Recreation Advisory Committee Reviews Dobbs Park Work, Asks for More Park Ranger Visits
At its May 11 meeting, the Recreation Advisory Committee reviewed maintenance and improvements at Dobbs Park, heard that the village is exploring electric blower options to address noise concerns, asked for more regular Park Ranger visits to Silver Lake and Black Rock Park, and heard that all summer hires were finalized.
●Fencing at Dobbs Park is being removed; painting is delayed while the new blacktop cures, and a dedication date is still to be determined
●The committee requested more regular Park Ranger visits to Silver Lake and Black Rock Park to ensure rules are enforced
●The village is exploring electric blower options to address noise concerns; battery-operated units are already in use and the budget supports further purchases
●The Bocce program's continued popularity led to requests for a safety barrier and an additional waste receptacle
●The June 13 AED/CPR training is full; a second session is planned for the fall
●All summer hires have been finalized; DPW summer hours were scheduled to begin May 23
The Recreation Advisory Committee took up park maintenance and programming items at its meeting on Monday, May 11, from fencing and blacktop at Dobbs Park to a request for more regular Park Ranger visits at Silver Lake and Black Rock Park.
This article is written solely from the meeting's minutes; croton.news had no reporter present, and no video or transcript of the meeting exists.
The meeting opened with the formal approval of the minutes from the committee's April session. The minutes also congratulate Karen Pecora on becoming the committee's new vice chair — she took notes for this meeting, and was officially appointed by the Village Board on May 20.
On maintenance and operations, John Bouchard distributed a maintenance checklist and, along with Mark Duncan, clarified the division of labor between village employees and outside contractors.
At Dobbs Park, fencing is being removed, though painting is currently delayed while the new blacktop cures. A dedication date is still to be determined. The committee also reviewed the process for memorial benches, noting that specific styles are required for different parks; Dobbs Park has no remaining space for new benches, and the committee is looking into the possibility of adding names to existing ones.
The village is addressing noise concerns by exploring electric blower options, according to the minutes. Battery-operated units are already in use, the budget supports further purchases, and all contractors will be expected to comply with village ordinances.
The committee also discussed Bruce Oglan. According to the minutes, he has been referred, but the committee has not yet received a formal notification, and any subsequent approvals will depend on the cost of the gift and the availability of village funds. The minutes do not elaborate on the nature of the referral.
On facilities and programs: Croton Landing will reopen as weather permits, and DPW summer hours were scheduled to begin on May 23. The Bocce program continues to gain popularity, leading to requests for a safety barrier and an additional waste receptacle. The DPW will inspect a dead tree at the dog park for removal, and address trimming and the removal of poison ivy along the fence line.
On safety and security, the committee discussed the limited number of Park Rangers and requested more regular visits to Silver Lake and Black Rock Park to ensure rules are enforced.
In general updates, the AED/CPR training scheduled for June 13 is full, with a second session planned for the fall. The committee is evaluating the possibility of adding another canoe rack next year, and it was confirmed that all summer hires have been finalized.
The meeting adjourned at 7:55 PM. The committee's next meeting was scheduled for Monday, June 8 at 7:00 PM — its final meeting before breaking until September.
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Village of Croton-on-Hudson, NY.
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Related Recreation Advisory Committee Meetings
Dobbs Park Grand Opening; Scoreboard Donation for Dobbs Park; DPW Update — plus 2 more items
●DPW Update (Debi Braddick & John Bouchard): Weekend Dog Park hours will remain the same for now. Dobbs Park playground work is delayed due to weather with no updated start date from the contractor. Sue Mandel requested a donated bench be placed at Croton Point Park rather than a Village Park. John Bouchard is coordinating with two other individuals who are also donating benches to the Village.
●Recreation Update (Mark Duncan): Department operations are running smoothly and planning has begun for the spring/summer brochure. Croton schools will be available to host summer camps this year.
●Gouveia Park Update (Debi Braddick): Shared a memo from Village Manager Bryan Healy stating that weather permitting, work will begin soon on driveway, drainage, lighting, and fence upgrades. A public meeting is scheduled for March 2nd to provide a property update.
●Recreation Budget (Mark Duncan): The 2026-2027 budget will increase by approximately $25,000. The increase is primarily to hire additional staff for the Day Camp, which can now increase enrollment since it is moving from Holy Name of Mary to the Croton schools.
●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.
Committee recommends extending Dog Park weekend hours
●Resolutions Passed: None (all items were discussions or recommendations forwarded to the Village Board).
●Resolutions Failed: None.
●Applications Reviewed:
●Memorial bench application for Asher Fried, submitted by Susan Mandel. Accepted by the committee with a recommendation to place the bench at Duck Pond Park.
●Public Comments: None (no public comment period noted in the minutes).
●Reports:
●Dog Park Usage: Committee recommended allowing 12 additional households outside the village to use the Dog Park for a fee, and extending weekend/holiday hours to 6:00 p.m. A memo will be sent to the Village Board for approval.
●Black Rock AED & CPR: Discussed adding an AED to Black Rock Park and a CPR class to the Spring/Summer brochure. Mark Duncan will research CPR classes; Debi Braddick will send a memo to the Village Board advocating for the AED.
●Softball Inquiry: Mark Duncan noted significant resource hurdles for starting a softball program, including field availability, scheduling, umpires ($65 per game), equipment, and 1–2 hours of DPW field preparation per game. Neighboring programs in Cortlandt and Ossining were suggested as alternatives.
●Parks Update (John Bouchard): Dobbs Park baseball field and fencing completed; old playground demolition begins in February. Peace pole installed at Croton Landing. Handrails installed at Black Rock Bocce courts. Fields closed for winter with tarps applied.
●Recreation Update: Tree lighting on Dec. 4 drew 200–250 attendees. Winter Brochure released Dec. 2 with registration going well.
●Gouveia Park Update (Nora Nicholson): A timeline presentation on Gouveia Park progress is expected soon, along with plans for small park improvements.
Committee Seeks More Research On Rifle Jack Monument
●Public Comments: None (No public comment period noted in minutes).
●Reports:
●Mayor's Referral: Discussed a resident inquiry regarding a "Pop-Up Pizza Farm." The committee recommended the individual contact the Croton Business Council.
●Monument Proposal: The Village Board sought input on placing a monument for Revolutionary War soldier John "Rifle Jack" Peterson at 119 Radnor Avenue. The committee deferred a decision, requesting additional research, suggesting the Village explore placement at the local Cemetery, and noting member John Bouchard will reach out to the American Legion.
●Parks Update (John Bouchard):
●Dobbs Park Improvements Project has started; infield fence replaced. Infield grass replacement and outfield fence repair/replacement underway. Playground and basketball court replacements tentatively scheduled for February–April 2026.
●New Belgium Blocks installed at the Duck Pond.
●Peace Pole installation at Croton Landing expected by the end of the week of November 10.
●Turf blankets to be placed on all fields after November 23.
●Water shut off at Croton Landing, Silver Lake, and Senasqua.
●Miscellaneous Updates:
●Goblin Walk (Oct. 25): Over 250 attendees received treat bags.
●4th Annual Halloween Dog Parade (Oct. 25): 60 dogs participated.
●Tree Lighting: Scheduled for December 4 at 5 p.m. (lighting at 6 p.m.), rain date December 5.
●Winter Brochure: Available December 2.
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