Latest on Wilson Park

Here's the latest on Wilson Park, following the filing for bankruptcy of the developer's parent, WCI Communities, according to the October issue of The Hudson Independent:

"The development of 14 Homes on Wilson Park Drive is on hold because of a forthcoming change of ownership. A future owner may continue with the development based on the subdivision already approved or may ask for revisions."

Might those "revisions" include a further reduction in the number of houses? Maybe to zero? (Hope springs eternal!). Your thoughts? Click on "comments" below and share them with your Tarrytown neighbors. And if you hear of any more recent developments, by all means let us know. Meantime, here are musings from two other Tarrytowners:

By rushing to develop, Sleepy Hollow essentially obliterated the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to link the Croton Aqueduct and the North County Trail... both NY State Greenways. The #1 mission of the Greenways is to connect existing greenways. (The second is to create new greenways.) Not to mention that that land is joined at the hip to the high school campus. What would our expanding School District give for an option on that property? But we failed to make a play for the land, even thought the Attorney for the State School Board claimed it was a classic case for Eminent Domain.
Perhaps we have a golden opportunity to salvage things. The town should definitely inquire...
The photos you shared are a sober reminder of how special this area is. It just seems that folks who've been born and raised here cannot see it. In fact, an alarming amount of locals have NO IDEA this open space even exists. Ignorance and a sedentary populace make this "corner" of town provincial. Yet I remember when Rockefeller used to diligently maintain the grounds... on a given weekend you'd encounter couples strolling, picnicking, flying kites, tossing a ball, walking dogs, riding bikes, hiking or taking photos. Even playing a violin. You'd encounter birdwatchers and Boy Scouts, bike races and runners in a 10K... People in cars would stop, get out, and ask; "Where am I? This is so beautiful."
You really need to see Wilson Park fresh to appreciate the its beauty. Preserved, this land could become a nature preserve that, if not connecting to the Aqueduct, would at least integrate the North County Trail. And it would afford a type of passive recreation not offered by the current repertoire of Village parks. Rockefeller offered an easement to widen Neperan Road back in 1997... there's a chance the Estate would consider something to allow the trail to circumnavigate The Lakes, thus tying into the North County Trail.
It wouldn't be as clean a development as it might've been before Sleepy Hollow developed, but it still would be worth doing.
-- Brian Kelly


Wilson Park has changed hands before, and for sums of money that were lower than anyone thought possible. It could happen again. Time to make Norman a deal?
-- Frederic Maus