Eddie Collins Park closed as construction ramps up

MILLERTON — Village officials have closed Eddie Collins Memorial Park until July 31, 2027, as construction ramps up on multiple projects.

Two construction projects are currently underway at the park — a new pumphouse for the village’s second drinking well and a new public pool and poolhouse. The park closed on Aug. 31 and will remain entirely closed until construction is complete, Mayor Jenn Najdek said.

Najdek acknowledged construction timelines are often unpredictable, saying that the July 31, 2027, reopen date is a conservative estimate. She said pre-construction administrative work has moved on schedule, and crews will begin with general construction in the coming weeks.

“We’ve been meeting weekly to make sure everybody’s on track,” Najdek said. “I think we’re pretty close to smooth sailing, I hope.”

Workers are expected to wrap construction of the pumphouse this fall, clearing the way for village officials to move forward with building a new highway department building to house the village’s road equipment.

Construction crews are currently working on building a 200-square-foot structure to shelter the uncovered well. The well is one of two pumps that serve water to village residents. It has been offline since the fire, leaving the village to rely on a single pump that was unaffected by the fire.

Work on the long-awaited pool and poolhouse is also ramping up. In August, crews demolished an existing structure that served as a locker room and entrance for the old pool at the park. Village officials closed that pool 10 years ago when mounting structural damage became too expensive to repair.

Village groups have worked together for nearly a decade to bring a pool back to the park, culminating in this year’s groundbreaking ceremony during Millerton’s 175th celebration in July. Najdek said she hopes the new pool will be open by next August.

“I’d love to see someone swimming in that pool by the end of next summer,” Najdek said.