07 - -Part 7 - Recreation, Open Space and Cultural ResourcesPlanning Base Studies
Village of Rye Brook, New York
Chapter 7 Recreation, Open Space and Cultural Resources
7-1
May 2012
Prepared by the Westchester County Department of Planning
7.1 Overview
The Village of Rye Brook has close to 3,000 acres of open space,
which may be found in public parks and schools, along parkways
and natural waterways, at privately-owned country clubs, and within
housing developments and corporate parks. These areas are variably
designated for both active and passive recreation, open or limited
access, or for natural resource conservation. Rye Brook’s parks and
open spaces serve as places of recreation and respite, as community
gathering places, centers of learning, and as reflections of its culture
and history.
Municipal parks and open space account for approximately 34.7% of
total land area in the Village of Rye Brook, approximately 0.25
acres per resident. Residents also benefit from nearby regional parks
and facilities owned and operated by neighboring municipalities.
The Village is located in a region that is rich in recreational re-
sources. Its neighbors within Westchester include the City of Rye,
the Village of Port Chester, the Town of North Castle and the Town
of Harrison, which provide a variety of both public and private rec-
reational opportunities. The Village’s location on the Connecticut
state border affords Rye Brook residents access to a significant num-
ber of out-of-state parks, historic sites and nature preserves.
A. Recreational Resources
Public parks provide a large portion of the outdoor recreational re-
sources within the Village of Rye Brook; however, other opportuni-
ties for outdoor recreation include:
Country clubs
Walking paths
Trailway routes
Community centers
Schools
B. Open Space
The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation
defines open space as, ―An area of land or water that either remains
in its natural state or is used for agriculture, free from intensive de-
velopment for residential, commercial, industrial or institutional use.
CHAPTER 7 RECREATION, OPEN
SPACE AND CULTURAL RESOURCES
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MAP NOTE: Open Space parcels derived fromparcel-based land use data originally compiled fromfrom 2009 town assessment data containing ORPS(Office of Real Property Services) codes whichdefine specific land use as assigned by localassessors. For this map, the data was extracted andcondensed into nine open space categories.
Village of Rye Brook, NY
HARRISON
Open Space, Parks & Recreation
Westchester CountyDepartment of PlanniningApril 2012
Planning Base Studies
Open Space and Recreation
Westchester
County Airport
Blind Brook
Country Club
Blind Brook
School
Rich
Manor
Park
Crawford Park
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Map 7 - 1Open Space, Parks & RecreationPage 7 - 2
Elm Hill Park
Rye Hills
Park
Ridge Street
School
Harkness
Park
Pine
Ridge
Park
Garibaldi Park
Anthony J. Posillipo
Community Center
Rye Brook
Athletic Fields
Doral
Arrowwood
Roanoke Ave Park
Meadowlark Park
Magnolia
Park
Bowman Ave
Park
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
¹Public Schools
Community Center
Other Village Parks and Open Spaces
Planning Base Studies
Village of Rye Brook, New York
Chapter 7 Recreation, Open Space and Cultural Resources
7-3
May 2012
Prepared by the Westchester County Department of Planning
Open space can be publicly or privately owned. It includes agricultural
and forest land, undeveloped coastal and estuarine lands, undeveloped
scenic lands, public parks and preserves. It also includes water bodies
such as lakes and bays. The definition of open space depends on the
context. In a big city, a vacant lot or a small marsh can be open space. A
small park or a narrow corridor for walking or bicycling is open space,
though it may be surrounded by developed areas. Cultural and historic
resources are part of the heritage of New York State and are often pro-
tected along with open space.‖ (source: http://www.dec.ny.gov/
lands/317.html).
For the purposes of this report, open space will include lands associated
with:
Parkways
Airports
Corporate sites
Public schools
Cemeteries
Churches
Historic properties
Streams, wetlands, waterways, lakes,
ponds
Undeveloped/vacant land
7.2 Public Parks
The Village of Rye Brook has five main
municipal parks within its borders. They
are:
Crawford Park (36 acres) is a Town-
owned large multi-purpose park located
between North Ridge Street and Lincoln
Avenue. It includes gardens, lawns,
woods, a walking/jogging path, playing
fields, and school facilities, as well as
the historic Crawford mansion, an early
20th century structure used for wed-
dings and special events. The park con-
tains hundreds of mature trees, an ex-
pansive lawn, a playground, a large pic-
nic pavilion and a sunken garden.
