Letter to the Editor - The Millerton News - 7-13-23

Realizing a dream

Families sitting in chairs chatting and eating tacos and chili dogs; children darting around playing ball; smells of chicken grilling; music with a strong beat; cooling ice cream and Italian ices in hand; clusters of people drinking beer talking to old friends and introducing others to the group. All together on a hot summer afternoon!

It has been one of the dreams of the Eddie Collins Memorial Park Revitalization committee to see the park full of families enjoying themselves. Stephen Waite, Committee Chair; Jeanne Vanecko, Vice Chair, Edith Greenwood, Treasurer, Greg Swinehart and myself worked hard to raise the $2.2 million to complete this phase of the Park. And after 6 years of planning, fundraising and construction, it was thrilling to see that dream fulfilled on Saturday, July 8th for the Village’s first free concert in the new Park. It was indeed a place for everyone…200 of us at least! And the heavens cooperated by not raining on us.

Thank you to all who came to enjoy our Millerton time together. Our thanks to Salisbury Bank and Trust and the Northeast Dutchess Fund of Berkshire Taconic Community Foundation for the funds to produce the event. Hats off to the spectacular Event team who organized it under the inspired leadership of newly elected Village Trustee, Lisa Erdner and her teammates: Anna Clune, Cathy Fenn and Claire Goodman.

Stay tuned…there’s another concert coming to the Park in September. See you there! Meanwhile, let’s all enjoy that new Park. Phase 2 is in the planning phase now for the long awaited swimming pool! More about that soon.

Summer cheers…

Jennifer Dowley

Eddie Collins
Memorial Park
Revitalization Committee

Millerton