06 - Chapter 6 - Parks, Recreation & Open SpacePlan Rye Brook
Chapter 6: Parks, Recreation and Open Space 65
6. PARKS, RECREATION AND OPEN SPACE
The quality, quantity and variety of parks and open spaces are important attributes that help
define the character of a community. The strength of Rye Brook’s community character lies in its
attractive residential neighborhoods and the abundance of parks and recreational facilities that
serve them. The benefits of parks and open space are varied, in that they provide opportunities
for social interaction and healthful activity; help preserve natural features and environmentally
sensitive areas; serve important drainage and stormwater management functions; and enhance
community aesthetics, improving property values and the marketability of neighborhoods.
6.1 Existing Parks and Open Space
The village of Rye Brook has a significant amount of open space, consisting of land in public
parks and schools, along public parkways and natural waterways, at privately owned recreational
facilities and within homeowners’ association developments and corporate office parks. This open
space varies greatly in terms of public accessibility and type of recreation accommodated. For the
purposes of this Comprehensive Plan, public open space is indicated for the following areas (see
Table 15, below, for a summary):
Designated publicly owned parks and open spaces (Village, Town or Rye, State)
Open space associated with public schools
Privately owned recreational facilities (golf courses)
Privately owned passive open space, including homeowners’ association lands
Cemeteries
The Village of Rye Brook Planning Base Studies report also designated as open space lands
associated with the County Airport, King Street Nursing Home and St. Paul’s Lutheran Church.
Other properties in Rye Brook have large areas of open land, such as the Southern Westchester
BOCES headquarters on Berkley Drive and the Cerebral Palsy of Westchester property on King
Street, but were not indicated as open space in the County’s report. While each of these sites has
significant open land area, they are not considered functional open space in this Plan, as they are
neither open to the general public nor have a recreational function. Future redevelopment of
these properties, may, however, present opportunities for additional designated open space.
6.1.1 Public Parks
Five main municipal parks are located in Rye Brook:
Crawford Park (36 acres) is a Town of Rye multipurpose park located between North
Ridge Street and Lincoln Avenue. It features gardens, lawns, woods, a walking/jogging
path and playing fields, as well as the historic Crawford mansion, which can be rented for
special events. The park was donated to the Town in 1971 and is well used by Rye Brook
residents. The Village holds its annual Birthday Celebration and summer day camp here.
Plan Rye Brook
Chapter 6: Parks, Recreation and Open Space 66
Table 15: Parks and Open Space Inventory, 2013
Active Open Space Passive Open Space
Public Parks Acres Public Ownership Acres
Crawford Park (Town of Rye) 36 Rich Manor Park 10
Pine Ridge Park 9 Elm Hill Park 2
Rye Hills Park 7 Magnolia Park 1
King Street Athletic Fields 6 Meadowlark Park 2
Harkness Park 4 Roanoke Park 2
Garibaldi Park 2 Lincoln Avenue Properties 24
Subtotal 64 acres Hutchinson River Parkway Lands 81
Subtotal122 acres
Public Schools Private Ownership
Blind Brook High School/Middle School 26 Common Land Homeowners’ Association Lands 111
Port Chester High School 6 Bowman Avenue Open Space 2
Port Chester Middle School 22 Subtotal113 acres
Ridge Street School 15
Subtotal 69 acres
Private Ownership Cemetery
Arrowwood Golf Course 72 St. Mary’s Cemetery 18
Blind Brook Country Club 166 Subtotal18 acres
Subtotal 238 acres
Active Total 371 acres Passive Total 253 acres
GRAND TOTAL: 624 ACRES
Source: Village of Rye Brook Planning Base Studies, 2012, as updated by BFJ Planning
Pine Ridge Park (9 acres) is the Village’s largest and busiest
active recreational park, located on the corner of Latonia
Drive and Mohegan Lane. It contains Little League baseball
fields, two-and-a-half basketball courts, four tennis courts
and a tennis wall, a playground, a sandbox a walking path,
two bathrooms and associated parking. The Village recently
installed a new scoreboard for use by the Little League. Pine
Ridge Park is also host to “Movie Night in the Park” and
“Theater in the Park” in the summer. The Village should
consider installing additional benches and seating areas near
the older baseball field at the park.
