Residents Petition Board to save Greenacres Field

Greenacres residents are so passionate about preventing the construction of a new school on the grounds of the field across the street, that a petition to the Board of Education has garnered more than 600 signatures, and an original poem was written about this issue.

Written by Deborah Skolnik the poem appeared on her Facebook Page, Gentle Scarsdale Satire, and she attended the school board meeting on May 18 to recite her poem aloud:

GREEN ACHERS, FIGHT FIGHT FIGHT!

When my kids were younger, I thought it was cool
that they went to a beautiful, old-fashioned school.
So I'm shaken and angry to hear that our town
is thinking of tearing that grand old school down.

Just as disturbing, I'm hearing reports
that the new school would sit on our sole field for sports.
You don't have to be a huge genius to see
how these changes would injure our 'hood's quality!

I feel like, of late, Scarsdale's been on a tear,
demolishing charming old homes everywhere.
Families can make those poor choices alone...
but Greenacres school is a school we ALL own!

I'm not trying to protect some nice view from my deck,
or get out of writing a new-school tax check.
My opinions don't come from self-service or mystery—
I just want to preserve our great buildings and history!

Let's vote to keep Greenacres gorgeous and sweet.
Let's vote with our voices. Let's vote with our feet!
Tonight's the big meeting. You know what to do:
See you at 8 at the High School – room 172. **

The Board meeting was crowded with residents from Greenacres who attended to speak against the idea of demolishing the existing Greenacres School building and reconstructing the elementary school on the field across the street. KG&D Architects, who were commissioned last year to assess options to address crowding and infrastructure problems in the Greenacres School building, made a presentation at an April 20, 2015 study session. At that meeting, they proposed several options summarized as follows:

1) Repair the building's mechanical issues only.
2) Option A – Do extensive renovations without adding any square footage to the building. This Option would likely require redistricting.
3) Option B – Renovate the current building and do an addition on the Putnam Road side
4) Option C – Build a new Greenacres School on the playground and field across the street and convert the site of the existing building to playing fields, parking and other uses.

For more background on this meeting, review our coverage here: 

In anticipation of what was to come, Board President Mary Beth Gose opened the meeting by stating that any ideas about the future of the Greenacres school building were in the very early discussion phases. She also reminded the audience there is a building committee comprised of a wide range of interested constituents, including neighborhood residents, providing input to the discussions. Further, a bond that would require a public vote would finance any major work that would be conducted on the building such as an addition or an entire new building. In other words, it would be impossible to pass a bond to finance a building that the public did not support. She expressed her thanks to everyone who came to the meeting and welcomed all remarks.

During the comments period, one Greenacres resident after another spoke passionately about the importance of the existing field and blacktop surface as open space for the neighborhood, as a play area for children of all ages, as ball fields for all of Scarsdale and as a gathering space to meet and bond with neighbors and celebrate holidays such as July 4th as a community. Residents expressed in no uncertain terms that "Option C" should be removed from consideration.

Prior to the meeting, a petition was circulated and signed by 640 residents representing 385 households in Greenacres. At the meeting, the petition was introduced by Meredith Gantcher of Brewster Road, recited by Madeline Hauptman of Brewster Road, and concluded with remarks from Jon Singer of Montrose Road who expressed that the signers of the petition are eager to work with the Board and building committee to develop a plan that works for everyone. Many Greenacres residents used their time at the microphone to read verbatim comments from signers on why they opposed "Option C". Examples are:

The field is too critical to the aesthetic of the neighborhood. Open space is rare, and this particular field represents a unique gathering space for all the community. Build up, not out!!!

I signed for all the points made in the petition. I particularly deplore the idea of destroying the green space, currently used for so many Greenacres community functions, and the installation of an immense gym in the heart of our neighborhood to serve the entire community of Scarsdale. What a bad set of ideas!

I absolutely love Greenacres Elementary School. It is one of the most beautiful buildings in all of Scarsdale, and if any building should be preserved -- it is this one. Regardless of the cost. Tearing down the school will rip out the soul of the neighborhood.

I signed because, having lived in Greenacres since 1977 and as the father of 2 daughters who spent many happy years at Greenacres School, I recognize Greenacres School as being important to the Greenacres community and as being a structure of substantial historic importance.

I strongly object to the proposal which eliminates the current green space/playing fields. From the plans, it appears that there would be no baseball fields, and the elimination of those fields would detrimentally impact children not only who live in Greenacres but also who live throughout Scarsdale. The proposal ruins the only open space in Greenacres.

There were many more examples read iterating the importance of the field to the Greenacres residents.

For information about the petition, click here.

Several speakers mentioned the historic value and beauty of the school building, which will be 100 years old soon, and expressed dismay that throughout Scarsdale historic homes of character are torn down and replaced.

Some speakers expressed general disapproval of the report issued by the architects. Jamie Kayam of Gorham Court stated he carefully reviewed the report and was "unimpressed". He was critical of the preliminary designs for a new building and after perusing KG&D's website described their work as "cookie cutter". He stated concern about the make-up of the building committee and questioned whether or not there was enough construction experience available among committee members. He also asked if the building committee meetings would be made public. Some comments also displayed a distrust of the information about the true condition of the school, the real need for a new building or possible re-districting. Peter Gelfman of Brite Avenue thought the fact that re-districting was on the table as part of "Option A" called the credibility of the report into question since such an action would be the "counter" to the long held Scarsdale value of "neighborhood schools". He expressed that a "minor" increase in enrollment projections coupled with "persistent water issues" should not be the "catalyst for a plan to destroy the heart of Greenacres." Xue Su of Kingston Road asked custodians at Greenacres School to show her where the water entered the school. She reported that she was told that water has not been an issue for two years since a redirection of a downspout after a flood.

The issue even inspired an original poem, written and recited by Scarsdale10583 contributor Deborah Skolnick that garnered applause.

The next building committee meeting is scheduled for June 3. It is not clear at this time whether that meeting will be open to the public but it is clear that Greenacres residents want to be more involved in the process.

**This poem first appeared on Gentle Scarsdale Satire," which in just 3 months has attracted a membership of more than 550 people. All are welcome to join - simply type in "Gentle Scarsdale Satire" on the search bar on Facebook, and click the "Join" button. New humorous poems about Scarsdale, written by Skolnik, are posted most weekdays.