Pine Ridge Park (9 acres) is located on
the corner of Latonia Drive and Mohe-
gan Lane. This facility has minor and
major little league baseball fields, two
and a half basketball courts, four tennis
Figure 7-1. Crawford Park
Source: Westchester County Department of Planning
Planning Base Studies
Village of Rye Brook, New York
7-4
May 2012
Prepared by the Westchester County Department of Planning
Chapter 7 Recreation, Open Space and Cultural Resources
courts, a playground, a tennis wall, sand box, a walking path,
two bathrooms, three water fountains, a storage shed, parking
area, and two bathrooms. In Spring 2012, a new scoreboard is
planned to be installed at the Old Field at Pine Ridge Park for
use by the Rye Brook Little League.
Rye Hills Park (7 acres) is located adjacent to Crawford Park,
off Parkridge Court in the Hidden Falls development. It has a
walking path, a basketball court, two game tables, a circle ring
for storytelling, two water fountains and a belvedere, which
overlooks Long Island Sound. (Parking is limited to handi-
capped vehicles--other patrons must park in the circle next to
Crawford Mansion and walk through the path into the park).
Rich Manor Park (10 acres) is a passive park adjacent to Rock
Ridge and Acker Drive. It consists of an open field and has wet-
lands, flood plains, steep slopes, views of Blind Brook and a
path to Woodland Drive.
Photo Source: Westchester County Department of Planning
Figure 7-2. Rich Manor Park,
Rye Brook, New York
Planning Base Studies
Village of Rye Brook, New York
Chapter 7 Recreation, Open Space and Cultural Resources
7-5
May 2012
Prepared by the Westchester County Department of Planning
Rye Brook Athletic Fields (6 acres) is the Village’s newest rec-
reational facility, located at 830 King Street, adjacent to Blind
Brook High School. This complex includes artificial turf foot-
ball and soccer fields, a baseball/softball field for youth, a full-
size soccer field, a walking path, a concession stand, a storage
garage, and bathrooms. Parking for this facility is in the Blind
Brook High School campus. This facility is available for rent on
a permit basis, and reservations for field use can be made by the
public online.
Smaller Rye Brook public parks include:
Harkness Park (4 acres) is located on King Street adjacent to
the Blind Brook High School campus. Harkness Park has four
tennis courts, water fountains and an open field.
Garibaldi Park (2 acres) is located on Garibaldi Place opposite
the Anthony J. Posillipo Community Center. This facility has a
tennis court, two basketball courts, minor little league baseball
Figure 7-3. Rye Brook Athletic Fields
Photo Source: Westchester County Department of Planning
Planning Base Studies
Village of Rye Brook, New York
7-6
May 2012
Prepared by the Westchester County Department of Planning
Chapter 7 Recreation, Open Space and Cultural Resources
Rye Brook Department of
Parks and Recreation
938 King Street, Rye Brook,
New York 10573
Rye Brook’s Department of
Parks and Recreation is re-
sponsible for maintaining the
Village’s municipal open
space. The department oper-
ates organized activities for
the public and/or special
events in the Village Parks,
including a wide range of
sports (basketball, tennis,
soccer, floor hockey, la-
crosse, ice skating), teen,
youth and adult programs,
programs for seniors and
people w/ disabilities,
(classes, trips, educational
programs), and seasonal spe-
cial events.
Telephone Numbers:
Office: (914) 939-3235
Parks Department: 939-1796
and softball fields, a playground, two water fountains, two bath-
rooms and a storage shed.
Meadowlark Park (2 acres) is an undeveloped park approved
as a stormwater management facility with a detention basin,
wetlands, flood plains and steep slopes.
Magnolia Park is a passive park with an open field located on
Magnolia Drive.
Roanoke Park (2 acres) consists of an open lawn area and is
located in a floodplain.
Elm Hill Park (2 acres) is undeveloped land located adjacent to
Crawford Park.
