Unincorporated Greenburgh Comprehensive Plan
CHAPTER 7.0 Parks, Trails, Open Space and Recrea onal Facili es
7.1 Rela onship to Guiding Principles
Parks, trails, open space and recrea onal facili es are valuable assets that contribute posi vely to the quality of life of residents in unincorporated Greenburgh. This Plan recommends preserva on and enhancement of these assets. There are over 1,200 acres of parkland in 7.2 Parks, Special Park Districts and Miscellaneous Parcels unincorporated Greenburgh. Figure 7.1 depicts the loca on of the approximately 1,261 acres of parkland that exist within unincorporated Greenburgh’s borders. Sec ons 7.2.1 through 7.2.7 provide informa on on the ownership, the size, and the recommended classifica on of these parks based on categories used by the Na onal Recrea on and Park Associa on. Brief descrip ons of some of the larger parks are provided.
7.2.1 Unincorporated Greenburgh Parks Parks owned jointly with other governing The Town of Greenburgh exclusively or jointly owns approximately 632 acres of bodies and parks that parkland. Table 7.1 contains an inventory of unincorporated Greenburgh parks and received LWCF iden fies those parks that were purchased jointly with other en es or that received funding are open to funding from the Land and Water Conserva on Fund (LWCF). Regardless of ownership, residents from outside the Town’s Department of Parks and Recrea on operates and maintains these parks unincorporated which range in size from 0.14 acres (Bob Gold Parklet) to approximately 190 acres Greenburgh. (Taxter Road Park Preserve). Most of the listed parks provide ac ve and/or passive recrea on opportuni es; however, eight of the parcels provide no recrea onal opportuni es and are designated as undeveloped (UD) land.
Many of the preserves and parks listed in Table 7.1 have been formally dedicated as parkland; however, it is recommended that a local law be adopted formally designa ng all of these parcels as parkland.
Park #34 on Figure 7.1 is a small greenspace adjacent to the Hartsdale Train Sta on. It contains landscaping, a World War I monument, pathway and a bike rack. It is owned by the Hartsdale Public Parking District. Ownership of this space by the Town of Greenburgh would be necessary prior to dedica ng this area as Town parkland.
7.2.2 Special Park Districts
Two special park districts (Cotswold and Greenridge) totaling approximately 6.6 acres of land are located in unincorporated Greenburgh. The Cotswold Park District contains O’Gorman Park, a 0.75 acre parcel located on the south side of Ardsley Road at the intersec on of Cotswold Way and Old Army Road and the Central Park Avenue buffer/open space, a 5.3 acre stretch of wooded area on the northbound side of Central Park Avenue from Ardsley Road to Cli on Road. The Greenridge Park District contains a 0.60 acre wooded lot located at the intersec on of Old Colony The Cotswold Park District Road and Club Way. Residents of each respec ve park district purchased
7‐1 DRAFT 9-20-16 Chapter 7.0 Parks, Trails, Open Space and Recrea on Facili es
Table 7.1: Town of Greenburgh Parks Inventory (Unincorporated Greenburgh Parks) Map Key Name Area (acres) Recommended Classifica on* 1 Glenville Woods Park Preserve** 44.6 CP 4 Pocan co Park (LWCF) 2.0 NP 5 Massaro Park (LWCF) 2.5 NP 7 Travis Hill Park (LWCF) 16.5 NP 9 Old Tarrytown Road Park 0.55 PKLT 10 Washington Avenue Park 2.4 NP 11 Yosemite Park 12.0 NP 12 Sky Meadow Park 2.2 UD East Rumbrook Park Annex (F.K.A. the Elmsford Animal 13 0.31 UD Shelter) + 15 Taxter Ridge Park Preserve*** 190.0 CP 17 Taxter Road Park 0.78 NP 18 East Irvington Nature Preserve 31.7 CP 19 West Rumbrook Park 43.9 CP 20 Parkview Road Park 2.5 UD 21 East Rumbrook Park (LWCF) 47.8 CP 22 Stonewall Circle 1.8 UD 23 Knollwood Rd Park 1.0 NP 24 Riley Pond 3.6 NP 25 Richard Presser Park (Webb Field) 7.0 CP 26 Homewood Court 0.33 PKLT 28 Secor Woods Park 18.7 CP 29 Secor Road Park 13.7 UD 30 Anthony F. Veteran Park 20.4 CP 31 Harts Brook Park and Preserve**** (LWCF) 123.2 CP 32 Bob Gold Parklet 0.14 PKLT 33 De San Plaza 0.34 PKLT 34 Unnamed Pocket Park Adjacent to Hartsdale Train Sta on + 0.01 PKLT 36 Greenburgh Nature Center (LWCF) 31.1 CP 37 Parcel Q + 2.1 UD 38 Crane Pond 0.98 NP 41 Gelsprain (Farm Lane) Parcel + 2.0 PKLT 42 Parcel O (borders Boulder Ridge) + 3.0 UD 45 Donald Park 3.4 UD Total 632.5 * Key ‐ PKLT = Parklet, NP = Neighborhood Park, CP = Community Park, UD = Undeveloped **1/3 or approximately 18.3 acres are leased by the Town from the Open Space Ins tute, Westchester County has part ownership with the Town, maintenance done by Town *** 1/3 owned by NY State, 1/3 owned by Westchester County, 1/3 owned by Town, maintenance done by Town **** 1/2 owned by NY State, 1/4 owned by Westchester County, 1/4 owned by Town, maintenance done by Town LWCF = Received Federal funding through the Land and Water Conserva on Fund + Not currently a Town Park
