by Marina Kiriakou -
On Tuesday morning, September 10th, the Westchester Jewish Center in Mamaroneck hosted the first event of the new season of Local Summit presentations. This meeting marks the beginning of several months of focused community conversations centered around the theme of "Public Space in Our Community: Vision, Challenges, and Collaboration."
The discussion was led by a panel of local elected leaders: Jaine Elkind Eney, Supervisor of the Town of Mamaroneck; Sarah Bauer, Mayor of the Village of Larchmont; and Nora Lucas, Deputy Mayor of the Village of Mamaroneck. The dialogue was lively and insightful, drawing a crowd of residents and local stakeholders eager to hear about the future of their shared community spaces.
Understanding Our Municipalities
The panelists began by providing context about their respective municipalities:
Unincorporated Area of the Town of Mamaroneck: Encompassing 5.7 square miles outside the villages, this area is home to around 11,000 residents. It features 44 miles of roads, one park, several conservation trails, Hommocks Field, and the Sheldrake Environmental Center.
Village of Larchmont: Home to approximately 6,600 residents, Larchmont spans 1.1 square miles, with 21 miles of roads and nine public parks. The village also owns the Larchmont Reservoir, a key environmental asset situated within the Town of Mamaroneck and the City of New Rochelle.
Village of Mamaroneck: With a population of nearly 20,000, the village covers about 6.7 square miles, including 3.5 miles of water and 9 miles of coastline. It has 55 miles of roads and 15 parks, preserves, and trails.
Strategic Planning for Public Spaces
Each elected leader addressed the strategic planning efforts in their municipalities, emphasizing comprehensive plans, community engagement, and the challenges they face:
Town of Mamaroneck: Elkind Eney described the Town's comprehensive plan, which was a major undertaking, given that the previous plan dated back to 1965. The new plan, developed over two years with input from a diverse steering committee, involved extensive public outreach through workshops, surveys, and community events. It includes ongoing engineering studies to address environmental and structural concerns around public fields, balancing the need for turf and natural spaces.
Village of Larchmont: Bauer highlighted the village's efforts to revitalize its business district, supported by a smart growth grant to develop a "commercial area plan." This plan aims to update zoning regulations, improve infrastructure, and stimulate local economic growth. Bauer also detailed the Flint Park renovation, emphasizing extensive public input through surveys and feedback from sports leagues and local committees.
Village of Mamaroneck: Lucas spoke about the Village's updated plan, adopted in September 2023, which focuses on sustainability and resiliency, with priorities such as flood protection, infrastructure, land use, business services, and housing affordability. The village is also reconsidering the use of the controversial Hunter Lot, balancing parking, affordable housing, and community needs.
Public Space and Park Use
The panelists discussed the challenges and strategies related to public spaces and park use:
Town of Mamaroneck: Elkind Eney outlined efforts to balance competing interests for field use, including proposals to add turf fields while maintaining natural spaces. The town is conducting engineering studies to address environmental and structural concerns, ensuring a sustainable design for future development.
Village of Larchmont: Bauer elaborated on the Flint Park renovation, shaped by comprehensive public input. The project includes new playground equipment, improved shade, and other enhancements. Bauer also noted that the village's updated public-private partnership policy will help manage future park projects more effectively.
Village of Mamaroneck: Lucas mentioned ongoing projects to reorient fields in Harbor Island Park to improve layout and resilience against rain. “Harbor Island Park is the biggest park that we have, and we're trying to determine how to best use it. Fields for Kids has offered to help us build out our facilities; we’ve been discussing the best layouts and footing for recreational programs at that site.”
Addressing Infrastructure and Resiliency
Infrastructure and resilience emerged as critical themes, particularly in the face of climate change and flooding concerns:
Town of Mamaroneck: Elkind Eney discussed major infrastructure projects, including a new roundabout on Madison Avenue designed to improve safety, reduce air pollution, manage flooding, and support redevelopment. The town is also pursuing affordable housing initiatives, funded by county and state grants, and plans to enhance pedestrian safety with a new sidewalk project near a local school.
Village of Larchmont: Bauer emphasized that infrastructure resiliency is a top priority, particularly given the village’s location on the water and increasing flood risks. The village is examining ways to revitalize the business district and adapt zoning regulations to address climate change impacts and flooding issues.
Village of Mamaroneck: Lucas highlighted the focus on flood management in the village, particularly given its history with swamp land. Many parks, such as Columbus Park, Florence Park, and Harbor Island Park, are located on former swamps, which exacerbate flooding issues under current climate conditions. The village is collaborating with the Army Corps of Engineers on a flood mitigation plan, seeking additional grants for "betterments" like flood benches and improved water retention systems. The village is also advancing local projects to mitigate flooding incrementally, such as new infrastructure near Florence Park and sidewalk improvements on Old Post Road.
Collaboration Among Municipalities
The panelists underscored the importance of collaboration between the town and the two villages, with frequent communication and cooperation on shared issues. Formal meetings, such as those of the Westchester Joint Water Works and the sanitation commission, as well as quarterly meetings between municipalities and school districts, help coordinate efforts. It was also noted that collaboration with higher levels of government is crucial for funding larger projects.
Lucas praised the cooperation between the Village and its two school districts, which allows for effective resource management, such as using school facilities for community programs when park facilities are unsuitable.
To learn more about visions for public space in our community, watch a replay of this meeting HERE: Search for “Local Summit September 10, 2024.”
Photo credit: LMC Media.
Comentarios