New Hempstead Toys With Idea of Building New Park Bridging Neighborhoods

By M. C. Millman

Wednesday night, June 15th’s Village Hall meeting presented the idea of purchasing the vacant parcel of land on New Hempstead Road across from Pennington Way.

The land would be utilized for a public park with various amenities and walking paths to connect several neighborhoods. It would serve as a new, more central location for the New Hempstead Village hall.

The 25 acres borders New Hempstead Road, Keri Lane, Fairway Oval, and Barnacle Drive.

The price of the property would be $1.35 million.

The Yeshiva of Greater Monsey would receive five acres and assist financially in building the park by contributing $1.2 million to the infrastructure while utilizing the five acres for expansion.

This funding would allow the project to be accomplished without any net tax impact on Village residents. 

While pre-registration for the meeting was required initially, due to the number of interested participants, that requirement was withdrawn.

The meeting was moved from the Village Town Hall on Schoolhouse Road in New City to the larger Town of Ramapo Senior Citizens Community Center in Montebello after 140 people RSVPed their interest in attending. 

Residents were presented with the concept plan, and feedback was allowed to give the Village a clearer picture of the idea of moving forward. Additionally, the meeting allowed residents to share ideas of what they would like the park to look like. 

New Hempstead Mayor Abe Sicker made it clear at the start of the meeting that the discussion on utilizing the parkland was to start a conversation. No actual proposal was presented despite the idea being one that has been under consideration for the last five years. 

Initially, some questioned why there was a need for a new park across from Pennington Way when the Sandy Brook Town Park is already located on Sandy Brook Drive, only a few blocks away from the end of Pennington Way.

The response was that Sandy Brook is a small Town of Ramapo park, which is mostly wetland, so little can be done to improve it in any significant way.  

The general concerns voiced, mainly from those whose properties abut the parkland was, regarding the loss of privacy, such as if the walking paths would be near their property.

Additional concerns were raised about lighting, litter, and noise, as well as the legality of developing the property. Many residents were under the impression that the property was protected land.

The Village lawyer said he would investigate further regarding that but had not come across any documentation that the land might be a designated green belt. If that proves to be the case, the conversation would no longer be feasible.

The meeting concluded with the realization that more research would be necessary before revisiting the idea.

The concept plan is available for viewing on the village website, and residents are encouraged to submit their opinions to [email protected].