Bowman Avenue (2 acres) is privately-owned by K& M Realty
Group. It is approved for a park on private property that is
planned to be dedicated to the Village. It has wetlands, ponds,
flood plains and steep slope areas.
Other local recreational facilities available to Rye Brook residents
include:
Rye Town Park — Located in the City of Rye, this 62-acre
preserve on Long Island Sound has 28 acres of lawns and paths
with mature plantings, rolling hills, benches, a naturalized duck
pond, and a beachfront and swimming area of 34 acres. The
beach is open to the general public. Residents of Rye Brook,
Rye City, Port Chester, and Rye Neck may purchase seasonal
permits with discounts for parking and beach access. Non-
residents can also purchase seasonal permits for higher fees.
Daily admission fees are available for both residents and non-
residents. A variety of scheduled activities take place at Rye
Town Park throughout the year, particularly during the spring,
summer and fall months.
Anthony J. Posillipo Community Center (< 1 acre) – Located
at 32 Garibaldi Place, this Rye Brook facility includes a meeting
room, teen center, a crafts room, TV room, pool room and a full
-size basement. Recreational, social and enrichment activities
are available at the Center for all age groups including after-
school programs, lectures, small group activities, day and over-
night trips and special support for senior citizens, including hot
meals, exercise classes, and health-related screenings. On week-
ends the facility is available for rent by community residents
The Village also hosts an indoor farmer’s market here.
Planning Base Studies
Village of Rye Brook, New York
Chapter 7 Recreation, Open Space and Cultural Resources
7-7
May 2012
Prepared by the Westchester County Department of Planning
Photo Source: http://townof ryeny.com
Brief History of Rye Town Park
The Rye Town Park was established in 1907 by an act of the
New York Legislature. The main building complex, completed
in 1909, includes a two-towered administration building, pavil-
ions, restaurant and service facilities with Spanish style archi-
tecture, water views, and beach access to Long Island Sound.
Many of the park’s trees and shrubs have been labeled with
their common and Latin names. After dark, several of the park
paths are illuminated by old-fashioned streetlights. There are
three sets of bathrooms. The restaurant operates two beach
snack bars – one at the middle beach area and the other at the
north beach. Beach supplies and apparel can be purchased, as
well.
The park's crescent-shaped 1,200-foot long white sand beach
offers the general public splendid access to the shores of the
Long Island Sound. Three gates provide access to the beach.
The north gate is near Rye Beach Avenue, and the south gate is
on Dearborn Avenue. The center gate, which is usually the busi-
est, is located next to Seaside Johnnie’s Restaurant.
Source: Town of Rye
Figure 7-4. Rye Town Park
Photo Source: Westchester County Department of Planning
L O N G
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ExistingOff-Road Path
Off-Road Path Under Construction
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Proposed On-Road Bike Route
Proposed East Coast Greenway Routes
Westchester County, NY
BRONX RIVER PATHWAYCounty and City of Yonkers Project.2009design, 2010construction
BRONX RIVER PATHWAYTo be designed 2009Completion 2010
HUTCHINSON PATHWAYNot yet programmedfordesign/construction(NYSDOT jurisdiction)
WESTCHESTER AVENUE2008TEP Grant Request
HAMILTON AVENUE/BROADWAYExisting City of White Plains Bike Route
PLAYLAND PATHWAYFunded for rehab & expansionDesign 2009, Construc. 2010
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PELHAMMANOR
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Open Spaces
WESTCHESTER COUNTY, NEW YORK
432 Michaelian Office Building148 Martine Avenue
White Plains, New York 10601www.westchestergov.com/planning
WESTCHESTER COUNTY
DEPARTMENT OF PLANNING
OPEN SPACE CATEGORIES
County Parklands
State Parklands
Local Parks
Nature Preserves
Private Recreation
Public Institutions
Private Institutions
Public Non-Park Lands
Cemeteries
Water Supply Lands*
Farms, Stables and Nurseries**
Utility Lines and Aqueducts
Major Waterbodies
This map is a result of a comprehensive county-wide update to the 1994 major open spaces GIS data layer andmap completed in 2006. This Open Spaces map is periodically updated to reflect selected new open spaceacquisitions such as county and state parks and water supply lands. Acreage summaries were calculated usingGIS (Geographic Information System) and may not reflect actual deeded acreage figures. It includes 12 openspace categories and includes many smaller properties that were not previously mapped including many parcelsunder 5 acres. A wide variety of sources were used to compile this information, including current aerialphotography, digital tax parcels, and local recreation, land use and master plan maps. Other information sourcesincluded municipal planning departments and consultants, municipal Conservation Advisory Committees (CAC’s)and the Westchester Land Trust.
