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Written by: Joanne Wallenstein

Published: 26 November 2025

Created: 26 November 2025

Last Updated: 26 November 2025

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The Village Board and the School Board held a pre-Thanksgiving work session on Tuesday November 25 to discuss items of mutual interest to both boards.

Police

The meeting opened with Scarsdale Police Chief Steven DelBene reviewing the department’s collaboration with the schools to keep children safe.

After the school shootings at Sandy Hook in 2012, police began patrolling the two to three schools each day. The walk throughs helped police familiarize themselves with the layouts and workings of each school – and served to get staff and students used to seeing police in the schools. Though the initiative initially caused panic, now it has become commonplace.

Police also use school facilities for defensive tactic and active shooter training. The training is conducted on matted gym floors at the high school when students are not present. This is a federally funded program and the availability of school facilities allows police to attract trainers to host sessions for multiple departments.

Since 2022, police have access to school cameras which they can open in emergency situations such as fires or lockdowns.

Another collaboration involves Youth Detective Moleski who teaches over 30 classes at Scarsdale Middle School and Scarsdale High School.

Commenting on the collaboration, Mayor Justin Arest said he was grateful for the relationship which has made significant improvements since 2018. He said that he attended a recent active shooter training session and was impressed.

School Board member Amber Yusuf asked if police were looking at solutions for parking around the schools? She said, “Can we remove the 3-hour school parking limitations? I think there is a real problem with student parking – if they cannot park at the Girl Scout house students will get more tickets.”

Joint Field Study

Village Manager Alex Marshall reported that as a result of the Joint Field Study between the Village and the schools, the Village is proceeding with a turf field and parking lot at Winston Field. Funds are in the 2026 Village budget and traffic and a parking studies have been done. New tennis courts are also being built at Crossway.

The schools are considering field work to be funded by the upcoming school bond. In the plans are a turf field at Scarsdale Middle School that would allow for more playing time when the ground is wet. Two new basketball courts at Scarsdale Middle School are planned along with a field for the varsity girls softball team to be constructed at Greenacres School.

Also in the works is the addition of a turf practice field at Scarsdale High School. Plans have now been submitted to the state for approval and they hope to build it in the spring or summer.

The Mayor requested that if the Scarsdale Middle School project moves forward, culverts or retention basins could be installed underneath the turf to alleviate flooding.

Capital Projects

The two boards then turned to discussion of proposed capital projects:

Deputy Village Manager Dara Gruenberg explained that the Village is now considering three options for replacement of the Scarsdale Pool Complex.

The options are:

-A full indoor/outdoor pool complex with locker rooms, meeting rooms and more at $70.4mm

-An enhanced outdoor-only complex at $47 mm

-Replacement of the current facility: $35mm

-Close the pool complex.

There have been numerous public sessions to get feedback. The Village Board will hold a work session on December 16, 2025 to decide which way to go. She asked the school administration to consider whether or not they would use the pool for physical education classes for students.

School Board member Bob Klein raised the issue of the timing of large projects by both the schools and the Village. However the Mayor explained that the Village must move forward now to prevent the closure of the pool for more than one summer.

School Superintendent Andrew Patrick discussed the four components of the ongoing bond discussions.

Under consideration for spatial work are additions to Fox Meadow and Edgewood Elementary Schools and renovations of the libraries at Heathcote and the Scarsdale Middle School.

There is a long list of infrastructure upgrades to bring buildings up to current code.

The proposal includes funds to add air conditioning to large spaces such as cafeterias and gymnasiums at all seven schools as global warming is making it challenging to use these facilities when temperatures rise.

Last there are the field projects previously discussed.

At the December 15 meeting of the Board of Education, the board will hear a presentation of estimated construction costs. They now have prioritized about $113mm in work, and the Board has asked the administration to trim that to $100mm. the $10mm bond exceeds the current debt neutral $40mm bond that falls off in 2027-28 by $60 mm.