Rye Hills Park (7 acres) is located adjacent to Crawford Park,
off Parkridge Court in Hidden Falls. It features a walking
path, basketball court, two game tables, a circle ring for
storytelling and a belvedere for scenic views. The Village has
plans to construct a storage shed in the park. Vehicle access
is limited to handicapped parking; otherwise, the park is
accessible by foot via Crawford Park. In the fall, Rye Hills Park
BFJ Planning
Plan Rye Brook
Chapter 6: Parks, Recreation and Open Space 67
hosts “Halloween in the Park.” Residents often bring dogs off-leash to this park, even
though it is prohibited.
Rich Manor Park (10 acres) is Rye Brook’s largest Village-owned park by acreage. This
passive park is adjacent to Rock Ridge and Acker drives, and is accessible to Woodland
Drive via a footpath connecting to Acker Drive. It is also near, though not connected, to
the Village’s stormwater management detention pond between Edgewood Drive and
Meadowlark Road. Rich Manor Park consists of an open field and contains wetlands,
floodplains steep slopes and views of Blind Brook. With a somewhat isolated location in
an established residential neighborhood and a lack of signage, the park is not heavily
used by village residents.
King Street Athletic Fields (6 acres) is the Village’s newest recreational facility, at 830
King Street adjacent to Blind Brook High School and Harkness Park. The complex includes
artificial turf football and soccer fields, a baseball/softball field for youth, a full-sized
soccer field, a walking path, concession stand, storage garage and bathrooms. Parking is
located at the school’s campus. The facility is available for rent on a permit basis.
In addition to these major parks, Rye Brook contains several smaller parks which form an
important component of its overall recreational system:
Harkness Park (4 acres) is located on King Street adjacent to Blind Brook High School
and the King Street Athletic Fields. It has four tennis courts and an open field. Information
from the online survey revealed relatively minimal usage of Harkness Park, although
some respondents may have associated it with the King Street Athletic Fields, and may not
have been aware that they are individual facilities.
King Street Athletic Fields
BFJ Planning
VILLAGE OF RYE BROOK, NY
PLAN RYE BROOK FIGURE 12: EXISTING PARKS AND OPEN SPACE
SOURCE: WESTCHESTER COUNTY DEPARTMENT OF PLANNING
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Anthony J. Posillipo
Community Center
Rye Brook
Athletic Fields
Doral
Arrowwood
Roanoke Ave Park
Meadowlark Park Magnolia
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Bowman Ave
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Legend
Village Parks and Open Space
State Parkway Lands
Private Golf Courses and Recreation
Common Land Homeowners Association Lands.
Vacant Properties and Vacant Land with Improvements
Cemeteries
Institutional and Public Assembly
Water Supply Lands
Westchester County Airport
Public Schools
Community Center
Other Village Parks and Open Spaces
Plan Rye Brook
Chapter 6: Parks, Recreation and Open Space 69
Garibaldi Park (2 acres) is on Garibaldi Place opposite the Anthony J. Posillipo
Community Center. The park has a tennis court, two basketball courts, Little League
baseball and softball fields, a playground, two bathrooms and a storage shed. In
addition, Garibaldi Park sees frequent usage for informal soccer games by residents of
the adjacent neighborhoods; while these unstructured activities serve the community well,
they can result in maintenance issues for the athletic fields, and create occasional conflicts
with the Village’s structured recreational programs. Rye Brook has completed substantial
upgrades to the park; however, many residents conveyed a perception in both public
workshops and the online survey that Garibaldi Park is in poor condition. The Village
recently purchased a house on Garibaldi Place next to the park’s parking area, with plans
to demolish the structure and convert the land to approximately 20 more parking spaces.
This will provide parking for the park and the Community Center, and will help to open
the park up further, enhancing its visibility to the community.
Meadowlark Park (2 acres) is a stormwater management facility, including a detention
basin, on Meadowlark Drive near Rich Manor Park. The area, which also features
wetlands, floodplains and steep slopes, is not publicly accessible.
Magnolia Park (approximately 1 acre) consists of an open field on Magnolia Drive,
adjacent to the privately owned historic William E. Ward House.
