An excavator on Tuesday razed an abandoned school in Holbrook to make way for a new Suffolk County park, part of a long awaited effort to redevelop the blighted property.

For years, the Union Avenue building was a school in the Sachem district and later an administrative building. But it has sat empty for more than a decade, according to Brookhaven Councilman Neil Foley, who said he helped broker a deal between the town and county to develop the property into a 4-acre park.

According to the terms of the deal, Suffolk County will buy the property for about $1.7 million and oversee the construction of the park. It's expected to open in 2026, Foley said.

“It’s going to be a park for all kids, families and old folks who want to walk here. It’s going to be a peaceful park. It’s going to be a lovely addition to Holbrook,” Foley said.

Legis. Anthony Piccirillo (R-Holtsville) said he doesn’t have cost estimates for the park’s construction. Some of the funding will come from New York State, according to Assemb. Douglas Smith (R-Holbrook).

“So far, we’ve secured over $500,000 to start building the park. We’re very happy to have our partners in county government that’ll make this a nice, vibrant county park,” Smith said.

Piccirillo said the park is still in the “design phase,” but added the final blueprint will include a disability-friendly area within the park.

“We’re working with a bunch of different groups to come up with the conceptual plans for the all-abilities portion of the park. It’s really going to be state of the art and one of the first of its kind,” Piccirillo said Tuesday.

Multiple community leaders who attended the demolition said the park will primarily be open space. County, state and town officials have opposed proposals to develop the property for housing or commercial use.

Foley said Tuesday he’s “been pitched many different projects over the years,” including a gas station and assisted living facility, which “just simply did not fit for Holbrook.”

The Sachem school board attempted to sell the property to Bello Poultry Market in December 2022, Newsday reported at the time. The buyer withdrew from the sale. Smith had written to the state Education Department after the board voted to sell the property and called on the agency to investigate the vote. Smith said the board had violated sections of the state's Open Meetings Law.

Holbrook Chamber of Commerce President Rick Ammirati described the current project as “a little Central Park” for the hamlet. He said Tuesday’s demolition was a “historic” milestone for Holbrook.

“It’s a historic time. This is going to be a beautiful, all-inclusive, all accessible park. And it’s going to be here forever," he said. "This school stood here for 100 years. Let the next 100 years be about recreation and a park.”