Freightway Garage

Last there was a brief discussion of the possibility of resuscitating plans to develop the Freightway site. Mayor Arest said the Village was looking to partner with the schools on developing plans which could enhance the Village and raise additional tax revenues. He said the Village would continue to maintain the garage until new plans were in place.

Village Board Meeting

Following the work session the Board of Trustees held their regular meeting and approved the following:

Placement of a menorah in Boniface Circle from December 5-8 by Westchester Reform Temple

Placement of a creche by IHM Church in Boniface Circle from December 19, 2025- January 2, 2026.

Acceptance of a gift of $159,871 from the Scarsdale Little League for the purchase and installation of dugouts, bleachers and fencing at Crossway Fields 1 and 2.

Appointment of Leo Naughton to the Committee for Historic Preservation.

Appointment of Seth Morgulas to the Board of Architectural Review.

Hiring Capitol Market Advisors to provide strategic financial consulting to the Village.

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Written by: Sharon Higgins

Published: 20 November 2025

Created: 20 November 2025

Last Updated: 21 November 2025

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In response to months of advocacy from the Council on People with Disabilities, the Scarsdale Village Board of Trustees held a work session on sidewalks and paving on Tuesday November 18, 2025 to address their concerns.

Village engineers opened the conversation with a recap of their study on the condition of Scarsdale’s 20 miles of sidewalks. A key early question centered on whether to rebuild the sidewalks with asphalt or concrete. Engineers and board members quickly aligned on concrete as the long-term solution: although more expensive upfront, concrete lasts 40–50 years compared to asphalt’s 10, making it significantly more cost-effective over time. They noted that asphalt may still be used for urgent temporary repairs when needed.

From there, the discussion turned to prioritization, staging, funding, and timelines. Engineers identified 6.5 miles of sidewalks rated “poor” or “failing,” ultimately recommending that the first-year pilot focus on 1.3 miles of the highest-use, highest-risk sections, namely sidewalks near schools, transit, and commuter routes. Mayor Justin Arest agreed that the village should move forward with a concrete-based rebuild beginning in fiscal year 2026. The Board currently has $295,000 allocated for sidewalks, but engineers estimate $700,000 is needed for the first phase, setting off a discussion about securing the remaining $400,000. Trustees emphasized that the initiative is focused on rebuilding existing sidewalks, not adding new ones at this time.

Residents offered thoughtful and passionate input during the public comment portion. Elizabeth Lawrence thanked village leadership for listening to residents and urged a multi-year plan, ideally within five years, to replace all asphalt sidewalks with concrete. She referenced successful work around the library as an example. She also noted that deteriorating sidewalks pose “a legal liability and a hazardous condition, especially for those with special needs.” Fox Meadow resident Marian Green voiced strong support for concrete, calling it an investment with an “immediate ROI and long term” impact, while urging the Board not to allow the project to become a slow, incremental “drip, drip, drip” process. Mayor Arest assured her that this is not the intention.

Longtime resident Barbara Greenbel, who has lived in Scarsdale for 60 years and recalls the construction of the original sidewalks, expressed satisfaction with the improvements near the library and pond, and asked the Board to examine the sidewalks on Fenimore Road. Resident Tom Schiera spoke about the need for safer crosswalks at Popham and Church Lane, sharing that his son, who has since recovered, was hit by a car on his electric bicycle at that location. Via Zoom, Susan Matula echoed the community’s gratitude and noted that while sidewalk maintenance has been underfunded for years, she is encouraged that this Board “appreciates the problem at hand and is ready to open the purse strings.”

After the meeting, Marian Green, Chair of the Scarsdale Advisory Council of People with Disabilities, noted that it has taken eight months of steady work to reach this point and said she left the meeting feeling optimistic. She emphasized that while the effort may have been initiated because people with disabilities struggle to navigate the deteriorated sidewalks, “It will enhance all pedestrian safety, from commuters, school children, parents, joggers, walk-to-worshippers, dog walkers, and anyone else who enjoys the pleasure of walking.”

