Lead Stories, News

Rye Town Park spends $36K to repair facilities

The Rye Town Park Commission authorized a set of emergency repairs last week to the park’s bathhouse and administrative building after the decaying infrastructure began falling apart.

According to Rye Town Supervisor Gary Zuckerman, a Democrat and president of the park commission, construction crews repaired the two fixtures after discovering there were hazardous conditions that could put both parkgoers and employees at risk; the renovations were approved on May 16.

The work to repair the bathroom roof and remove and replace loose and missing stucco on the administrative building was commissioned to the Port Chester-based L&M Company, which is a division of Nieto Contractors Inc., for a total of $36,295.

On May 16, the Rye Town Park Commission approved emergency repairs to the park’s administrative building and bathhouse, pictured, which were both constructed in the early 1900s. Photos courtesy Easton Architects

“There was considerable damage that was also causing flooding, and it made it virtually unusable,” Zuckerman said about both the bathhouse and administrative building, which also serves as headquarters for park staff. “That was quite problematic and we were worried people would not be able to use the bathrooms.”

The century-old administrative building, which originally served as Rye Town Hall, was designed in 1909 and was a focal point of the park at the time. The bathhouse was later added to Rye Town Park in 1925.

In wake of the emergency repairs, Rye City Councilwoman Julie Killian, a Republican and member of the park commission, said the renovations should come as a precursor to several other “obvious” capital improvements needed at the park, which overlooks Oakland Beach and the Long Island Sound; it’s located at 95 Dearborn Ave., off of Forest Avenue in the city of Rye.

Some of those improvements, which could cost more than a million dollars, include completely restoring and replacing the bathhouse, bathrooms and shower facilities as well as making the mid-beach ramp handicap accessible.

The park commission approved spending $30,000 to repair the bathroom roof and remove and replace stucco on the administrative building.

“The commission and many of our residents are committed to taking a deep dive into looking at capital improvements needed at the park,” Killian told the Review. “Once we sort all of that information out and figure out how much money it will all cost, we can plan out the improvements year by year.”

The councilwoman added that while there is no plan in place that establishes what improvements are needed at the park, the commission will eventually form an organized capital improvements plan with specific details of the necessary upgrades.

The Rye Town Park Commission—which consists of representatives from the city and town of Rye, the villages of Port Chester and Rye Brook, and the Rye Neck section of the village of Mamaroneck—is responsible for setting policy at the park and governing its operations. The city and town jointly fund operations at the park and capital improvements.

In the meantime, with the help of the revenue surplus—nearly $430,000—accumulated over the last two years, if any other urgent matters materialize, the park commission has the funds to remedy any potential issues, Killian said.

Rye City Mayor Joe Sack, a Republican and member of the park commission, could not be reached for comment.