🏞️ Recreation Advisory Committee
Capriccio's donates bench to Black Rock Dog Park
The Recreation Advisory Committee approved a donated bench for Black Rock Dog Park and reviewed fee changes including a $20 increase for senior kayak/canoe winter storage. New playground equipment arrived at Dobbs Park, with installation set to begin the last week of January.
◆ Key Actions & Decisions
- **Resolutions Passed**: Approved acceptance of a donated bench from Capriccio's Pizzeria & Restaurant for placement inside Black Rock Dog Park.
- **Resolutions Failed**: None.
- **Applications Reviewed**: None.
- **Public Comments**: None.
- **Reports**:
- *Village Board & RAC Work Session (Karen Pecora, John Sasso)*: Village exploring extending weekend dog park hours from 4:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m.; sufficient budget funds identified to purchase an AED for Black Rock Park; discussed allowing limited school district (non-village) resident access to the dog park.
- *Parks Update (John Bouchard)*: Dobbs Park playground equipment arrived on January 12, 2026, with installation scheduled for the last week of January; Duck Pond hosted two evenings of ice skating last week; discussed placement of a Sue Mandel memorial bench at Duck Pond, Senasqua Park, or along the Senasqua walkway.
- *Gouveia Park Update (Nora Nicholson)*: Architect produced revised sketches for the Gouveia house; sewer line installation is complete; DPW to proceed with driveway/loop, lighting, and fencing work.
- *Master Fee Schedule Review*: Day Camp and Tiny Tots Camp fees mostly unchanged, except for a slight increase in the non-resident full season camp fee; Senior Kayak/Canoe winter storage fees to increase by $20; all other fees to remain unchanged.
- *Miscellaneous*: Nora Nicholson proposed creating an informational packet for the Spanish-speaking community; Mark Duncan noted the recreation brochure is already available in Spanish on the Village website.
Croton’s Black Rock Dog Park is getting a new bench, courtesy of a local restaurant, and could see extended weekend hours as the village explores ways to improve the popular off-leash area.
At its January 12 meeting, the Recreation Advisory Committee accepted an offer from Capriccio’s Pizzeria & Restaurant owner Mike Macchia to donate a bench inside the dog park. Committee member John Bouchard will coordinate with Macchia on costs and logistics, while chair Debi Braddick will notify the village of the committee’s approval.
The bench discussion came alongside an update from Karen Pecora and John Sasso, who recently attended a Village Board work session focused on Black Rock Park. Among the items discussed: extending weekend dog park hours from 4:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m., installing an automated external defibrillator (AED) using existing budget funds, and possibly allowing a limited number of non-village school district residents to use the dog park.
On the playground front, families waiting for the Dobbs Park replacement will be glad to hear that new equipment arrived on January 12. Bouchard said installation is scheduled to begin during the last week of January.
At Gouveia Park, the sewer line installation is complete, and the Department of Public Works is moving ahead with work on the driveway loop, lighting, and fencing. An architect has also delivered revised sketches for the Gouveia house, according to Nora Nicholson.
The committee reviewed the Recreation Department’s master fee schedule, making modest changes. Most camp fees will stay flat, though non-resident full season Day Camp and Tiny Tots Camp fees will increase slightly. Senior kayak and canoe winter storage fees will go up by $20. All other fees were left unchanged.
In other business, Nicholson raised the idea of assembling informational packets for Croton’s Spanish-speaking community. Mark Duncan noted that the recreation brochure is already available in Spanish on the village website and can be printed for distribution.
The committee’s next meeting is Monday, February 2 at 7:00 p.m.
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