7‐2 DRAFT 9-20-16 Unincorporated Greenburgh Comprehensive Plan
7‐3 DRAFT 9-20-16 7‐3 Chapter 7.0 Parks, Trails, Open Space and Recrea on Facili es
Table 7.2: Special Park Districts in unincorporated Greenburgh * Area Map Key Name Characteris c (acres) Buffer ‐ Open 35 Greenridge Park District (Old Colony Road/Club Way Parcel) 0.60 Space 39 Cotswold Park District (O'Gorman Park ) 0.75 Parklet Buffer ‐ Open 40 Cotswold Park District (Central Park Avenue Parcels) 5.3 Space Total 6.6 * This table only lists acreage for the park‐like or buffer/open space parcels within the larger Special Park Districts, which include each residence in the Special Park District.
these land areas and are assessed annually by the Town for the cost of maintenance. O’Gorman Park func ons as a parklet and is used by residents of the Cotswold Park District. The special park districts listed in Table 7.2 cannot be added to the Town of Greenburgh Parks inventory because of their private ownership and use by residents of the respec ve districts.
7.2.3 Miscellaneous Parcels
Table 7.3 lists two town‐owned vacant and currently undeveloped parcels that are not part of the Park inventory. The Taxter Road Parcel (former Unifica on Church parcel) is adjacent to the East Irvington Nature Preserve and was acquired in connec on with a subdivision. The reten on of Town‐owned vacant land can be a valuable asset in the process of land transfers with other public agencies. As an example, land needed elsewhere in the Town for road widening or other public uses can be obtained through land transfers of Town‐owned vacant land. The advantage of u lizing Town‐owned vacant land is that there is no need to abandon/alienate exis ng Town parkland in the process of a land transfer.
The Taxter Ridge Parcel is bordered on three sides by the Taxter Ridge Park Preserve and was offered to the Town in connec on with the adjacent “Greystone Subdivision.” The complexi es of the subdivision and a unique law commonly referred to as the Finneran Law (further discussed in Sec on 7.8), which is associated with park user rights, effec vely precludes the Town’s acceptance of this property and subsequent dedica on as a park, although the land will remain as open space in perpetuity.
Table 7.3: Town of Greenburgh Miscellaneous (Not Part of Parks Inventory) Map Area Recommended Name Key (acres) Designa on
8 Hillside‐Wyndover Parcel (owned by civic associa on) 1.74 N/A
14 Taxter Road Parcel (former Unifica on Church parcel) 16.0 N/A
16 Taxter Ridge Parcel (Former Greystone parcel) 23.1 N/A
7‐4 DRAFT 9-20-16 Unincorporated Greenburgh Comprehensive Plan
7.2.4 Selected Local Park Descrip ons/Recrea onal Facili es
Many of our parks contain recrea onal facili es and ameni es such as pools, trails and sports fields. Unincorporated Greenburgh and each of the Town’s six villages have separate recrea on services with the excep on of special recrea on programs for Town residents who have developmental disabili es. Special recrea on programs are provided by the Town of Greenburgh Department of Parks and Recrea on and are open to all developmentally disabled residents and their families in the Town, including its Villages, through an intermunicipal agreement. The Land and Water Conserva on Fund is Hart’s Brook Park & Preserve, Glenville Woods Park Preserve and Taxter Ridge Park operated through the Preserve are open to residents outside of unincorporated Greenburgh as a result of Na onal Park Service par al funding, and therefore par al ownership of these parks by Westchester County, Department of the and/or New York State and/or the federal government. Parks that have received this Interior. funding are open to residents outside of unincorporated Greenburgh. In addi on to the parks and facili es descrip ons below, Table 7.4 lists each unincorporated Greenburgh Park and its associated features and ameni es.