* Acreage for Water Supply Lands includes dry land area only. New York City Water Supply Lands acreage total(digitally calculated) in Westchester County is approximately 8,444 acres. Reservoir acreage is included with theMajor Waterbodies category, which includes all interior waterbodies larger than nine acres.
** Properties classified as Farms were primarily derived from the Westchester County Agricultural Districtestablished in 2000.
This map was created by the Westchester County Department of Planning’s Geographic Information System(GIS) using ArcGIS 9.2. Geographic information is based on the New York State Plane Coordinate System -East Zone Grid, North American Datum 1983. The map base utilizes digital data obtained from NYSDOT anddeveloped in-house by Westchester County.
This Open Spaces Map is periodically updated to reflect selected new open space acquisitions such as county andstate parks and water supply lands. The Open Spaces data layer can be viewed and downloaded in GIS formatfrom the County's GIS website at http://giswww.westchestergov.com.
TOTALACREAGE17,843.8
8,483.7
8,592.8
5,646.7
10,844.9
8,231.5
6,871.3
741.7
1,879.7
11,981.1
10,021.7
2,367.6
10,587.0
104,093.5
287,997.9
COUNTY OPEN SPACES TOTAL ACREAGE
TOTAL ACREAGE OF WESTCHESTER COUNTY
Page 7 - 9
Planning Base Studies
Village of Rye Brook, New York
7-10
May 2012
Prepared by the Westchester County Department of Planning
Chapter 7 Recreation, Open Space and Cultural Resources
Photo Source: Westchester County Department of Planning
Figure 7-5. Doral-Arrowwood Hotel Conference Center
Blind Brook Country Club – The privately-owned club, lo-
cated at 980 Anderson Hill Road, has 160 acres, with an 18-hole
golf course.
Doral-Arrowwood Hotel Conference Center — The approxi-
mately 114-acre private facility contains a 9-hole golf course,
housing development, parking lots and clubhouse with outbuild-
ings complex. It is currently zoned to permit single-family resi-
dences on 20,000 square-foot lots.
Planning Base Studies
Village of Rye Brook, New York
Chapter 7 Recreation, Open Space and Cultural Resources
7-11
May 2012
Prepared by the Westchester County Department of Planning
Trailway Planning
in Rye Brook
Included in the Village of
Rye Brook 2000 Vision Plan
is the goal of establishing of
a committee consisting of
representatives from Village
Boards, adjacent communi-
ties and large property own-
ers to undertake a study to
identify existing pathways
and evaluate the feasibility of
creating a pathway system
along Blind Brook extending
from SUNY Purchase to
neighborhoods located south
of Blind Brook Club and
along Blind Brook from
Westchester Avenue to Bow-
man Avenue.
7.3 School Facilities
Ridge Street School – (15 acres) Located at 390 North Ridge
Street, facilities include baseball, soccer, and softball fields, out-
door basketball courts, a playground, two gymnasiums and a
multi-purpose room.
Blind Brook High School/Middle School – The 21-acre cam-
pus at 840 King Street, includes soccer and baseball fields, two
gymnasiums and an auditorium.
Port Chester High School – Located at One Tamarack Road in
the Village of Port Chester, the 24 acre campus was built on the
grounds of the former Port Chester Country Club. The school
has 6 acres of open space with a gymnasium, ball fields and ten-
nis courts.
Port Chester Middle School – Located at 113 Bowman Ave-
nue in Port Chester, the campus has school recreational facilities
and 23 acres of open space.