Roanoke Park (2 acres) has an open lawn area and benches, and is located off Roanoke
Avenue, next to the Rye Ridge shopping center, providing a passive buffer from the
commercial uses. It represents a potential link to future open space on Bowman Avenue.
Elm Hill Park (2 acres) is undeveloped land located immediately north of Crawford Park.
Prior discussions of creating a pedestrian walkway were not well-received by neighboring
properties.
Bowman Avenue Future Park (2 acres) is on private property approved for a housing
development, and is planned to be dedicated to the Village as a public park. It has
wetlands, ponds, floodplains and steep slopes. The proposed park would consist of a
walking path, benches and both landscaped and natural areas. A small dog park is also
being considered at this location.
The Village also owns an undeveloped 24-acre property consisting of two contiguous parcels
in the northernmost portion of Rye Brook, on the south side of Lincoln Avenue between King
Street and the municipal boundary of the Town/Village of Harrison. These parcels were
dedicated to the Village as part of the development of the BelleFair community for recreation
and general municipal use, and thus represent Rye Brook’s greatest opportunity to gain
additional recreational facilities. The Village operates a compost site on part of this property.
Plan Rye Brook
Chapter 6: Parks, Recreation and Open Space 70
The smaller of the two parcels, at the intersection of Lincoln Avenue and King Street,
comprises 9 acres, while the larger parcel, located to the west along Lincoln Avenue,
bordering BelleFair, consists of 16 acres and includes the Village’s composting operation. A
portion of the larger parcel also runs southward between BelleFair along the Harrison border,
with a small part in the southwestern corner located within Harrison. Both parcels contain
areas of wetlands and watercourses, the largest area of which is situated on the smaller lot,
while the Blind Brook traverses the southwestern corner of the larger parcel. Steep slopes and
residual structures are also found on both lots.
Another major public open space area is the 81-acre green corridor along the Hutchinson
River Parkway, which crosses the northern end of Rye Brook. This State-owned land has been
discussed as part of a proposed Hutchinson/Merritt Pathway using the right-of-way of the two
parkways. These are no immediate plans to implement this project, but if ultimately
developed, this pathway would form part of the East Coast Greenway, a developing trail
system spanning some 2,750 miles between Canada and Key West, Florida.
6.1.2 Public Schools
Blind Brook High School/Middle School (26 acres). Located at 840 King Street, includes
soccer and baseball fields, two gymnasiums and an auditorium.
Port Chester High School (6 acres). The campus of this school, located at 1 Tamarack
Road, was built on the grounds of the former Port Chester Country Club. The outdoor
recreational facilities, including ball fields and tennis courts, are in the Village of Port
Chester, while the main school facility, which contains a gymnasium, is in Rye Brook.
Port Chester Middle School (23 acres). Located at 113 Bowman Avenue, the campus
includes a soccer field and baseball field.
Ridge Street School (15 acres). Located at 390 North Ridge Street, facilities include
baseball, soccer and softball fields, basketball courts, a playground two gymnasiums and
a multipurpose room.
6.1.3 Private Recreational Facilities
Blind Brook Country Club (166 acres). A private 18-hole golf course, with a clubhouse
facility, located on Anderson Hill Road off King Street. The course is apparently open,
upon request, to Rye Brook residents.
Plan Rye Brook
Chapter 6: Parks, Recreation and Open Space 71
Doral-Arrowwood Hotel Conference Center (72 acres). A nine-hole golf course and
clubhouse associated with a hotel and townhome complex on Anderson Hill Road,
opposite the Blind Brook Country Club. The golf course is available to the general public.
BelleFair. This development’s gym facility is used by the Village’s Parks and Recreation
Department.
6.1.4 Homeowners’ Association Lands
As discussed in Chapter 4, approximately 111 acres of land within Rye Brook is owned by
homeowners’ associations in connection with various residential developments in the village,
including BelleFair, The Arbors, Hidden Falls, Talcott Woods, Brookridge and Rye Ridge
Condominiums (Avon Circle). While accessible only to residents of these individual developments,
such lands present opportunities for the Village to improve overall open space linkages, through
the negotiation of easements of similar access agreements.
6.1.5 Cemetery
Rye Brook has one cemetery, the 18-acre St. Mary’s Cemetery located at the southernmost end of
the village, bordered by High Street, South Ridge Street and I-287.
