Agreement reached with state until 2027
By Michael Turton
The Village of Cold Spring will take over management of Dockside Park as part of an agreement with the state Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation that runs until 2027.
The Village Board at its March 13 meeting authorized Mayor Dave Merandy to sign the contract.
The 26-acre property on the Cold Spring riverfront is part of the Hudson Highlands State Park. The village has hosted viewing of its Independence Day fireworks, concerts and children’s activities there, and it is the site of the Cold Spring Film Society’s popular summer movie series.
The village will maintain the park with the Recreation Commission overseeing public use. Any facilities built at Dockside would have to be approved by the state parks department, but Merandy said the village will not have to share revenue generated from programs or activities.
Many longtime Cold Spring residents have fond memories of Dockside Restaurant, which for many years hosted weddings, graduation parties and family gatherings. The Open Space Institute purchased the property in 1999 but closed the restaurant after a few years and demolished the building. In 2007, ownership was transferred to New York State.
In other business …
Trustees have begun deliberations on the 2018-19 budget. Village Accountant Michelle Ascolillo reported that the cap imposed by New York State will limit next year’s tax levy to a maximum of $1,638,043, or a little less than a 2 percent increase, she said. A tentative budget will be presented Tuesday (March 20), with a budget workshop following a week later. The public hearing on the budget is scheduled for 7 p.m. on April 10, and the budget must be adopted by May 1.
Officer-in-Charge Larry Burke reported that Cold Spring Police Department officers responded to 58 calls in February. In addition, they wrote 15 traffic and 62 parking tickets. Two arrests were made: one for a felony charge of harassment and the other for shoplifting. Burke said that after a recent resignation, the department has 12 part-time officers.
The Recreation Commission is reviewing an application for a beer festival that would be held at Mayor’s Park in June. The applicant estimates the weekend event could attract 1,500 to 2,000 people. The commission approved a 100th birthday party to be held for Joe Etta at Mayor’s Park that same month.
Aaron Wolfe, chair of the Zoning Board of Appeals, reported that the potential buyer of the home at 9 Morris Ave. withdrew an application to allow it to converted to office space for a nonprofit. He also reported that Alison Anthoine is leaving the ZBA.
A public hearing on revisions to Chapter 64 of the village code which deals with the Historic District will be held on April 24.
Superintendent of Water and Wastewater Greg Phillips reported that more information is needed before easements can be obtained to enable heavy equipment to reach the upper reservoir off Foundry Pond Road as part of dam rehabilitation there. Phillips also said that village officials met with the Hudson Highlands Land Trust to discuss the potential use of easements to protect village water sources.
Trustees formally adopted a fee schedule for film and audio-visual productions carried out in the village.
I got married at Northgate at Dockside prior to the purchase and I can say it makes me sad to visit this “park.” Jim had something special and I sure hope Cold Spring can do something nice with the land. Current management has not done a good job with the beautiful property they have. Please make it worth the destruction that ensued.