Park Improvements Move Forward
Yesterday’s City Council meeting was especially productive with respect to park improvements across New Rochelle. In the space of just a few minutes, the Council: (1) accepted a $500,000 grant from the State to help implement the Hudson Park Master Plan; (2) issued bonds in the amount of $425,000 to upgrade Maplewood Park; (3) approved financing for the replacement of the turf at Fosina Field; and (4) directed federal Community Development Block Grant dollars to a new splash pad at Parkside Place. That’s in addition to several other essential investments in infrastructure, equipment, and public facilities. Not bad for an evening’s work! Although grants play an important role in addressing New Rochelle’s capital priorities, many other expenditures are made possible by the City’s growing economy, as we reinvest the proceeds from development to strengthen our community.
Our new holiday lights at Library Green and at City Hall are really beautiful. A festive start to the season, and definitely worth a visit after sundown.
A beautiful scene at the starting line this morning, as hundreds of runners converged on New Rochelle for the annual 
New Rochelle is launching a comprehensive initiative to promote environmentally-friendly (and quiet) landscaping practices. Partnering with Sustainable Westchester, the American Green Zone Alliance (AGZA), and Quiet Communities Inc. (QCi), and utilizing a $210,000 State grant, the City will begin transitioning to electric equipment for parks maintenance, while encouraging a similar transition among commercial landscapers through education, training, certification, and equipment rebates. This multi-layered strategy is more likely to be successful than a purely regulatory approach, which would face serious enforcement challenges. I am proud that New Rochelle is leading by example. More in