6.1.6 Other Open Space Assets
In addition to the above resources, Rye Brook residents have access to a number of other open
space and recreational assets in the surrounding area and region. Because these assets are
located outside the village, they are not included within the acreage totals in Table 15: Parks and
Open Space Inventory, 2013, nor are they indicated on Figure 12.9
Rye Town Park and Beach is located on Long Island Sound in the City of Rye. It consists
of a 34-acre beachfront swimming area, with another 28 acres of passive recreational
areas. The park also contains a historic building complex including a restaurant, pavilions
and service facilities. While the beach is open to the general public, residents of Rye
Brook, Rye City, Port Chester and Rye Neck (within the Village of Mamaroneck) may
purchase seasonal permits with discounts for parking and beach access. Daily admission
fees are available for both residents and non-residents.
9 The Anthony J. Posillipo Community Center, across from Garibaldi Park on Garibaldi Place, provides a
range of recreational programming for all age groups, in particular seniors, but is not discussed in this
chapter because it does not have an open space component. See Chapter 12 for a full discussion.
Plan Rye Brook
Chapter 6: Parks, Recreation and Open Space 72
Rye Playland is a Westchester County-owned amusement park located in the City of Rye,
on Long Island Sound just north of Rye Town Park. The 280-acre complex is undergoing a
$34 million renovation as part of a public-private partnership improvement project.
In addition, two County recreational facilities, Maple Moor Golf Course in White Plains and
Saxon Woods Golf Course and Park in Scarsdale and Mamaroneck, are in close proximity to Rye
Brook, and numerous private golf and country clubs are found throughout the general vicinity.
Other private open spaces that are open to the public include the SUNY Purchase campus and
the grounds and sculpture gardens and PepsiCo’s headquarters in Purchase.
6.2 Future Open Space System
Rye Brook is fortunate to have a parks and open space system that is extremely well-maintained,
well distributed geographically and diverse in the types of uses accommodated. For the future, it
will be important to keep ensuring that parks and recreational assets are adequate in extent,
strategic in location and equitable in distribution to meet the unique needs of the village’s
population. This will depend in part on the efficient use of the existing facilities, as well as the
maintenance and rehabilitation of facilities needing improvements.
6.2.1 National Recreation and Park Association Standards
The assessment of the adequacy of open space and recreation in any municipality should rely on
detailed surveys and analysis of municipal needs. While the National Recreation and Park
Association (NRPA) has standards for various facilities (as discussed in the Village of Rye Brook
Planning Base Studies) their guidelines call for an individualized community planning approach.
Each community should plan and program facilities based upon identified local need. For
example, according to the NRPA standards discussed in the baseline planning studies for Rye
Brook, it would appear that the Village has no mini-parks that meet the use or locational
standards; mini-parks should be geared toward specialized recreational needs and be situated
close to apartment complexes, townhouse development and/or housing for the elderly. In fact,
the need for mini-parks may be minimal in Rye Brook, given that few higher-density residential
developments are present in the village, and that common homeowners’ association lands and
open spaces associated with Atria Rye Brook and the King Street Nursing Home likely fill much of
the mini-park function. This and other NRPA standards may be more appropriate for a larger
municipality that contains more urbanized areas.
In general, NRPA suggests that a park system, at a minimum, be composed of a “core” system of
parklands, with 6.25 to 10.5 acres of developed open space per 1,000 population. Applying this
to Rye Brook’s 2010 population of 9,347, this results in a range from a minimum of 58.4 acres
to a maximum of 98.1 acres for developed open space requirements. As indicated in Table 15,
the Village’s network of active public open spaces easily satisfies these minimum requirements,
with passive spaces and private facilities providing even greater opportunities for recreation.
Plan Rye Brook
Chapter 6: Parks, Recreation and Open Space 73
6.2.2 Criteria for Future Open Space Acquisition
Rye Brook is a largely built-out community, which provides few opportunities for acquisition of
undeveloped open space. And, as suggested by the above discussion, the Village is in very good
shape in terms of its amount of public open space. However, discussion at the public workshops
and feedback from the online survey indicated support for additional open space acquisition as
appropriate, and targeted investments in additional open space should continue to be made to
meet larger goals and take advantage of opportunities as they arise. One example is Rye Brook’s
recent acquisition of a property adjoining Garibaldi Park, which will provide for additional
parking spaces and enhance the park’s presence in the neighborhood, as well as provide
additional parking for the Community Center.
