The Chronicle's editorial policy on Gouveia Park has always been clear: It may have been a mistake to acquire it, but it's ours now and we should make the most of it.
Fitting (potty number) for the amount of visitors to the park!
One thing that surprises me is that the town did not have a contingency plan or “out” for this sweetheart deal they made. Once it was realized that there was no real plan to this property, now going on 10 years, it would have been nice to have the option to sell it to a private buyer. I am sure a developer would be happy to split it into a few million-dollar home parcels like they did to the spot the same side of the street a half-mile or so down the road.
There is egg on the face of everyone involved in that deal. What once was a nice tax revenue to the village is now a money pit and so far a waste.
Proper bathrooms like the ones at Croton Landing should have been built and more village event type stuff should have happened hear to welcome residents to the park and make them aware of its use. It has potential for residents to enjoy it more and the beauty of nature. I believe dogs are allowed to be walked there now too which is a plus. That alone is an accomplishment after all these years. Thank you for posting about this.
Funny, I still remember when Ann Gallelli wouldn’t allow my neighbors to visit the property while the village was secretly deciding how to accept the former owner’s deal but she brought in her friends from Yorktown to look into starting some type of Nature Center there, I believe. My senior neighbors would recall the details on this but they weren’t happy not to be allowed on the property while out of village residents were. Croton politics at its finest.
Fitting (potty number) for the amount of visitors to the park!
One thing that surprises me is that the town did not have a contingency plan or “out” for this sweetheart deal they made. Once it was realized that there was no real plan to this property, now going on 10 years, it would have been nice to have the option to sell it to a private buyer. I am sure a developer would be happy to split it into a few million-dollar home parcels like they did to the spot the same side of the street a half-mile or so down the road.
There is egg on the face of everyone involved in that deal. What once was a nice tax revenue to the village is now a money pit and so far a waste.
Proper bathrooms like the ones at Croton Landing should have been built and more village event type stuff should have happened hear to welcome residents to the park and make them aware of its use. It has potential for residents to enjoy it more and the beauty of nature. I believe dogs are allowed to be walked there now too which is a plus. That alone is an accomplishment after all these years. Thank you for posting about this.
Funny, I still remember when Ann Gallelli wouldn’t allow my neighbors to visit the property while the village was secretly deciding how to accept the former owner’s deal but she brought in her friends from Yorktown to look into starting some type of Nature Center there, I believe. My senior neighbors would recall the details on this but they weren’t happy not to be allowed on the property while out of village residents were. Croton politics at its finest.