Sitting in the office of Tarrytown’s Recreation Supervisor, Joe Arduino, the view of the marina next to the Senior Center told Arduino that the ice on the Tarrytown Lakes was ready for skaters. Arduino said that the public could begin skating when the ice hit a thickness of 4-inches on the lake. Residents can call 631-8347 regarding any future skating.
Like all the departments under Village Hall supervision, this winter will present varying problems, many of which are new to the Village. In the case of the Recreation Department, which divides its activities between spring and fall programs, there are various changes, particularly to Pierson Park, that take effect throughout the winter months and on into the summer. Many of these changes are directly due to the development at the Hudson Harbor property. Planning will eventually include the building of a swimming and exercise facility, along with a cafeteria with a southerly view of the New York skyline. The Senior Center itself, also under the direction of the Recreation Department, will expand in size to accommodate an ever increasing senior population in Tarrytown.
In December an annual activity that grew in popularity was “Santa’s Mail Box” which allowed children up to 3rd grade to get in touch with Santa at his winter location at “Santa’s Reindeer Express,” c/o Tarrytown Recreation Department. Arduino said that last year letters from 150 area youngsters were answered and he expected that the number would increase annually.
Arduino’s department is staffed by Senior Recreation Leader Ralph Nicoletti, Maintenance Supervisors Dave Downing, Edward McClain and Edward Greene, and Joanne Salvo.
[inset side=right]The Wilson Park housing project continues on track. Tarrytown has offered to purchase 11.38 acres from the developer… The purchase will be held as parkland in perpetuity…[/inset]In other Village business to be conducted in the new year, the Building Department will be kept busy with several large water-related projects. First will be repairs to the 145-foot shaft already in place connecting the Croton reservoir tunnel located at the Sleepy Hollow and Tarrytown pump stations beside the Tarrytown Lakes. The Village currently receives its water from the Catskill system, but if New York City goes ahead and adds filtration to the system, then Tarrytown will be in the fundamentally sound position of having a back-up ready to go, with what is known as the Delaware Aqueduct system.
In another water-related project, an agreement between Tarrytown, Sleepy Hollow and Briarcliff Manor will be taken over by Briarcliff Manor as lead agency in the tri-party use of the current Delaware Aqueduct connection.
The Loh Park area, which flooded badly two years ago, has received $833,500 from the County, and the Village has set aside an equal amount for a project that will eliminate the possibility of the major “spill-over” that occurred at that time. That project will be started shortly and should be completed late this coming year.
The Wilson Park housing project continues on track. Tarrytown has offered to purchase 11.38 acres from the developer who held the original 48.1 acres on the Old County House Road property. The purchase will be held as parkland in perpetuity and will be surrounded by an agreed-upon fourteen homes.
Tarrytown is currently operating two water storage tanks that now require updated telemetric “shut-off” systems. The design process for the new telemetric system will begin this winter and will more than likely be finished sometime next fall.
Finally, when asked about budgeting for the Village, Tarrytown Administrator Michael Blau replied that all departments have been asked to review every budget for dollars and cents that can be “squeezed” during this recession period. While the winter may hold many new projects, most would agree that Joe Arduino and his Madison Square Garden-sized block of skating ice at the Tarrytown Lakes may provide the most fun over the next few months. Skaters can only hope!
