Croton-on-Hudson officials took a significant step forward Tuesday night in the decade-long effort to activate Gouveia Park, unveiling a schematic vision to turn the former private estate into a vibrant community hub. During a Zoom meeting open to the public, Village Manager Bryan Healy, alongside trustees and the architectural team from Sullivan Architecture, detailed plans to rehabilitate the 1967 glass-walled house and improve the 15.69-acre property located at 1300 Albany Post Road. "The board approved expenditures on the property in the twenty twenty five, twenty twenty six capital plan... This work will begin in the coming months," said Village Manager Bryan Healy. {{quote:573}} The park was gifted to the village in 2013 through the will of Laurel Gouveia, along with a $1 million endowment for its upkeep. The terms of the gift mandate that the property remain a public park in perpetuity. After opening to the public in 2017, the village has largely utilized the space for passive recreation—walking trails and a popular sledding hill—but the new plan aims to fulfill the donor's vision of a center for art and culture. **A Center for Arts and Recreation** The centerpiece of the proposal is the renovation of the main residence into the Angeli REAL Center (Recreation, Events, Arts, and Learning), named in honor of Ann Gatti, the village’s former deputy mayor and longtime trustee. John Sullivan, principal of Sullivan Architecture, praised the unique structure of the home, comparing its upper-level glass design to the famous Glass House by Frank Lloyd Wright. "This was, as we stated, an existing residence initially, and it's an all glass building on the upper level... It actually makes for a very interesting, structure for this intended purpose, a community space, an arts facility," said Sullivan. {{quote:877}} The ground floor is designated to house the village’s Recreation Department, providing much-needed office space and a centralized base of operations. The upper floor will be transformed into a flexible venue for art classes, performances, and community meetings. Carl Ackerman of Sullivan Architecture noted that accessibility is a major priority, with plans to install an elevator to connect the floors. "A dedicated lift [will be] installed to connect the Ground Floor Level with the Upper Floor to make it ADA accessible," Ackerman said. {{quote:1122}} The village intends to rent the space for private events, such as weddings and conferences, to generate revenue that will help sustain the park’s operations. **Financials and Future Phases** To date, the village has invested heavily in preparing the site. Previous phases included the construction of a gravel parking lot and the demolition of three outbuildings deemed unsafe in 2024. Healy provided a detailed financial breakdown, noting that $100,000 was approved for design work in the current cycle. Currently, the endowment sits at $662,000. With the $500,000 already allocated for immediate site work—including a new sewer main, driveway replacement, and lighting—the village anticipates having roughly $260,000 remaining for the next phase of improvements. The endowment is not a static fund; it generates interest, which Healy noted will help replenish funds spent on capital improvements. **Community Desires and Next Steps** The presentation also highlighted long-term possibilities for the grounds, which will be explored in partnership with Imbiano Quigley Landscape Architects. Proposals discussed Tuesday included restoring the pond and gazebo, creating a natural playground, adding a sculpture garden, and potentially relocating the village dog park to the Gouveia property. One resident raised concerns about the durability of the historic house, specifically asking if the walls could support the heavy equipment needed for art shows. Sullivan acknowledged the challenge, suggesting the use of movable screens to display art without drilling into the structure. "We did talk about screens and movable screens," said Trustee Ann Gatti. {{quote:2333}} Looking ahead, the village is moving to establish a "Friends of Croton Parks" group. This independent nonprofit will allow the community to apply for grants and raise funds for enhancements that the village budget cannot cover, ensuring the legacy of the $1 million gift continues to grow. "So suggestions and possible future work for the property, and this is where the landscape architect will come in to kind of help with some of these potential ideas," said Healy. {{quote:603}} Construction on the infrastructure and site work is scheduled to begin in the coming months, with the full conversion of the house slated for the 2026 fiscal year.