In the end, the meeting marked a meaningful step toward safer, longer-lasting sidewalks and while funding and phasing details remain ahead, the shared commitment from village leaders and residents suggests that Scarsdale is finally on a real path to progress and lasting improvements.

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Written by: Joanne Wallenstein

Published: 10 November 2025

Created: 10 November 2025

Last Updated: 10 November 2025

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The following letter was written by Susan Levine

Most residents seem not to know much about the proposals for the Scarsdale Pool renovation.

Those who have been pool members and love the four pools as they have always been would like to see them totally removed and then restored to their former glory with necessary upgrades to the pool building as well. The cost to all Scarsdale taxpayers would be 35 million dollars paid over 25 years. The value of restoring the 56 year-old outdoor pool complex as a valuable Scarsdale amenity for those who Need It as their summer refuge can be understood by everyone.

BUT here is the problem. A group of residents wants to remove the beloved outdoor Diving Pool and build instead a large structure with Indoor Lap Lanes and Diving Boards for use in the cold months. And add many new elements to a newly constructed building that are not necessary but only desired and very costly.

The Cost for residents in taxes would now Double to 70 Million dollars paid over 25 years and the tax amount Increases each year. The cost also Increases from the original estimates if your home’s assessment is over $1.6 million.

My sincere concern is that a minority of indoor lap swimming enthusiasts would appear not to mind adding a huge tax burden for everyone else in Scarsdale, the silent majority. For 25 years. And the large Indoor Lap Pool and Diving building with glass doors that open on one side in the summer changes the Outdoor Pool Complex that its members love just as it is ... forever.

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Written by: Joanne Wallenstein

Published: 30 October 2025

Created: 30 October 2025

Last Updated: 30 October 2025

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When will the Scarsdale Pool be replaced? And with what?

We’re finally getting to the finish line of years of discussion about what will replace the aging Scarsdale Pool Complex that has outlived its useful life. At a long-anticipated presentation on the future of the Scarsdale Pool on Wednesday October 29, 2025, the Board of Trustees presented a schematic design for an indoor/outdoor pool complex along with the associated costs to build it and anticipated membership fees to join it.

The board presented several options – and the good news is that they will make a decision in January 2026, with plans to keep the current pool open for the summer of 2026. Construction on the new complex would begin when the pool closes in September 2026 and the outdoor pool would re-open for the summer of 2028.

Opening the meeting, Deputy Mayor Gruenberg explained, “In January 2025, after extensive input and no clear community consensus between pursuing an outdoor-only or indoor/outdoor facility, the Board chose to preserve flexibility by advancing plans for an indoor/outdoor complex. This approach allowed us to gain a clear and realistic understanding of what such a facility could offer—and what it would cost to construct and operate.”

She previewed the presentation which provides:

-Cost estimates for refurbishing and rebuilding the existing pool
-The complete schematic design plans
-Construction and operational cost analyses for both an indoor/outdoor and outdoor-only complex
-The tax impact for the construction of an indoor/outdoor facility as well as an outdoor-only facility.

Click here to see the presentation:

Gruenberg explained “We are not advocating for a specific path forward. Our role is not to lobby for any particular outcome but to present a clear, viable path forward and invite community feedback and direction on how to proceed.”

She added, “We recognize that the projected costs are substantial and while there will be opportunities for value engineering later in the process, the estimates presented tonight reflect what is realistic today in both cost and value. There is no perfect plan that everyone will be satisfied with but with these plans we have tried to thread the needle to meet the wants and needs expressed by residents.”

Larry Medvinsky, Chair of the Pool Redevelopment Advisory Committee and Tony East, Vice Chair, presented three options to the community:

-An indoor/outdoor pool complex with three outdoor pools, sited in place of the current outdoor pools along with a natatorium with an indoor pool with large glass doors that can be closed in the winter and open in the summer. The complex includes community space, a year-round bathhouse, another seasonal bathhouse and the concession (food) stand. ($70.4mm)

-A new complex with outdoor pools only. ($47.5mm)

-Removing and replacing the current pool complex and bringing it up to code. ($36mm)

According to Trustee Jeremy Wise, if the community decided to leave the current pool in place, we risk closure of the facility altogether as current mechanicals cannot be replaced and it is not up to code.

