Veterans Park upgrades begin

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MILLERTON — Veterans Park's long-awaited facelift began this week.

Construction crews from Scape Tech Landscape technology were at the park on Tuesday morning, April 21, completing demolition work as part of preparations for upgrades that will include new landscaping and other repairs.

Construction crew members on scene said the work should be completed within two to three weeks. Village officials indicated they expect the project to be complete by Memorial Day in May.

Trustees finalized the years-long process for Veterans Park improvements in February. The board agreed to include repairs to the park’s existing stone walls as part of the job, while dropping other add-ons such as a stone veneer planter.

Construction crews work at preparing Veterans Park in downtown Millerton on Tuesday, April 21. Scape Tech Landscape Technology won the bid for proposed upgrades to the park, with a projected total cost of $240,548 to be paid in part with grant funding and unappropriated village funds.Photo by Nathan Miller

The renovations will include replacing the existing brick pavers, restoration to asphalt paving, additional lighting at the park and hardwood mulching. The project also includes a sidewalk extension along Route 44 in front of the NorthEast-Millerton Library and NBT Bank.

Trees and vegetation will remain in place, as will the stone wall. The park's asphalt paving, brick pavers and any broken furniture will be removed and replaced.

Board members said repairing the walls — which Trustee David Sherman said were built in the 1950s — would help prevent more costly repairs later. With the project supported by a $150,000 Dutchess County Community Development Block Grant, the village will cover the remaining roughly $98,500 from unappropriated fund balance rather than take on additional debt. Mayor Jenn Najdek said the village has more than $400,000 in the fund balance and would still have close to $350,000 remaining after the expenditure.

Additional reporting contributed by Aly Morrissey.

Nathan Miller

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