7.4 Bicycle Routes/Trailways
A segment of the East Coast Greenway, a developing trail system
spanning 2,750 miles between Canada and Key West, Florida, is
planned to cross through the northern corner of Rye Brook. The
Proposed East Coast Greenway Routes are shown on the Map 7.2.
There has been some discussion regarding the creation of a Hutchin-
son/Merritt Pathway which would utilize the green right-of-way of
the Hutchinson and Merritt Parkways, a portion of which would run
through Rye Brook. There are no immediate plans in place to imple-
ment this project.
7.5 Parks & Open Space
Open space in Westchester County is shown in Map 7.3. In Rye
Brook, open space is the second largest land use category compris-
ing more than 400 acres or 18 percent of the Village’s land area.
This includes both public parks (106 acres) and private open space
(303 acres) such as the Arrowwood/Doral Greens Golf Course and
Blind Brook Club located along Anderson Hill Road. Acreage of
open space parcels in Rye Brook are listed in Figure 7.6.
Key open space elements in Rye Brook are:
Westchester County Airport — Almost 200 acres of the air-
port is located in the Village, making it the largest single land
use in the Village.
Planning Base Studies
Village of Rye Brook, New York
7-12
May 2012
Prepared by the Westchester County Department of Planning
Chapter 7 Recreation, Open Space and Cultural Resources
Hutchinson River Parkway Lands — A total of 81 acres of
open space create a green corridor along the Hutchinson Park-
way, which traverses the northern end of Rye Brook. Past Inter-
state-684, the parkway heads east and north into the town of
Rye and the Village of Rye Brook, where it connects to New
York Route 120A and becomes the Merritt Parkway at the Rye
Brook/Connecticut state line.
BelleFair — A private housing association at 24 BelleFair
Blvd. in Rye Brook with 261 single-family homes, a meeting
house, village green and a large enclosed playground. The site
contains wetlands, open space (60 acres) and a Village compost-
ing site.
St. Paul’s Evangelical Lutheran Church — The church prop-
erty at 761 King Street in Rye Brook has 5 acres of open space.
King Street Nursing Home is located at 787 King Street in
Rye Brook on the border of the Greenwich, CT town line and
has 13 acres of rolling hills and open green space.
Name Designation Acreage
Hutchinson River Parkway Lands State Parks/Parkway Lands 81
Crawford Park Local Parks & Open Space 36
Harkness Park Local Parks & Open Space 4
Pine Ridge Park Local Parks & Open Space 9
Rich Manor Park Local Parks & Open Space 12
Rye Hills Park Local Parks & Open Space 7
Arrowwood Golf Course Private Recreation Facility 72
BelleFair Open Space Private Recreation Facility 60
Blind Brook Country Club Private Recreation Facility 166
Blind Brook High School Public Institutions 26
Port Chester High School Public Institutions 6
Port Chester Middle School Public Institutions 22
Ridge Street School Public Institutions 29
Westchester County Airport Public Institutions 206
King Street Nursing Home Private Institutions 13
St. Paul’s Lutheran Church Private Institutions 5
St. Mary’s Cemetery Cemeteries 18
TOTAL 770
Source: Prepared by the Westchester
County Department of Planning, No-
vember 2004.
Based on an open space mapping update con-
ducted in 2004 and includes thirteen categories
of both protected and unprotected open space
lands that are viewed as part of the county's open
space network. Acreage summaries were calcu-
lated using GIS (Geographic Information Sys-
tem) and may not reflect actual deeded acreage
figures. A two-acre minimum threshold was
established except in cases where there were
smaller contiguous parcels or groupings of par-
cels under the same ownership. Properties classi-
fied as farms were primarily derived from the
Westchester County Agricultural District estab-
lished in 2000.
Figure 7-6. Village of Rye Brook Major Open Spaces
Planning Base Studies
Village of Rye Brook, New York
Chapter 7 Recreation, Open Space and Cultural Resources
7-13
May 2012
Prepared by the Westchester County Department of Planning
Hutchinson River Parkway
In 1924, the Westchester
County Parks Commission rec-
ommended construction of a
new north-south parkway in the
eastern part of the county. At
that time, Boston Post Road
(which became US 1 in 1926),
the primary north-south route
along Long Island Sound be-
tween New York City and New
England, had become clogged
with automobile and truck traf-
fic seven days a week. More-
over, the rapid growth of Mount
Vernon, Pelham, New Rochelle,
Eastchester and Port Chester
threatened the water supply of
these communities. Preservation
of right-of-way for a parkway
along the Hutchinson River
would offer relief along US 1 by
providing a faster, more scenic
route for automobiles. It would
also furnish parks for local resi-
dents and protect water supplies.