But more on the plans:

The indoor/outdoor plan offers even more thana place to swim. The large natatorium which would house the indoor pools would include community meeting rooms, a balcony above the pool for viewers and large retractable glass doors to give the site and indoor-outdoor feel.

The overall pool complex would include 16 lap lanes, 6 indoor lanes and 10 outdoor lanes. There will be indoor and outdoor diving areas, with 5 diving boards in total. The children’s area will include a splash pad, a zero entry wading pool and an intermediate pool. Basketball and volleyball courts could be used year-round. The complex would have two entrances – a separate one for the recreation camp. The concession area would be expanded.

There are two sets of locker rooms. The year-round locker rooms include men’s, women’s and individual family locker rooms. Separate seasonal locker rooms have men’s, women’s and family locker rooms as well as locker rooms for girls and boys.

In order to preserve the trees and the view, the complex is sited so that upon entering the complex, the site line includes the outdoor pools and the golf club beyond that. Every effort will be made to preserve the trees and the park like feel.

At What Cost?

The indoor/outdoor complex is an ambitious project, with a price tag of $70mm. Trustees provided an estimate of the cost per household for a home with an assessed value of $1.6 mm which you can see here. On average, for a homeowner with an assessed value of $1.6mm, would see tax increases as outlined in the chart below:

Mayor Arest said that the total tab could potentially be reduced by the use of reserve funds or with contributions from the community.

Another option is to build a new outdoor pool complex at a cost of $47 million. For this option the adult pool would be larger to accommodate both diving, lap swimming and leisure. The average tax increase over 26 years is outlined below.

Last, an estimate was provided to remove the existing pools, locker rooms and buildings and replace as is, at a cost of $35mm. Assuming, this would be half the tax impact of the indoor/outdoor option, the cost would be about $375 per year over 30 years.

What are the fees?

In addition to the tax implications, trustees offered five scenarios for membership fees which you can see below. They vary based on assumptions of membership numbers, revenue from non-resident permits and contributions to an Enterprise Fund for repairs.

Estimates show that a summer family membership would be $760 and an annual family membership would be $2,200. Please see the cost estimates below:

Reaction from the attendees in the room and those online was enthusiastic, some expressing great excitement at the prospect of this major new community asset. Commenters had questions, suggestions for improving the plans and kudos for the Board.

Marian Green said, “I am sure if we move forward with the major plan we will have a spectacular facility. I have a pool but my family joins the public pool.”

Claudine Jessel said, “We enjoyed the pool for many years.” She encouraged the board to organize tours so that residents could see the aging complex and recognize the need for the new project.

Elaine Katz asked if the Village had considered where Scarsdale residents might swim during the summer of 2027 when the pool will be closed.

Harris Sokoloff said, “I thought the committees did a great job listening to the community.” Discussing non-resident permits he said, “The out of towners want to use the pool – please let them in – there is plenty of capacity.”

Myra Saul said, “People who haven’t moved here yet should be considered. Those people may want the more expensive option. The price of houses are getting higher and higher. These people will want a new pool.”

Joan Ross Sorkin said, “I am in favor of the indoor/outdoor combination.” She asked, “Will the locker rooms be nicer? Hair dryers? Doors? I don’t want to go bare bones on that.”

Barbara Carleton said, “I am happy that something is going to happen. The indoor facility will be great for the rec camp. The pool will be nice for kids swimming on swim teams.”

A woman from Thies Court discussed the timing. She said, “Inflation is real – in four years costs are rising. Make a decision and a timeline and get the show on the road.” She added, “The pool is the happiest place for my family.”

