Flynn Memorial Ballpark Celebrated With Rededication To Hero

KINGS PARK, NY — Flynn Memorial Ballpark was the site of a grand rededication and ribbon-cutting ceremony last Friday, as Town of Smithtown leadership, local community and veterans organizations, and family of Daniel J. Flynn met to honor the Kings Park native and fallen Vietnam War veteran, according to the town.

The ballfield was recently renovated to boast four resurfaced synthetic turf fields, warning tracks, pitchers' warm-up mounds, a concession stand, pro shop and more.

The field was constructed in 1979 and named in honor of Daniel J. Flynn, a member of the 725th Military Police Battalion, C Company. He paid the ultimate sacrifice during the Vietnam War on May 25, 1968, when he volunteered to take a friend's place on an escort assignment, according to the Town of Smithtown. Flynn was killed in action — just 20 days after he arrived to Vietnam.

"I grew up with the Flynn family, we played together, we went to school together and then ultimately after school, I ended up going to Vietnam, shortly after Danny did," Supervisor Ed Wehrheim stated. "I got the bad news while I was over there. Twenty days in the country and he gave the ultimate sacrifice."

"Danny" Flynn excelled as a student and athlete at Kings Park High School, where he graduated in 1965. He was an integral member of the school's varsity baseball team, according to the town. Before he enlisted, Flynn played semi-professional baseball on the grounds of Kings Park State Hospital and received tryout offers from the St. Louis Cardinals. Flynn instead enlisted in the United States Army and serve his country in Vietnam.

Wehrheim's previous career was in parks, buildings and grounds. He recalls watching the facility named after Flynn grow older and fall into disrepair.

"It wasn't what it was when it was first built in 1979," he said. "Fast forward to present day, I went to the Town Board and told them we should do a complete renovation project on this park. The town board, and fellow elected officials agreed, that it was time to rededicate this park for two reasons; for the children of this Kings Park community and to honor Danny Flynn. And so it had to be top-notch and that’s exactly what we did … I think Danny is up there looking down on us and I hope we’ve made him happy and proud."

Wehrheim, together with the town council, state and local elected officials, department management, Dennis, Gary, and John Flynn and their extended families, American Legion Post 944, Kings Park Chamber of Commerce, Kings Park Civic Association, Kings Park Youth, St Catherine of Seina Hospital, the Vietnam Veterans of America, and Katie’s of Smithtown were all in attendance to properly rededicate the newly renovated ballpark in Flynn's honor.

The park's renovation began in late fall 2019. The complex's restoration marks the first upgrades the park has ever received.

In addition to housing visiting leagues throughout the Northeast during weekend tournaments, Flynn Memorial Ballpark will host thousands of Smithtown baseball and softball players, in leagues young and old.

The park's renovations are planned to generate revenue for the town, as the hope is more people will frequent the local shops in the downtown areas.

"To my brother; Thank You," Dennis Flynn stated. "We miss you, we’re very proud of you and I think this monument, I hope serves to improve your memory."

Dennis Flynn thanked Wehrheim, as well as Councilman Tom Lohmann. Lohmann, Flynn said, asked Dennis how he wanted his brother to be honored.

"I was under considerable pressure from the community to move this thing to a library or an armory that wasn’t even built at the time," Dennis said. "But nobody was asking me what I wanted. I wanted Danny’s memory to be honored as a park. [Lohmann] showed up and asked me what I wanted. He then proceeded to address a town council of a previous administration, and he was just elegant, extemporaneous and elegant."

Flynn Memorial Ballpark is the largest park reconstruction project to be completed by the Wehrheim Administration, the town stated. Over the last three years, the town board set out to make much-needed improvements, repairs and renovations throughout the entire parks system.

By the end of 2021, the Town of Smithtown estimates it will have completed the restoration process of over 75 percent of the town’s parks and beaches.