Figure 7-7. Hutchinson River Parkway
Photo Source: Westchester County Department of Planning
Photo Source: Westchester County Department of Planning
Figure 7-8. BelleFair Planned Unit Development
Planning Base Studies
Village of Rye Brook, New York
7-14
May 2012
Prepared by the Westchester County Department of Planning
Chapter 7 Recreation, Open Space and Cultural Resources
St. Mary's Cemetery (18 acres) is located the southern most
end of the Rye Brook between High Street, South Ridge Street
and I-287.
William E. Ward House (8 acres) — Known locally as Ward's
Castle, this historic property is located on the state line between
Rye Brook, New York and Greenwich, Connecticut.
7.6 Undeveloped Land
Little undeveloped land remains in the Village and much of which
currently exists has either valid or pending approvals for develop-
ment projects.
The Village of Rye Brook owns an undeveloped 24-acre property
consisting of two contiguous parcels in the northern-most portion of
the Village, on the south side of Lincoln Avenue between King
Street and the municipal boundary of the Town./Village of Harrison.
The two parcels were dedicated to the Village as part of the devel-
opment of the BelleFair community for recreation and general mu-
nicipal use. Both parcels may allow the Village the opportunity to
develop a recreational facility for Village residents.
The William E. Ward
House, located on Comly
Avenue, is the only property
in the Village of Rye Brook
which is on the National
Register of Historic Places.
The property and the house
are on the border with
Greenwich, Connecticut.
Built between 1873 and
1876, the imposing castle-
like residence is famous for
it being the first and oldest
extant reinforced concrete
structure in the United
States. Named for its
builder, a mechanical engi-
neer, only the doors, frames,
windows and trim are of
wood. The building is also
locally known for its past
use as the Museum of Car-
toon Art between 1976 and
1992. The house was listed
on the National Register in
1976 and was later jointly
designated as a National
Historic Civil and Concrete
Engineering Landmark by
the American Concrete Insti-
tute and the American Soci-
ety of Civil Engineers. The
house is currently a private
residence.
Sources: U.S. Parks Service, National
Register of Historic Places; American
Society of Civil Engineers
Figure 7-9. William E. Ward House
Photo Source: Westchester County Department of Planning
Planning Base Studies
Village of Rye Brook, New York
Chapter 7 Recreation, Open Space and Cultural Resources
7-15
May 2012
Prepared by the Westchester County Department of Planning
The smaller of the two parcels, located at the intersection of Lincoln
Avenue and King Street, is nine acres. The larger parcel is 16 acres
and is located to the west and adjacent to the smaller parcel. The
western boundary of the larger parcel is adjacent to, and surrounds
on three sides, a third, five-acre Village-owned parcel, currently
used as a composting facility. The property is bounded on the north
by Lincoln Avenue, to the east by King Street, to the south by the
BelleFair residential subdivision and to the west by land owned by
Purchase College of the State University of New York (SUNY Pur-
chase). Although all of the smaller lot, and most of the larger, are in
the Village of Rye Brook, a very small portion of the southwestern
corner of the larger lot is on the west side of the Blind Brook in the
Town of Harrison. There is an easement on a portion of the larger
lot that gives Westchester County the right to trim trees within the
easement. The easement extends 200 feet south from the Lincoln
Avenue property line and runs parallel to the property line approxi-
mately 600 feet to the east and 600 feet to the west of the centerline
of Westchester County Airport. A portion of the easement is on the
parcel used as a composting facility.
Both parcels contain areas of wetlands and watercourses, the largest
area of which is situated on the smaller lot. The Blind Brook crosses
the southwestern corner of the larger lot. A secondary emergency
access road for BelleFair that crosses a stream channel is also lo-
cated on the smaller lot. Both lots contain some steep slopes as well
as structures, including a concrete dam and spillway, culverts, foot
paths, old roads, dry rock walls and concrete foundations for a lost
structure.