Anne Hintermeister asked if the interest on the bond was included in the estimated tax increases and was told that it was included.

Elaine Weir called the plan “very impressive” and said, “I think the indoor/outdoor pool is a good idea. Having a nice facility will increase property values and make Scarsdale more attractive.”

Jean Mary Buongiorno asked if the indoor pool would be big enough to handle the kids at rec camp on a rainy day? The response was yes.

Josh Glantz offered kudos on the indoor/outdoor option. He asked what happens during thunder and lightning and was told that all pools need to close in the event of lightning.

Bob Berg, a frequent critic of the board, who now lives in Greenwich said, “It was always a deficiency that Scarsdale did not have an indoor pool. This is a terrific plan. It is magnificent. It captures what you need here. It will bring the community together. The cost is high but it is well worth it. It is fabulous and I am proud to support it.”

Former Village Trustees Kay Eisenman gave a pitch for a dedicated space for seniors upstairs in the natatorium. She said, “Parking has become difficult at the Girl Scout House.”

Chip Rich said, “this is really exciting. I appreciate all the effort that has gone into this. I am an early morning lap swimmer and was initially disappointed that there was no indoor pool. I think the design is thoughtful and maintains the bucolic view. I hope the design looks like the library and not the building at the Five Corners.”

Robert Schwartz said, “We are a new family to Scarsdale with four young kids. This is a no brainer for the community. In terms of usage, a year-round facility, differentiates Scarsdale as a Village that provides tremendous value. Make it as soon as possible!”

Chelsea Weng said, “We use the pool and compete on the teams. There were 110 kids on the Scarsdale town team last summer. I support the year-round facility for residents only.”

Rachana Singh complimented the Board on the presentation. She said, “I liked the multiple scenarios. I wish the school district gave us multiple scenarios. Where did you come up with $1.6 mm as median assessed value? The School Board is using $1.3 mm.”

However one frequent observer of Village business was against the proposal and claimed she spoke for the “silent majority” of current pool members. Susan Levine of Ardmore Road came to the mic twice and said, “I am here to represent the 1,200 families who join the pool – the other 4,000 will never join the pool. Renovate the complex, take it away and put it back as is. Make the changes that will keep us up to code. We should not be asked to pay these taxes for 20 years to improve the project. It will save us millions. The silent majority should not have to pay for what the vocal minority wants.”

Next Steps:

The Board has scheduled a series of meetings with neighborhood associations and community members to share the plans and garner feedback. You are encouraged to attend, review the plans and provide feedback to the board.

Here’s the schedule:

Neighborhood Association Feedback Sessions

11/5/2025 at 7pm in Rutherford Hall, Village Hall
Old Scarsdale Neighborhood Association (OSNA), West Quaker Ridge, Murray Hill/ Mid Heathcote

11/17/2025 at 8pm in Rutherford Hall, Village Hall
Greenacres, Sherbrooke Park, Overhill, East Heathcote, Fox Meadow

12/1/2025 at 7pm in Rutherford Hall, Village Hall
Crane Berkley, Drake Edgewood, Arthur Manor

12/11/2025 at 7pm in Rutherford Hall, Village Hall
Colonial Acres. Quaker Ridge, Scarsdale Meadows

Morning Public Feedback Sessions

11/14 at 11:30am Scarsdale Senior Council, Scarsdale Public Library
11/21 at 9:30am in the Scott Room, Scarsdale Public Library

With only a few weeks remaining until the end of the year, the Board will need to move quickly to be ready to break ground on whatever plan is chosen in September 2026. Review the plans nowReview the plans now and let the trustees know what you think by emailing [email protected] or attending on of the upcoming sessions.

Pool Redevelopment Advisory Committee

Larry Medvinsky, Chair
Tony East, Vice Chair
Lynn Brooks Avni
Diane Greenwald
Casey Klurfeld
Mark Mathias
Anne Moretti
Aubrey Phillibert
Andrew Sereysky
Carol Silverman
Anita Singhal