A draft design for the renovation of Hillsdale’s Hamlet Park was approved by the Town Board on February 9, setting the stage for a fundraising effort that will seek government and foundation grants as well as individual donations to pay for the renovation.
The Town Board meeting, held via Zoom, featured a brief presentation by Chazen Associates, a landscape design firm hired by the town. The board members heard about the project’s goals and were shown a schematic view of the proposed revamping of the park, located southwest of the intersection of state Routes 22 and 23.
Among the proposed new elements are an expanded playground for children, a pavilion for concerts and other events, a walking path, benches, picnic tables, new lighting, shade trees, an improved basketball court, a pickleball court and a connection to the Harlem Valley Rail Trail, which terminates in Hillsdale. The renovation, spearheaded by the Hillsdale Hamlet Committee, was based in part on suggestions and comments from hundreds of residents gathered through a survey and in public meetings in October and January.
The plan aims to offer a place for residents of all ages to relax and exercise as well as to serve as a venue for community gatherings. In addition, the Hamlet Committee believes the revitalized park will support economic growth by bringing more people to the heart of Hillsdale to patronize its shops and restaurants.
Image courtesy of Hillsdale’s Hamlet Park Committee