Aside from one small open area on the larger lot, the site is largely
occupied by deciduous woodlands. The open area is located at the
end of an old road leading south from the Village compost facility.
On the smaller parcel, the wetland has a small open area of shrub
cover, but it too is mostly wooded.
Both parcels are generally sloped away from King Street and Lin-
coln Avenue down towards watercourse and wetland areas on each
lot. These slopes are between 10 and 15 percent. There are isolated
sloped areas that would be classified as moderately steep slopes (15
to 25 percent) and very steep slopes (25 to 35 percent).
7.7 National Recreation & Park Association Standards
A. Mini-Parks
(Example in Rye Brook: Magnolia Park.) These small parks focus
on limited, unique, or isolated recreational needs. They are special-
ized facilities that serve a concentration or limited population or
specific group such as tots or senior citizens.
Planning Base Studies
Village of Rye Brook, New York
7-16
May 2012
Prepared by the Westchester County Department of Planning
Chapter 7 Recreation, Open Space and Cultural Resources
Service Area: Less than ¼ - mile radius, Desired Size: one
acre or less
Acres per 1,000 Population: ¼ to ½ acres
Desired Site Characteristics: These parks should be situated
within neighborhoods and in close proximity to apartment
complexes, townhouse development, and/or housing for the
elderly. Users should be able to see the opposite end of a
mini-park.
B. Neighborhood Parks
(Example in Rye Brook: Pine Ridge Park). Small and large
neighborhood parks offer similar recreation opportunities; how-
ever, the larger neighborhood parks generally feature between five
and 10 acres in size. (This is a modification of the previous NRPA
standard for neighborhood parks that calls for one to two acres of
parkland per 1,000 people.) Small and large neighborhood parks
can provide both passive and active recreation. In general, they
feature areas for intense recreational activities, such as ball field
games, court games, crafts, playground equipment, skating, pic-
nicking, and more. Undeveloped natural areas are also desirable in
these parks.
Service Area: ¼ to ½ mile radius, Desired Size: Small: one
to five acres; Large: five to ten acres
Acres per 1,000 Population: one to two acres
Desired Site Characteristics: These parks should be suited
for intense development and be easily accessible to the
neighborhood. Ideally, they should be geographically cen-
tered with safe walking and bike access. These parks can be
developed as school – park facilities.
C. Community Parks
(Example in Rye Brook: Crawford Park). These park components
focus on serving larger, community-wide outdoor recreational
needs.
General Use: These parks have areas of diverse environ-
Figure 7-10. Magnolia Park
Photo Source: Westchester County De-
partment of Planning
Figure 7-11. Standards for Parkland, National Recreation and Parks Association
Park Type Acres/1000 Population Minimum Size Service Area Radius
Mini-Park 0.25-0.50 1 acre or less < .25 mile/5 minute walk
Neighborhood Park 1.0-2.0 15 acres .5 mile/12 minute walk
Community Park 5.0-8.0 25 acres 1-2 miles/5 minute drive
Regional Park Variable 200+ acres 30 miles/1 hour drive
For more information on parkland and recreational standards for municipalities, see:
http://www.nrpa.org/Professional-Development/Accreditation/CAPRA/CAPRA-Standards/
Planning Base Studies
Village of Rye Brook, New York
Chapter 7 Recreation, Open Space and Cultural Resources
7-17
May 2012
Prepared by the Westchester County Department of Planning
mental quality. They may include areas for intense recrea-
tional facilities, such as athletic complexes for organized
sports, large group picnicking, and community gatherings.
They may also feature areas of natural quality for activities
such as walking, biking, and viewing that are supported by
trail systems.
Service Area: Several neighborhoods - One to two mile ra-
dius, Desired Size: 30 to 50 acres
Acres per 1,000 population: five to eight acres
Desired Site Characteristics These parks should be easily
accessible to the neighborhoods that are served and include
areas for intense outdoor recreational development. Other
desirable components include natural features such as water
bodies.
