from Candice Ferrette and Jim Baumbach of Newsday,

The Village of Floral Park has filed suit against the state to block the $1.3 billion redevelopment of Belmont Park, including the new arena for the New York Islanders, ahead of a ceremonial groundbreaking on the property expected this month.

The Article 78 proceeding, a lawsuit against a municipality, asks a judge to overturn all approvals of the project, stop construction on the site and restart the environmental review process, according to documents filed in state Supreme Court in Mineola.

The suit says the public bidding process for the development rights at Belmont Park was flawed and tipped in favor of developer New York Arena Partners due to a "secret plan" conceived before the state issued a request for proposals.

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