In selecting areas on which to focus future open space acquisitions, it is helpful to develop criteria
from which to identify priority open space parcels. This Plan focuses primarily on protecting land
that includes the following benefits:
Links existing parks and open spaces together to form interconnected greenways
Connects existing parks and open space to neighborhoods and the commercial center
Preserves open space or recreational assets that are not presently protected
Preserves natural drainage areas including waterways and surrounding wetlands and
floodplains, or serves a stormwater management function
As opportunities for open space acquisition appear, they should be evaluated carefully according
to this set of criteria, to ensure the benefits of the additional open space are balanced against the
cost of long-term maintenance and the loss of taxable land. Prioritizing areas for open space
protection helps to focus resources on property that has the highest open space value, rather than
acquiring open space just because it becomes available.
6.3 Issues and Opportunities
Maintain and Enhance Existing Parks and Open Space Network
Rye Brook has a significant network of open spaces, which contributes greatly to its community
character and strong neighborhoods. The ongoing challenge is to continue ensuring that they are
adequate and appropriate to serve their surrounding areas. Survey respondents expressed overall
satisfaction with the Village’s parks and open spaces, especially active facilities, suggesting that
Rye Brook has been proactive in meeting their needs. Opportunities for ongoing maintenance
and park improvements should be closely monitored, but two particular areas stand out:
Garibaldi Park: The Village has made substantial efforts to upgrade this park, and its
recent acquisition of adjacent property will add much-needed parking for the facility and
the community center across the street. Nonetheless, there is a strong perception among
many in Rye Brook that the park is in poor condition, and the online survey response
indicated that it is among the Village’s least-used parks.
Plan Rye Brook
Chapter 6: Parks, Recreation and Open Space 74
Key improvements that should be considered for Garibaldi Park are illustrated in Figure
13, and include:
o Replacement of the playground apparatus.
o Replacement of the baseball field and surrounding area with artificial turf,
depending on the long-term cost implications, so that the field is less subject to
degradation by informal play.
o Coordination with the Washington Park Plaza shopping center owners on
installation of a planting screen along the rear of the commercial building to
reduce the incidence of graffiti that detracts from the park’s image.
o Future acquisition of additional properties along Garibaldi Place, especially
between the parking area and the playground entrance, to allow for more
programmable park space and parking. Additional recreation activities that could
be accommodated in this space include more swingsets, benches, game tables,
bocce courts or community garden space. Such additions would need to be based
on identified needs within the surrounding area and in Rye Brook overall.
Passive Spaces: The online survey revealed strong support for more passive recreational
options, such as walking trails and bike paths, more sidewalks and additional seating and
picnic areas. Yet the survey also indicated minimal usage of Rich Manor Park, Rye Brook’s
largest passive open space. This area should be more clearly demarcated as a designated
Village park. Suggested improvements include:
o Addition of park signage, benches and refuse containers.
o Wayfinding signage directing bicyclists and pedestrians to the park via the path
along Acker Drive.
o Creation of walking paths into and through the park, allowing views of the brook.
o Future connection to Meadowlark Park, while ensuring that any public access to
that park preserves its full stormwater management function and does not present
adverse impacts to adjacent homes.
While these recommendations are specific to Rich Manor Park, they should be
implemented, as appropriate, to the Village’s other passive recreational spaces. Clearly
indicating these spaces as Village parks not only helps to raise their visibility and potential
use, but can reduce some problems with unmarked open space, such as dumping.
In addition, Rye Brook has an opportunity to create a substantial trail network on the 16-
acre Village-owned parcel along Lincoln Avenue, across from the Westchester County
airport. Both pedestrian and bicycle trails could be established on this site – as well as
related amenities such as benches, restrooms, signage and bike racks – without
compromising the wooded character of the land. Public access to the Blind Brook would
be an important component of such a trail network, providing significant scenic and
aesthetic value for Rye Brook and its surrounding region.
