official presents to a public meeting
(PHOTO: City Engineer Ryan Coyne reviewed ideas for the future of Gagliardo Park at the Rye Recreation Commission meeting on May 14, 2026.)

About 50 local residents turned out Thursday evening, May 14, 2026 for a regularly scheduled Rye Recreation Commission meeting orchestrated to discuss the future of Gagliardo Park. In the neighborhood of Little Dublin, “The Gag” as it’s known to local residents, is infamous for its dilapidated state. Support for a refresh in the park seems to be building among residents, the rec commission, and the city council but there are many hurdles ahead.

** Watch video of the meeting below***

Much of the meeting was presided over by City Engineer Ryan Coyne, who used both insights and humor to review some of the more recent ideas for the evolution of the park since a 2018 grant application for a refresh failed. Coyne discussed many options for the park, including a soccer field, a baseball option, options for additional parking and reviewed scores of different combinations of other amenities. Just a few of those amenities included a basketball court, pickleball, ice skating, picnic areas and playgrounds designed for different age groups.

The topic of a sound barrier to block the deafening noise coming from Interstate 95 was also a big component of the conversation. Coyne also reviewed some unsexy components of infrastructure that would be addressed in any major park renovation, including a large water main line and a sewage line that run underneath the park and a storm water system that takes water from the neighborhood and the park and directs it out to a drain alongside I-95.
resident speaking at a public meeting
(PHOTO: John Gagliardo, the grandson of World War II veteran Samuel P. Gagliardo, who the park is named after, spoke at the Rec Rec meeting on May 14, 2026. He thanked the City and supporters for advancing support for the park refresh.)
Residents
Many local residents spoke on the array of amenities, parking, noise, if there would be artificial turf or lights – and also asked how long a project would take and where the funding would come from. John Gagliardo, the grandson of World War II veteran Samuel P. Gagliardo, who the park is named after, spoke at the meeting alongside his father and daughter.
“This park stands as a living tribute, a place where children play, families gather and life continues in the very fields he helped defend,” said Gagliardo, referring to his grandfather. “This upgrade is not just about new equipment or landscaping. It’s about preserving a story, ensuring that future generations understand the meaning behind the name.”
Next
Angelo Scarfone, a local resident and advocate for change at the park, thanked everyone for coming and encouraged them to continue to provide feedback to the city and to show up for subsequent meetings. The city will be collecting survey responses and other feedback through its website starting Friday until the end of May. Rye Recreation Commission Chair Rick McCabe said there would be a future meeting in the park itself. It has not been decided if that will be at the next regularly scheduled Recreation Commission meeting on June 11th or at another date.
Asked by a resident what the start date of any renovation work would be, City Engineer Coyne said, “As soon as we get the money.”
Watch the meeting:

Jay Sears is the owner and publisher of MyRye.com. He is a 20+ year Rye resident. Contact MyRye.com: https://myrye.com/tips

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