New York State Senator Pete Harckham announced today that $2.1 million in discretionary grant funding is heading to local municipalities to help initiate and complete important projects and upgrades related to their public spaces. Each municipality in the 40th Senate District is receiving $100,000 in grants, and the funding will be focused on parks, playgrounds, municipal buildings and parking areas, ADA compliance, sidewalks and promenades.
Harckham’s announcement came at a press conference held at the historic Elephant Hotel, which houses offices for the Town of Somers. Joining Harckham was a bipartisan group of 16 local elected leaders who spoke about how they plan to use the grant funding for projects in their municipalities.
“We hear a lot about things happening at the federal level, but where government most impacts the lives of our residents is at the local level,” said Harckham. “Today, our local officials are facing a number of competing challenges and priorities, which is why our partnerships with them are so vital. Knowing that too often state grants are competitive, with many municipalities left out of the queue, I am pleased to be able to fund ongoing and planned public spaces initiatives around Senate District 40. These grants will make a real difference for these municipalities while also helping to ease the property tax burdens as well.”
Last year, Harckham delivered $2.3 in grant funding from the state’s Community Resiliency, Economic Sustainability, and Technology (CREST) program for municipalities to use for various improvement and infrastructure projects at their own discretion. In 2023, the state senator earmarked $2.1 million in grants to use on electrification projects.
To date, Harckham has secured $30 million in capital grants for the towns, cities and villages across SD40 through CREST, the Local Community Assistance Program (LOCAP) and State Aid to Municipalities (SAM) grants since taking office in 2019. That includes $15.1 million just for local governments and nearly $10 million-plus for first responders—local police and fire departments, EMTs, ambulance corps, public safety professionals.
Added Harckham, “This funding shows that I am willing to work with all the communities and local leaders as they move forward with important projects that will benefit their residents and others.”
Cortlandt Town Supervisor Dr. Richard Becker said, “The Town of Cortlandt is pleased to express our sincerest gratitude to State Senator Pete Harckham for securing funding to assist the Town with various infrastructure projects. This revenue will allow the town to select from several ‘shovel-ready’ projects, potentially allowing renovation of a camp building at the Cook Pool, new welcoming signage at the Annsville Circle—the gateway to Cortlandt—and electronic event signage near the Cortlandt Town Center. Funding such as this enables critical projects to proceed, and for our town to grow and prosper. Thank you, Senator Harckham, for securing this much needed funding. We are all grateful.”
Croton-on-Hudson Deputy Mayor Len Simon said, “Dobbs Park is one of the great centers of community activity and gathering in all of Croton. Located in the heart of our Village, it features a baseball field, a basketball court, a playground and, since July 9, one of the hubs of the Project MOVER bikeshare program. To meet the needs of Croton today and tomorrow, it is now time for this great Croton resource to be renovated for the first time in a quarter century. Thanks to Senator Harckham, our plan to do so is complete. The $100,000 he has made possible, along with assistance from the County and our own local contribution, will lead to a reimagining and revitalizing of Dobbs Park so that Croton residents can continue to enjoy all it offers for generations to come.”
Village of Ossining Mayor Rika Levin said “This funding will enable the Village of Ossining to enhance outdoor amenities, with seating areas, lighting and native landscaping, at our soon to be constructed Multimodal Transportation Hub. This Hub will provide over 200 vehicle parking spaces, as well as accommodate an e-bike rental shop and outdoor gathering space adjacent to the historic Old Croton Aqueduct. Collectively, this project allows for the redevelopment of Ossining surface parking lots on Main Street, as part of New York State’s Downtown Revitalization Initiative, while promoting e-bike use and further beautifying an area of the Old Croton Aqueduct for the enjoyment of Ossining residents and visitors.”
Ossining Town Supervisor Elizabeth Feldman said, “The Town of Ossining is grateful to Senator Harckham for securing the funding to make the improvements to our Louis Engel Waterfront Park. The $100,000 grant will be used to improve the facilities and help make our hopes for a waterfront playground with a shipwreck design become a reality.”
Briarcliff Manor Mayor Steven Vescio said, “We are thankful to Senator Harckham for procuring these funds to assist with the continued improvements of Chilmark Park. This funding will allow the Village to proceed with the creation of much desired additional pickleball courts and other site amenities.”
Peekskill Mayor Vivian McKenzie said, “The city will use the $100,000 in funding for creating new pedestrian and place making amenities in our downtown and / or riverfront to support its Downtown Revitalization Initiative projects. We are grateful for this funding because it will allow the City to leverage considerable investments funded by our Federal, State and County partners and to deliver a safe place for Peekskill residents and visitors.”