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Plan Rye Brook
Chapter 6: Parks, Recreation and Open Space 76
Capitalize on Opportunities to Connect Existing Parks and Open Spaces
Rye Brook has a strong open space network that is well distributed throughout the village. This
creates significant opportunities to link these assets strategically, establishing a “green ribbon,”
while increasing the village’s trail and pathway system and creating opportunities for connections
to other regional open space assets.
Examples of potential linkages include connecting Roanoke Park to the future Bowman Avenue
Park; linking Rich Manor Park and Meadowlark Park (while maintaining the integrity of the
stormwater management detention pond at Meadowlark Park and avoiding impacts on nearby
residential properties); and possibly connecting future open space/recreational uses at the
westernmost Village-owned parcel on Lincoln Avenue to adjoining public open spaces at SUNY
Purchase and Pepsico’s headquarters, both in the Town/Village of Harrison. In addition, Rye
Brook should continue to focus installation of new sidewalks on arterials roadways that link parks
and schools with neighborhoods, while recognizing that sidewalks may not be feasible or
desirable in lower-density residential areas.
Future opportunities for new and enhanced open space linkages may arise with development or
redevelopment of key vacant or underutilized sites in Rye Brook, and the Village should be
proactive in identifying and implementing such connections.
Explore Potential for Newly Acquired and Developed Recreational Facilities
As discussed above, Rye Brook is largely built out, with very little vacant land available for
acquisition of open space and much of that vacant land consists of small and fairly isolated
parcels. Nonetheless, there are several key opportunities to enhance the Village’s recreational
network through targeted actions:
Crawford Park is the largest public park in Rye Brook, and among its most well-utilized.
However, because the park is owned by the Town of Rye, the Village has limited influence
in its management and maintenance. If Crawford Park were under the Village’s
jurisdiction, it would have great potential to be Rye Brook’s “Central Park,” with possible
improved access to surrounding neighborhoods and the chance for stronger connections
to the adjacent Village parks of Rye Hills and Elm Hill.
If the Town is ultimately dissolved – as has been studied and discussed but is currently on
hold – ownership of the park would logically fall to the Village, assuming resolution of
certain key legal issues. Regardless of whether or not a dissolution occurs, though, the
Town has indicated substantial interest recently in divesting itself of assets, including Rye
Brook’s Department of Public Works garage and the Rye Town Hall building in Port
Chester. The Village of Rye Brook should begin serious discussions with the Town on a
possible conveyance of the park to the Village. The mutual benefits are clear: the Town
could reduce costs and decrease its non-taxable land area, while Rye Brook would gain
an established open space that could be the crown jewel of its park system, with control
over its management, upkeep and long-term vision. One area of potential focus for
Plan Rye Brook
Chapter 6: Parks, Recreation and Open Space 77
expanded uses at Crawford Park is a portion of the park fronting Ridge Street, which is
not subject to the same deed restrictions as the remainder of the facility.
As discussed, the Village should consider future acquisition of additional properties
along Garibaldi Place to allow for more programmable park space and added parking,
which would greatly benefit both the park and the community center. This strategy has
already begun with the Village’s recent acquisition of the property adjacent to the existing
parking area, with plans to gain approximately 20 more parking spaces on that parcel.
Future opportunities for similar acquisitions should continue to be monitored.
The online survey suggested support in the village for a community multipurpose
recreational center. In addition to a pool, such a center could include indoor basketball
courts, gymnasiums, classroom space, etc., for use by Rye Brook residents (and perhaps
residents of surrounding communities via a user fee structure). The specific activities and
facilities accommodated in such a center would need to be based on identified community
recreational needs, to ensure that it is not duplicative or redundant with the existing
community center in the southern portion of the village.
Another important question is the ideal location for such a facility. One logical site is the
Village-owned, nine-acre open space parcel at the corner of King Street and Lincoln
Avenue. This site is easily accessible and offers sufficient space for a large recreational
facility, with associated parking and outdoor amenities such as swingsets, walking paths
and small gardens. Linkages could be made to the larger Village-owned property to the
west, which, as discussed above, has potential for establishment of a new trail system.
This Plan recommends that the Village undertake a comprehensive study of a potential
multipurpose recreational center to determine:
o The need for such a facility based on available comparable resources in the
surrounding vicinity;
o The uses, programming and amenities that could best be accommodated in such
a facility, based on needs that are not being filled by Rye Brook’s existing
community center or parks;
o Estimated construction and operating costs; and
o The fiscal and tax implications of building and maintaining a multipurpose
recreational/community center.
