Almost there: Eddie Collins Memorial Park redo unveiled

MILLERTON — In recent years, the Eddie Collins Memorial Park Revitalization Committee has been soliciting feedback and refining designs for the revitalization of Eddie Collins Memorial Park to accommodate several new amenities, improvements and updates. After presenting plans to the Village Board and the North East Town Board, the committee arranged two public viewing and comments sessions to give the pubic an opportunity to see what it’s been up to.

“This is going to be a community facility, so it’s important that it reflects what the community wants,” said Jeanne Vanecko, a member of the committee.

With both viewings organized in the NorthEast-Millerton Library Annex, the first was held from 6 to 8 p.m. on Wednesday, Oct. 9, while the second viewing was held from 1 to 3 p.m. on Sunday, Oct. 13.

Residents were invited to examine the model that engineering firm, The Chazen Companies, designed for the park’s re-imagining along with the two enlarged conceptual master plans. Following a careful study of the project in both model and master plan format, residents were encouraged to write down their comments and suggestions.

 Eddie Collins Memorial Park Revitalization Committee members Vanecko and Stephen Waite said they took great pride in the various components of the re-imagined park, from the turf soccer field and the renovated Little League Field to the new walking trails and the new basket-
ball courts. They also made themselves available to answer any questions about the project and the different phases entailed.

“I think I’m one to remember the past and to look back at where we were,” Waite said, “but it’s important to look forward… and I think it’s a good plan moving forward.”

“It’s never easy when there’s change,” he added, “but sometimes change is necessary and refreshing.”

At this time, Vanecko said that the Eddie Collins Memorial Park Revitalization Committee has a preliminary set of plans and pricing for the project along with the support of the town and village. She reported that the committee is currently in the process of forming a not-for-profit, which should be established by the beginning of 2020 so the committee can develop a capital campaign and obtain donations. Additionally, the committee has applied for consolidated funding through the New York State Department of Parks and Recreation in the form of a $600,000 matching grant, and is putting together a joint application between the town and village for a $200,000 Community Development Block Grant.