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BRONXVILLE, N.Y. ? Sagamore Park is back and better than ever after a $175,000 state grant helped Bronxville give it a long-overdue makeover.
Assemblywoman Amy Paulin, who helped fund the project, and Bronxville Mayor Mary Marvin formally reopened the park Tuesday after the six-month project.
Paulin reached out to Bronxville officials about four years ago and asked if there was anything the community needed, Marvin said.
"It was a no-brainer to fix the park because we could never afford to do it before," said Marvin. "Sagamore Park is the only park in our village, so it's important to make sure it's a shinning example of what we stand for. Our main goals were to make it safer and handicap accessible."
One of the major restorations was replacing many of the hard surfaces with padded structures. The other big change was the installation of a ramp with railings to make it wheelchair-friendly. Finally, new plants were added throughout the park to create a nicer environment, Marvin said.
Kathleen Matthews, a Bronxville resident and mother of three boys, said there was nothing better than to be in a beautiful park on a beautiful day.
"I have to say theres definitely a big difference with how the park looks now. It just makes sense," said Matthews. "There's just so much great about the new park, from the landscaping to how it's now handicap accessible. There's no question that there is a greater incentive to visit the park now."
Sagamore Park is the only park in Bronxville that is open to the public during school hours. The park will be open daily from about 8 a.m. to dusk.
While the initial restorations are complete, further improvements, including replacing some of the toys, are being considered. Residents who would like to make a donation to help further restore the park can contact the mayor at 914-337-6500.
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