D. Special Purpose Parks
(Examples in Rye Brook: Garibaldi Park/Anthony J. Posillipo
Community Center) These park system components focus on a
single use, such as historic preservation or downtown open space.
The NRPA has no specific standards for special purpose parks as
they are unique to each community.
General Use: These parks are centered on a specific envi-
ronmental feature, historical event or setting and offer a
Figure 7-12. Anthony J. Posillipo Community Center
Photo Source: Westchester County Department of Planning
Planning Base Studies
Village of Rye Brook, New York
7-18
May 2012
Prepared by the Westchester County Department of Planning
Chapter 7 Recreation, Open Space and Cultural Resources
unique place that assists in creating a sense of place in the
community.
Service Area: No applicable standard, Desired Size: Varies
Acres per 1,000 population: Varies
Desired Site Characteristics: These parks cater to a cultural,
historic, or social recreational needs.
E. Urban Green Space
Example in Rye Brook: Hutchinson Parkway Lands
These park system components are typically made up of
lands set aside for preserving drainage corridors, wetlands, or
other significant community natural resource areas. The
NRPA has no specific standards for these areas.
General Use: These features are generally open to the public,
but usually do not contain many facilities beyond access
points and trail systems.
Service Area: No applicable standard, Desired Size: Varies
Acres per 1,000 population: Varies
Site characteristics vary based on the resource being con-
served or protected. Typically, these areas should have nature
-based, low impact recreational facilities. These park system
components are typically made up of lands set aside for pre-
serving drainage corridors, wetlands, or other significant
community natural resource areas. The NRPA has no specific
standards for these areas.
SOURCES
Village of Rye Brook Action Plan (http://www.ryebrook.org/documents/
administration/visionpln.pdf)
Municipal Open Space Acreage Summary, prepared by County of West-
chester Dept. of Planning, November, 2004 http://www.greenway.org/
index.shtml
http://www.stamfordadvocate.com/news/article/Merritt-trail-Parkway-
concept-could-get-state-566273.php
http://www.ryebrook.org/Cit-e-Access/webpage.cfm?TID=31&TPID=3863
http://www.ryebrook.org/cit-e-access/webpage.cfm?TID=31&TPID=3846
http://www.townofryeny.com/
index.phpact=view_cms&id=26&contentFull=full
http://townofryeny.com/ryetown/RTP_About%20the%20Park.php
http://www.friendsofcrawfordpark.org/about.htm
http://www.imortuary.com/cemeteries/new-york/rye-brook/st-marys-
cemetery/
http://www.ryebrook.org/documents/administration/epa.pdf
http://planning.westchestergov.com/westchester-trails
http://www.greenway.org/pdf/ECG_Westchester.pdf
http://www.lowermerion.org/archive/osp/osp_eval_os.html
http://www.menomonee-falls.org/DocumentView.aspx?DID=418
http://www.nrpa.org/Professional-Development/Accreditation/CAPRA/
CAPRA-Standards/
Planning Base Studies
Village of Rye Brook, New York
Chapter 7 Recreation, Open Space and Cultural Resources
7-19
May 2012
Prepared by the Westchester County Department of Planning
http://www.ryebrook.org/FCpdf/2010-11adoptedbudget.pdf
http://www.ryebrook.org/FCpdf/Bowman%20Ave%20Dam%20Flood%
20Mitigation%20StudyText_Reduced.pdf
http://www.worldgolf.com/resorts/new-york/doral-arrowwood.html
http://www.golflink.com/golf-courses/course.aspx?course=771645
http://www.nycroads.com/roads/hutchinson/
http://www.ryebrook.org/documents/building/lincolnfinal.pdf
https://www.purchase.edu/AboutPurchase/History.aspx
http://www.stpaulsryebrook.com/
http://shs.portchesterschools.org/
http://www.bellefair.org/
http://www.ryebrook.org/FCpdf/Rye%20Brook%20Open%20Space%
20Zone%20Study%20October2010.pdf
Planning Base Studies
Village of Rye Brook, New York
7-20
May 2012
Prepared by the Westchester County Department of Planning
Chapter 7 Recreation, Open Space and Cultural Resources