The groundwork to immortalize a deceased grassroots leader was laid with pomp when local dignitaries assembled at Marine Park to begin construction on a new $11-million community center in honor of Carmine Carro.
The Park’s Department first, state-of-the-art green building was launched with a ground-breaking ceremony at its future home on Fillmore Avenue and Marine Parkway, and pays tribute to the 16-year president of the Marine Park Civic Association, who passed away from heart failure in 2005 at the age of 69.
The group donned hardhats and broke ground during ceremonial rites, accompanied by performances from the Marine Park Junior High School Band, the Public School 222 Chorus and the Midwood Active Adults Chorus Group.
Carro, a former journeyman butcher, who was known to speak his mind and in later years presided over community meetings from his motorized scooter, was instrumental in putting the neighborhood of Marine Park on the map with his year-long events and beautification projects; among them, a lush garden that he helped maintain in front of the park house in tribute to past Association presidents.
When completed, the Carro Center will feature solar panels, a geo-thermal heating and cooling system, and a planted roof as an example of the city’s move to become more eco-friendly in the 21st century, plus feature multi-purpose rooms for recreation and community programs to serve people of all ages.