Dog park users could see longer weekend hours next year, while village officials are weighing the costs of bringing back adult softball, according to the Recreation Advisory Committee’s December 8 meeting.
The committee voted to recommend extending Dog Park weekend and holiday hours to 6:00 p.m., up from the current closing time. The panel also backed a plan to allow 12 additional households from the Hendrick Hudson school district—outside village limits—to use the off-leash area for a fee. Chair Debi Braddick said she will send a memo to the Village Board seeking formal approval for both changes.
On the safety front, the committee threw its support behind installing an automated external defibrillator (AED) at Black Rock Park. Braddick will advocate for the device in a separate memo to the Village Board. Committee member Mark Duncan agreed to look into adding a CPR class to the upcoming Spring/Summer recreation brochure.
Duncan also delivered a reality check on the feasibility of a local softball program. He outlined a laundry list of logistical and financial hurdles: field availability, team scheduling, equipment costs, and umpire fees running $65 per game. The Department of Public Works would also need to spend one to two hours prepping the field before every game. Duncan noted that residents could alternatively join existing programs in Cortlandt or Ossining.
In park improvements, committee member John Bouchard reported that the new Dobbs Park baseball field and fencing are finished, with demolition of the old playground equipment slated for February. A peace pole has been installed at Croton Landing, and new handrails are now in place at the Black Rock Bocce courts. All athletic fields are closed for the season and tarped for winter.
The committee also accepted a memorial bench application submitted by Susan Mandel in honor of Asher Fried, recommending it be placed at Duck Pond Park. Bouchard will coordinate the details with the family.
Looking ahead, committee member Nora Nicholson said a public presentation on the Gouveia Park renovation timeline is expected soon. The next Recreation Advisory Committee meeting is Monday, January 12, 2026, at 7:00 p.m.