Roberto Clemente Park in Brentwood to get $1.5M makeover

Roberto Clemente Park in Brentwood to get $1.5M makeover


A Brentwood park and site of a vicious attack on a teen is getting a million-dollar makeover.

The Islip Town Council announced a plan to invest $1.5 million into Roberto Clemente Park, which has been neglected over the past 30 years.

The area was known as Timberline Park when Wilson Batista Jr. was shot in the head in a gang-related shooting four years ago. Batista, a senior at BOCES, says he still has limited use of his left arm and right eye four years after the attack.

The park features two kiddie pools and an Olympic-size pool. Plans are also in place to create a new playground.

Officials hope to have the park completed by next summer.

For an extended interview with the gunshot victim, watch the clip to the left or click News 12 Extra on Optimum TV channel 612.