Anthony F. Veteran Park (AFVP) (#30 on Figure 7.1) is a 20.4‐acre park and is home to the Department of Parks and Recrea on administra ve offices and maintenance facili es. The park has 13 tennis courts, six swimming pools (a main pool, one adult/compe ve pool, one interac ve pool and three day camp pools), play areas and equipment for young children, benches, basketball courts, handball/paddleball courts, public mee ng rooms, restrooms, lighted facili es, a food concession, an outdoor concert area and a mul purpose center/pa o. The mul ‐purpose community center, located in the park, has year round recrea on and exercise programs targe ng individuals, families and seniors. AFVP is the park facility most frequented by unincorporated Greenburgh residents.
In May, 2010, a detailed study was undertaken on how to modernize the Anthony F. Veteran and the Massaro Park pool facili es. Age and use at both these pool facili es have caused deteriora on over the years, resul ng in increased maintenance expenses and periodic shutdowns. Massaro Park (#5 on Figure 7.1) has two closed swimming pools, one of which is a children’s pool. The study makes recommenda ons for improvements and provides approximate costs associated with repair and renova ons at each facility. Recommenda ons include renova ons or Anthony F. Veteran Park replacement of these facili es in four phases.
The Town is working to ensure code conformance, the health and safety of users, efficient opera ons, reduc on of maintenance costs, and extension of the life expectancy of these facili es.
7‐5 DRAFT 9-20-16 Chapter 7.0 Parks, Trails, Open Space and Recrea on Facili es
East Irvington Nature Preserve (#18 on Figure 7.1) is a 31.7‐ acre preserve located on Taxter Road. Prior to the early 1990s this land was informally used as a passive park and was connected to a larger Town‐owned site which currently contains an organic waste transfer facility. The 31.7‐acre preserve and pond have been enhanced with features designed by a landscape architect which include nature trails, benches and a viewing pla orm by the pond.
East Rumbrook Park (#21 on Figure 7.1), a 47.8‐acre park originally developed in the 1970’s as an athle c complex and park preserve, was developed over an adap vely reused landfill site. The park includes two lighted tennis courts, four lighted pla orm tennis courts and a warming hut, a lighted regula on size basketball court (with four addi onal backboards for half‐ court games), a lighted junior sized baseball/so ball field, a lighted baseball field, a dog park, administra ve building, storage and parking. A nature trail, a water reten on tank and a pump house are also located on the park grounds. Several recommenda ons in The East Rumbrook Master Plan, prepared in 2002, have been implemented, including improvements to the East Irvington Nature Preserve upper ball fields and basketball courts, parking area, entrance plaza, trail and trailhead.
Glenville Woods Park Preserve (#1 on Figure 7.1) consists of 44.6 acres and was jointly acquired in 2001 by Westchester County, the Town of Greenburgh and the non‐profit Open Space Ins tute. The Open Space Ins tute owns 18.3 acres of the Preserve, which is now owned by the Town. The Glenville Woods Park Preserve Master Plan, prepared in 2003, recommended that the park preserve remain a passive recrea onal park with walking trails, with the excep on of the front part of the Park, that presently has a playground for ac ve recrea on.
