County Legislators Approve $860,000 for Blue Mountain Improvements

This information is from a press release from the Westchester County Board of Legislators: Westchester County Board of Legislators (BOL) approved $860,000 funding for improvements and renovations at this week.

During her ongoing tour of County parks and recreation facilities Legislator Catherine Borgia (D-Ossining), chair of the BOL's Government Operations Committee underscored the importance of maintaining "the County's most important investments."

The approval of two separate bond acts-for $400, 000 and $460,000 respectively-drew unanimous support at the BOL's regular meeting on May 21. Both bonds will pay for design work. The first bond will cover the cost of the preparation of surveys, preliminary and detailed plans, specification and estimates necessary for planning recreational area improvements at the Blue Mountain Sportsman Center.The second bond will go towards surveys, plans and estimates prior to the reconstruction of buildings within Blue Mountain Reservation.

"Blue Mountain Reservation and the Sportsman Center are among the County's most used parks and recreation facilities, and my colleagues on the Board of Legislators rightfully appreciate and understand the necessity of proper and timely maintenance projects for them," said Borgia. "Walking around this incredible natural wonder, it is easy to see why we have to remain committed to protecting our parks."

Originally a part of Van Cortlandt Manor and acquired by Westchester County in 1927, Blue Mountain Reservation is comprised of over 1,500 acres that straddle the City of Peekskill and the Town of Cortlandt. Prized by bird watchers and nature lovers, the reservation features miles of trails for hiking and mountain biking, with the tops of two large peaks, Spitzenberg Mountain and Blue Mountain, reachable by challenging trails. The Sportsman Center at Blue Mountain Reservation is the only public recreation area in Westchester that offers pistol and rifle target shooting for sportsmen in a woodland park setting.

Legislator Borgia, along with Legislator and BOL Government Operations Committee member Virginia Perez (D-Yonkers), also visited County-owned Croton Point Park Thursday. Previously, Borgia had led a legislative tour of Cranberry Lake Preserve, Saxon Woods and Marshlands Conservancy.

"Having visited just a fraction of the parks here in Westchester during my first five months in office, I can safely say our residents our incredibly fortunate to have these resources open for their pleasure and good health," said Borgia. "It reinforces the idea that these are some of the County's most important investments, and that we should take our safeguarding responsibilities seriously."

The Westchester County Parks system is celebrating its 50th anniversary this year.