Park
Interactive map of Captain Omer Neutra Memorial Park
TypePublic; neighborhood
LocationPlainview, New York, United States
Coordinates40°47′13″N 73°29′25″W / 40.7869°N 73.4904°W / 40.7869; -73.4904
Area2.1 acres (0.85 ha)
OwnerTown of Oyster Bay
OperatorTown of Oyster Bay Department of Parks

Captain Omer Neutra Memorial Park (historically known as Phipps–Marilyn Park, Phipps Lane Park, and Plainview P-1 Park) is a public park and memorial located within Plainview in the Town of Oyster Bay, in Nassau County, New York, United States.

Description

Captain Omer Neutra Memorial Park consists of a playground, ball field, and basketball court.[1][2][3] Owned and operated by the Town of Oyster Bay, it is located between Phipps Lane and Marilyn Boulevard, within a residential neighborhood in Plainview, and has an area of 2.1 acres (0.85 ha).[1][4][5]

History

The park was first created as a neighborhood park, known as Phipps–Marilyn Park, during – and as part of – the construction of the surrounding Woodbury Park Homes housing development built by Thomas and Dominick Scarpinato in the mid-1950s.[4][6][7]

In its early years, the park was part of the town-run Plainview Park District.[8] In the summer of 1960, the park's operations were transferred to the town's newly established Plainview–Old Bethpage Park District, upon the merger of the two predecessor districts by the town.[8]

In September 2025, the Town of Oyster Bay officially renamed and dedicated the park to the memory of 21-year-old Omer Neutra, who had grown up in Plainview and frequented the park as a child.[9][10][11][12] Neutra was a Jewish Israeli American and Israel Defense Forces tank captain who was killed in battle with Hamas in the October 7 attacks. His body was held hostage in Gaza for two years.[13][14][15][16]

The dedication ceremony occurred on September 21, joined by Neutra's family and friends, Oyster Bay Town Supervisor Joseph Saladino, Nassau County Executive Bruce A. Blakeman, local clergy, and other leaders and dignitaries.[9][10][17][18] The ceremony additionally included speeches, calls for peace and for Hamas to release his body, and prayers – along with musical performances by violinist Nicolas Attila and the choir from the Schechter School of Long Island – Neutra's alma mater.[1][9][10][19] As part of designating the park as a memorial to Neutra, the town redesigned it, including constructing a new basketball court.[3]

In December 2025, the park's first community menorah lighting ceremony was held during Hanukkah.[20]

See also

References

  1. 1 2 3 "Plainview Park Dedication in Honor of Captain Omer Neutra". Town of Oyster Bay. 2025-09-24. Retrieved 2026-03-21.
  2. ↑ "Former Gaza hostage Omer Neutra laid to rest". The Jerusalem Post. 2025-11-07. Retrieved 2026-06-22.
  3. 1 2 Team, Editorial (2025-09-19). "Town to dedicate park in memory of Omer Neutra". Bethpage Newsgram. Retrieved 2026-06-22.
  4. 1 2 "Phipps-Marilyn Park P-1 in Plainview | Map and Routes". Pacer Walking App. Retrieved 2026-03-21.
  5. ↑ Margulies, Joanie (2025-11-03). "Deceased Gaza hostage Omer Neutra returned to Israel". The Jerusalem Post. Retrieved 2026-06-22.
  6. ↑ "HOUSING EXPANDS IN HICKSVILLE, L. I.: Projects Feature New Models in Three Styles at Prices of $13,490 to $19,990". The New York Times. March 21, 1954. pp. R10. ProQuest 113113998. An initial section of fifty homes is being opened today on Woodbury Road, east of South Oyster Bay Road [...], where Thomas and Dominick Scarpinato, builders, plan 300 dwellings in the split-level[,] cape cod[,] and ranch styles. This new development is called Woodbury Park Homes.
  7. ↑ "Welcome to 20/20 Perfect Vision Land Records I2". i2f.uslandrecords.com (Plat from 6/8/1955 shows map of Woodbury Park Homes submitted by surveyors that designates an area for an unnamed park). Retrieved 2026-03-21.
  8. 1 2 "Legal Notice". Newsday. September 14, 1960. p. 88. Retrieved 2026-06-22 – via Newspapers.com.
  9. 1 2 3 longislandpress (2025-09-23). "Oyster Bay dedicates park to IDF soldier, Plainview native who died in Oct. 7 attack on Israel". www.longislandpress.com. Retrieved 2026-03-21.
  10. 1 2 3 Gill, Peter (2025-09-22). "At Plainview park renaming, Omer Neutra's family pleads for peace". Newsday. Retrieved 2026-03-21.
  11. ↑ Geiger, Dorian; Reyes, Ronny (2025-09-21). "Long Island park named for slain IDF Capt. Omer Neutra". New York Post. Retrieved 2026-03-21.
  12. ↑ Mittelstadt, Natalia (2025-09-22). "Long Island park named after hometown resident, Israeli soldier killed in Hamas terror attack". Just The News. Retrieved 2026-03-21.
  13. ↑ "In battle and captivity: Tank Crew 3's tragic fate on Oct. 7". Israel Hayom. 2024-12-02. Retrieved 2026-03-21.
  14. ↑ Staff, ToI (2025-08-18). "Families of troops abducted from burning tank find footage of them from days before Oct. 7". The Times of Israel. ISSN 0040-7909. Retrieved 2026-03-22.
  15. ↑ Kuperstein, Adam; Harp, Ethan (2025-11-02). "Long Island native Neutra's remains among 3 hostages returned from Gaza". NBC New York. Retrieved 2026-03-21.
  16. ↑ Team, Editorial (2025-09-26). "Park renamed in honor of murdered IDF soldier". Mid-Island Times. Retrieved 2026-06-22.
  17. ↑ "Long Island dedicates park to fallen hostage Omer Neutra". Israel National News. 2026-06-22. Retrieved 2026-06-22.
  18. ↑ Cramer, Philissa (2025-11-02). "Remains of Omer Neutra, Israeli-American hostage killed on Oct. 7, are returned to Israel". Cleveland Jewish News. Retrieved 2026-06-22.
  19. ↑ "Plainview park dedicated to the memory of Omer Neutra". Newsday. 2025-09-21. Retrieved 2026-03-21.
  20. ↑ longislandpress (2025-12-22). "Officials come together for menorah lighting at MiYaD Chabad in Jericho". www.longislandpress.com. Retrieved 2026-03-21.
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