Aerial View of Glenville Woods Park Preserve Glenville Woods Park Preserve Entrance
7‐6 DRAFT 9-20-16 Unincorporated Greenburgh Comprehensive Plan
Greenburgh Nature Center (#36 on Figure 7.1) is a 31.1‐acre property purchased by the Town in 1973 with local and Federal funds. Open since 1975, the GNC is operated by Nunataks, Ltd. under a 25 year renewable lease from the Town of Greenburgh. The Greenburgh Nature Center (GNC) has a live animal museum with over 100 specimens, exhibit areas focusing on nature and the environment, outdoor animal exhibits, a greenhouse with botanical exhibits, hiking trails, a pond, gardens and a gi shop. The former 21‐room manor house was converted into an environmental educa on center. The Town’s Department of Public Works maintains the buildings and infrastructure.
The Greenburgh Nature Center Hart’s Brook Park and Preserve (#31 on Figure 7.1) consists of approximately 123 acres and was purchased in 1999 through a coopera ve agreement between New York State (50 percent ownership), Westchester County (25 percent ownership) and the Town (25 percent ownership, which included Federal funds). The Preserve has 18 hiking trails totaling more than 2.5 miles and two managed landscaped areas of over ten acres. The larger of the
Hart’s Brook Park and Preserve
7‐7 DRAFT 9-20-16 Chapter 7.0 Parks, Trails, Open Space and Recrea on Facili es
landscaped areas (9.3 acres) is located near the site entrance and consists of sweeping lawns and garden plan ngs of specimen trees and shrubs along with a nursery produc on area. A smaller area is located near a pond. Remnants of the former Gaisman Estate remain, including greenhouses and a small residence, a warming hut, a ska ng pond and a large barn.
Secor Woods Park (#28 on Figure 7.1) is an 18.7 acre park abu ng the Anthony F. Veteran Park facili es. It includes two ball fields, one play area, four picnic groves, one pavilion, three tennis courts (accessed through AFVP), restrooms and parking.
Secor Woods Park
Taxter Ridge Park Preserve (#15 on Figure 7.1) consists of approximately 190 acres and was purchased in 2004 by New York State (33.3 percent ownership), Westchester County (33.3 percent ownership) and the Town (33.3 percent ownership). Taxter Ridge is used for passive recrea on. The development of hiking trails is planned. Users currently park their vehicles on neighborhood streets on either the East Irvington or Tarrytown side of Taxter Ridge to access the park. A small off‐street parking lot will be constructed on the northwest side of Taxter Road, providing addi onal access into the park.
7‐8 DRAFT 9-20-16 Unincorporated Greenburgh Comprehensive Plan
Theodore D. Young Community Center (TDYCC) func ons under the Town’s The indoor pool at the Department of Community Resources and provides a variety of educa onal, TDYCC was the cultural, recrea onal and social ac vi es and services for residents. The Center subject of LWCF has several indoor facili es, including a heated pool and sauna, a gymnasium, funding and, conference rooms, a fitness center, classrooms, a library, a computer therefore, is open to technology room and a performing arts studio. The Center provides programs the general public. and services for youth, adults and seniors.
Theodore D. Young Community Center West Rumbrook Park (#19 on Figure 7.1) is a 43.9 acre park located near the Village of Elmsford. Facili es at this park include two ball fields, a food concession and press box, storage trailers, and parking. The Elmsford Li le League, which manages the park under a mul ‐year contract with the Town, operates an on‐site concession stand and is responsible for the u lity costs. A new club house was constructed at the field in 2013.
Yosemite Park (#11 on Figure 7.1) is a 12.0 acre park located north of Rt. 119 (Tarrytown Road) and accessed from Yosemite or Dakota Avenues and the TDYCC. Facili es at this park include an outdoor spray/water park with sprinklers for use during the summer months, a baseball field, a basketball court, two tennis courts, two playgrounds, a large pavilion used for concerts and other events and a quarter‐mile walking/jogging path. This park is very heavily u lized.
Yosemite Park
7‐9 DRAFT 9-20-16 Chapter 7.0 Parks, Trails, Open Space and Recrea on Facili es
Table 7.4: Town of Greenburgh Parks Ameni es Inventory (Unincorporated Greenburgh Parks) Hand/Paddleball Outdoor Night Outdoor Basketball Food Swimming Pla Mee Play Horseshoe Cooking Turf Walking Nature Tennis Rest Picnic Ball
Dog Benches Light Pavilion
orm Concession Apparatus
Concert Play ng
Rooms Ice Fields Park
Court
Area
Rooms Trails
Tennis Facili
Name Grills
Trail Courts fi
Ska pools
eld Pits
courts