Amenia Recreation Commission discusses enhancement projects

AMENIA —  Focusing on a goal to enhance town areas for recreational use by residents and visitors, the Amenia Recreation Commission agreed at its meeting on Tuesday, Oct. 10, to proceed with creation of design plans for the Amenia Green project.

Landscape architect Jane Didona of Didona Associates in Danbury, Connecticut, will create the drawings as part of the engineering plan to develop the town-owned land surrounding the Town Hall. The cost of that portion of the Amenia Green design planning is estimated at $90,000.

Rather than wait until next year’s grant application cycle, the commission agreed to pursue other fundraising avenues to move the design planning ahead. 

Generalized estimates forecast that the Amenia Green project could be expected to cost $600,000 to $800,000 to complete, although more exact cost estimates will be available once the design phase is completed.

Wassaic Park

The commission estimated that an additional $120,000 could be needed to create similarly detailed plans for Wassaic Park, a second recreational enhancement project for the town in the village of Wassaic.

“We can’t do anything yet with many items involved with improvements to Wassaic Park,” said commission Chair Paul Winters, indicating that plans would need to wait until the Highway Department garage is moved to its new location on Route 22. 

The commission did agree, however, to preliminarily accept a broad conceptual plan created by Didona in early October describing a location for playground equipment and the possible creation of a pump track for sport bicyclists, part of the planning for Wassaic Park.

Beekman Park

Plans to replace the playground equipment at Beekman Park have made progress. Winters reported on Friday, Oct. 13, that the town’s application for a Community Development Block Grant (CDBG), will be submitted to Dutchess County Planning and Development before the application deadline of Friday, Oct. 20.

Winters said that he is hopeful that the application will result in receiving the CDBG grant in 2024.

Repairs to the concession stand continue in the planning stage. The commission estimated that $20,000 to $30,000 would be needed just to purchase the necessary materials.

Trunk or Treat for Halloween

Recreation director Katie Sterk-Grassi reported that the annual Trunk or Treat event at Beekman Park will be held on Sunday, Oct. 29, between 1 and 2:30 p.m. Anyone wanting to dispense treats will need to register with the Recreation office. There is no fee for registration.