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CORTLANDT MANOR, N.Y. Blue Mountain Reservation is set for a $860,000 facelift.
"Blue Mountain Reservation and the Sportsman Center are among the countys most used parks and recreation facilities, and my colleagues on the Board of Legislators rightfully appreciate and understand the necessity of proper and timely maintenance projects for them," said County Legislator Catherine Borgia (D-Ossining). "Walking around this incredible natural wonder, it is easy to see why we have to remain committed to protecting our parks," she said.
Bond issues for $400,000 and $460,000 respectively were unanimously approved by the Westchester County Board of Legislators at its May 21 meeting. Both bonds will pay for design work. The $400,000 bond will pay the cost of the preparation of surveys, preliminary and detailed plans, specifications and estimates for planning recreational area improvements at the Blue Mountain Sportsman Center. The second bond will pay for surveys, plans and estimates prior to the reconstruction of buildings within Blue Mountain Reservation.
"Having visited just a fraction of the parks here in Westchester during my first five months in office, I can safely say our residents are incredibly fortunate to have these resources open for their pleasure and good health," said Borgia. "It reinforces the idea that these are some of the countys most important investments, and that we should take our safeguarding responsibilities seriously," she said.
Blue Mountain was originally part of Van Cortlandt Manor, according to a press release from the county legislators. It was acquired by Westchester County in 1927. Blue Mountain Reservation is comprised of over 1,500 acres that straddle the City of Peekskill and the Town of Cortlandt.
The reservation features miles of trails for hiking and mountain biking, and its two large peaks, Spitzenberg Mountain and Blue Mountain, are reachable only by challenging trails. The Sportsman Center at Blue Mountain Reservation is the only public recreation area in Westchester that offers pistol and rifle target shooting in a woodland park setting.
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