‘Nice meeting’ detailed changes that are ahead
Starting this summer, the Long Pond recreation area will be shared by Highland Falls, Fort Montgomery and West Point residents.
Note, too, the town’s Summer Playground program will still use the area, senior citizens will still get in free, there will be significant improvements made to the park, and, the town will save considerable money with this new deal.
Those are some of the highlights from a meeting about the fate of Long Pond, held last week between Supervisor Bob Livsey, the Town Board, Deputy Garrison Commander Tom Cowan and West Point Morale Welfare & Recreation’s (MWR) AnnMarie Thompson.
Livsey came out of the session noting that “really, our back was against a wall”, but said that it was a “nice meeting” and the end result is that West Point will begin operations of Long Pond, effective this summer.
Community residents won’t notice much of a difference in logistics like fees or hours if they visit Long Pond this summer. But in fact, Livsey said, they may see some pretty nice improvements.
“Our day camp can still use it, they won’t charge town residents any more than they are charged now, they will pave the parking lot and improve the pavilion, and be replacing some of the old picnic tables,” Livsey said. He added they will also add some of the popular floating play areas that they have had in Round Pond.
“West Point is basically moving their swimming and beach operations from Round Pond to Long Pond,” Recreation Director Aaron Falk, who also attended the meeting, said. For instance, he said they’ll have paddle boats, canoes and kayaks for rent, several floating docks will be added (with at least one near the end of the picnic area for fishing), and daily prices will be lower than they are now.
West Point Garrison Commander Col. Cecil Marson confirmed that Long Pond will become the main swimming and beach area for West Point, and added that he sees it as a positive move for both communities, envisioning area youth, particularly, having a fun place to spend summer days.
“We really hope to see many residents of both communities out there,” Marson said.
Livsey noted that some of the costs for Highlands residents to use the facility — like the pavilion rental — may actually decrease.
Falk said he is looking forward to working with MWR (which will run Long Pond) to “make it great for everyone”.
“I went into the meeting skeptical, but I came out very satisfied,” Falk said. “West Point is really being a very good neighbor in this case.”
Livsey and the Town Board were notified earlier this month that in order to renew the town’s five-year Memorandum of Agreement (MoA) on running Long Pond, it would cost a minimum of $10,000 plus annual summer lease fees. It’s money the town just doesn’t have.
Although … Livsey did note that last week a “very generous” town resident stopped in his office to offer a donation to cover the new costs. He had to turn down the offer.
The one thing that the supervisor asked West Point for — but did not get — was for a 20-year MoA.
“They said they just can’t make an agreement for longer than five years,” Livsey said.
One of Falk’s big concerns going into the meeting was about the corps of about 15 lifeguards that the town currently employees. West Point is putting hiring for new lifeguards on hold, he said, until all of the town’s lifeguards have the chance to apply. Falk will still have to hire lifeguards for the Roe Park pool, he said, and he expects some of the guards will work for both municipalities.
Falk said Long Pond will be open the same this year as it has in the past — Memorial Day to Labor Day — and the daily operation hours will be very similar to what they have been. He said residents who want to buy a season pass will be able to do so at the gate of Long Pond.
“I hope that town and village residents can get past the perception that West Point is taking Long Pond from us,” Falk said. “It’s their property and always has been. I really believe this is going to be win-win for us.”
Livsey said the town stands to save $25-30,000 this year with West Point operating Long Pond. When asked if that money would stay in the Recreation budget, he said it “probably would”.