The Village has previously discussed options for a dog park to be developed at one or
more Rye Brook parks. Such a facility would need to be sited to minimize potential
Plan Rye Brook
Chapter 6: Parks, Recreation and Open Space 78
negative impacts on nearby residences, while providing for good access either by car or
by foot. Two potential locations are at one of the Village-owned parcels on Lincoln
Avenue, or at the new park approved (but not yet built) on Bowman Avenue.
Preserve Undesignated Open Space Assets
As discussed in Chapter 4, Rye Brook has several significant open space assets that are presently
zoned for residential use. One of these resources, the Blind Brook Country Club, is not
designated as open space, and while there is no indication that the property will experience any
change of use in the foreseeable future, its non-protected status and residential zoning represent
a risk of loss of this valuable open space.
Accordingly, the Village should consider either rezoning the Blind Brook Country Club – along
with all designated Village or Town parks – as an open space/recreation zone to better reflect the
existing land use and the desire to preserve these open spaces in perpetuity, or zone the property
R-30 and require a cluster development for any proposed subdivision (see Chapter 4). Responses
from the online survey indicated strong support for some preservation mechanism of
undesignated open spaces, even if implemented in conjunction with a development component.
6.4 Parks, Recreation and Open Space Recommendations
Undertake upgrades to Garibaldi Park to improve its usage and aesthetics, with
consideration for the following:
o Replacing the playground apparatus.
o Seeking alternate funding for replacement of the baseball field and surrounding
area with artificial turf, depending on the long-term cost implications, so that the
field is less subject to degradation by informal play.
o Coordinating with the Washington Park Plaza shopping center owners on
installation of a planting screen or mural along the rear of the commercial
building to reduce the incidence of graffiti that detracts from the park’s image.
o Pursuing future acquisition of additional properties along Garibaldi Place,
especially between the existing parking area and the playground entrance, to
allow for more programmable park space and added parking.
Consider enhancements to passive recreational spaces to make them more user-friendly;
raise their visibility; and reduce problems associated with unmarked open space, such as
dumping. For Rich Manor Park in particular, explore actions such as:
o Addition of park signage and benches.
o Wayfinding signage directing bicyclists and pedestrians to the park via the path
along Acker Drive.
o Creation of walking paths into and through the park, providing for views of the
brook.
Plan Rye Brook
Chapter 6: Parks, Recreation and Open Space 79
Pursue creation of a trail network on the 16-acre Village-owned parcel on upper Lincoln
Avenue. Explore providing both pedestrian and bicycle trails, as well as related amenities
such as benches, restrooms, signage and bike racks.
In future development or redevelopment of key vacant or underutilized sites, seek to link
existing parks and open space areas through new or enhanced sidewalks or trails and
signage. Potential linkages include connecting Roanoke Park to the future Bowman
Avenue Park; possible usage of the State-owned Hutchinson River Parkway right-of-way;
and connecting future open space and recreational uses at the westernmost Village-
owned parcel on Lincoln Avenue to adjoining publicly accessible open spaces at SUNY
Purchase and Pepsico in Harrison.
Continue to focus installation of new sidewalks on arterial roadways that link parks and
schools with neighborhoods, while recognizing that sidewalks may not be feasible or
desirable in lower-density residential areas.
Explore acquiring Crawford Park from Town of Rye to capitalize on its potential as the
Village’s “Central Park.” One area of potential focus for expanded uses at the park is the
portion fronting Ridge Street, which is not subject to the same deed restrictions as the
remainder of Crawford Park.
Undertake a comprehensive study of a potential community multipurpose recreational
center, to determine:
o The need for such a facility based on available comparable resources in the
surrounding vicinity;
o The uses, programming and amenities that could best be accommodated in such
a facility, based on needs that are not being filled by Rye Brook’s existing
community center or parks;
o Estimated construction and operating costs; and
o The fiscal and tax implications of building and maintaining the facility.
Explore the potential for dog park(s) at the Village-owned Lincoln Avenue property or the
future Bowman Avenue Park.
Plan Rye Brook
Chapter 6: Parks, Recreation and Open Space 80