Playgrounds, Courts and Parks to be Upgraded in Scarsdale

How do Scarsdale’s playgrounds rate in popularity and which ones are in the best and worst conditions? Which ones needs to be upgraded or replaced all together?

How are the tennis courts faring and when was the last time they were resurfaced?

How much will it cost to replace the bathrooms at Crossway?

These are just a few of the questions answered in an inventory of Scarsdale’s recreational facilities presented by Recreation Supervisor Brian Gray to the Board of Trustees at a budget work session on Tuesday night January 16, 2024.

The in-depth analysis of all the facilities run by the Recreation Department provides a look at the wide range of resources available to Scarsdale resident as well as the cost of maintaining and upgrading them. In preparation for the 2024-25 Village budget, trustees asked Gray to let them know the state of the facilities and to provide estimates for any prospective work to be done.

First, on the playgrounds, the Village manages ten playgrounds ranging in size from 2,300 square feet at Wynmor Park to 11,950 at Hyatt Park. The most popular of these are Hyatt and Davis Park, and the least used are Wynmor and Colonial Acres Park.

Which ones are most in need of replacement? Of the ten playgrounds, Greenacres is in the worst shape – along with Willow Playground. In best condition are Wynmor and Hyatt Park.

Slated for a total replacement in 2022/23 was Greenacres at a cost of $100,00 - $110,000. That project has not moved forward as yet, but residents are hopeful that the work on the 3,744 square foot playground, built between 1996-99, will be done in the coming year.

Also in poor condition are the playgrounds at the pool and the one at Aspen Park, which is rated “aging and outdated.” The Village’s newest playground at Wynmor Park is only 2,300 square feet but is in good condition with a play structure and working swings.

Take a look at the state of your playground in the presentation here:

The Village’s tennis courts at Crossway, the high school, the middle school, Brite Avenue, and Wymor Park are evaluated in the inventory too. At Crossway the Village plans to spend $85,900 to repair linear cracks, depressions and resurface the courts in 2024/25.

At the high school, crack repair and resurfacing are needed and planned for the 2025/26 fiscal year at a cost of $73,900. At the middle school, $55,900 has been allocated this year to address, cracks, dips and resurfacing.

No maintenance has been done at the courts at Brite Avenue since 2002, but the har tru courts appear to be in usable condition.

The Platform tennis courts at the high school and Brite Avenue require annual maintenance including painting, tightening the screens and repairs at a cost of $13,000 per year.

Beyond the recreational facilities themselves, Gray reviews work needed on retaining walls, storage containers and the comfort station at Crossway which is need of a total replacement at a cost of $250,000.

Also included is a review of both the revenues and expenses for the Weinberg Nature Center. Programming revenue brought in $166,474 in 2022-23 with expenses at $184,078, so the center is operating at a deficit, but not a big one.

Following this holistic review, the Board ask Gray to set priorities and return with a list of what he thinks should be address in the coming year and beyond.

Take a look at the state of our recreational facilities here.