Millerton’s Rudd Pond is ‘overgrown, disgusting,’ says mayor

MILLERTON — Rudd Pond State Park, a village landmark, is in such bad shape that both the mayor of Millerton and the North East town supervisor are doing all they can to drum up community support and get the state involved in its cleanup. The village and town boards met recently to discuss the issue, and both agreed something must be done.That’s why the two municipalities are reaching out to the New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation (OPRHP) for help. Mayor John Scutieri said he wants a state biologist to come to the park and evaluate the much-beloved pond, which doubles as a swimming beach during summer months.“It’s terrible,” Scutieri said, adding that a group of concerned residents arranged to have the pond hydro-raked a few years back. “Now it’s going to take a huge effort to put pressure on the state and find out why Rudd Pond is being ignored.”Scutieri said a red flag was raised recently when well-known biologist Michael Klemens conducted a study of Rudd Pond. According to the mayor, Klemens said if the state doesn’t do something about the pond in the next couple of years it will very likely transition into a swamp, at which point there won’t be any recourse.“It really is so overgrown,” Scutieri said. “It’s disgusting. Nobody rents boats anymore, they can’t paddle around, with the milfoil and lily pads. It’s becoming a huge problem.”Town Supervisor John Merwin agreed. “The park is a tremendous community asset, and we really would like the state to step up and give it the attention that it needs,” he said. “I’m afraid if nothing is done the weeds will take it over, and in essence the park will be lost.”The town and village have arranged a meeting with OPRHP Regional Director Linda Cooper to discuss the matter, to “make sure she understands our concerns,” as Merwin put it. “Hopefully they’ll step up and do their share, and we’ll save the pond,” he said. “I know they’re concerned about money on their end, but if we’re going to have a park we might as well maintain it.”Especially when that park benefits the entire community. According to Scutieri, Rudd Pond State Park attracts visitors to the region who do more than take a dip in the water. They also spend their hard-earned money in village shops and restaurants, and to pay for other goods and services.“It’s not just a place people drive by to say it’s beautiful,” Scutieri said. “It’s a source of tourism for the town, and [income] for the merchants. But now people who love to make day trips just are not doing it any more. It’s 85 degrees out, with the sun shining, and nobody is there.“Personally, I’ve lived in Millerton for 40 years, and remember as a teen taking bike rides up to Rudd Pond to go swimming, all summer long,” he added. “It was a place to go that was so much fun. Now the lifeguards are only there Saturdays and Sundays. It’s one of those cases that if they would just clean up the pond it would rejuvenate the whole state park and everybody’s feelings toward it.”And while those who do make the trip to the park say they enjoy it, they also say they avoid going in the water.“Rudd Pond is a beautiful pond and the area is so beautiful. It’s a shame to not have it be as nice as it can be so more people can enjoy it,” said part-time local resident Ann Lieberman. “I would definitely use it more if they would clean up the pond. It seems they mow the grass and keep it nice; they should do at least as much for the water.”Christy Cuevas, who was at the park with her family on a camping trip from North Babylon, Long Island, agreed.“It’s so congested by us that it’s nice to get away. We came for a little peace,” she said. “But I wouldn’t get in the water, and I wouldn’t let [my children] swim in it. I’m glad I didn’t bring their swimsuits. The pond looks beautiful from afar, but [up close] it looks like it’s not being kept.”To encourage the state to send a biologist, and then ideally follow up with a course of action, Scutieri and Merwin are asking residents and visitors alike to appeal to the state parks department. Anyone who wants to do so is asked to go online, to www.nysparks.com, and click on the contact prompt, which will bring up a page from which comments and suggestions can be submitted. “Say how you feel about Rudd Pond,” Scutieri said. “Let’s ask the state to put some validity to Klemen’s claim. In all my years I’ve never seen the pond look as bad as it does right now.”If nothing is done, and the pond does evolve into a swamp or field, Scutieri said there is no doubt the park will close. It could close even if that doesn’t happen. The threat of closure already surfaced for Rudd Pond State Park a couple of years ago, and the mayor said if the water is not cleaned up, “Rudd Pond will be on the top of the list to close, because nobody is using it. There is no revenue stream because nobody is paying any fees to get in. It’s frustrating to see it go in the direction it’s going in.”