OROS: COUNTY APPROVES FUNDS FOR PLAYGROUND PROJECT IN BUCHANAN
Grant funding approved to replace old playground structure at Westchester Avenue Park

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Monday, February 27, 2006

Contact: George Oros, 914.995.2828, Oros@westchesterlegislators.com

White Plains, NY – County Legislator George Oros (R—Cortlandt) announced that over $130,000 in funding from the County’s Community Development Block Grant Program was approved for the Village of Buchanan during last Thursday’s meeting of the County’s Board of Acquisition and Contract. The money will be used for a Westchester Avenue Playground design and equipment project.

“The Village of Buchanan did a great job working with the County to secure these funds,” said Oros. “I’m happy to see that this agreement was approved and that the village can finally move forward with their plans to restore the park. My complements go to Mayor Daniel O’Neill, the Village Trustees Fran Surak, Joe Tropiano, Jane Hitney and Gary Bell, for their hard work.”

Legislator Oros noted that the playground equipment at Westchester Avenue Park is old and is no longer in regulation with the proper safety codes. The village’s improvement proposal includes removing the non-compliant playground equipment and site amenities, installing new play equipment, benches and trash receptacles and creating new parking spaces and asphalt pathways.

Mayor Daniel O’Neill said, “I want to thank Legislator Oros for his assistance in procuring the County funding. Buchanan will have modern playground equipment that is both safe and fun. In addition, the Centreville Park on Westchester Avenue will have improved landscaping which will make it a more pleasant place for all residents to use. I also want to thank the County Planning Department, in particular Jerome Thorpe, for his guidance and presentations, County Executive Andrew Spano, the Buchanan Village Administrator Tom Jankowski and Village Engineer Jim Hahn, and a number of Buchanan residents, including children who gave their personal stamp-of-approval to the plans.”

The total amount of the improvement grant is $131,250.00 which was made available through the County’s Community Development Block Grant Program, a service that utilizes federal aid from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. The County allocates these funds to a number of community improvement projects throughout Westchester. The purpose is to keep Westchester County’s communities safe, beautiful and up to date.

Out of Westchester’s 17 Legislative Districts, Legislator Oros’ district receives over 20% of Community Development Block Grant funding.

The allocation of funding for the park’s improvements was approved during the February 23, 2006 meeting of the County’s Board of Acquisition and Contract. The agreement will officially take effect on April 15, 2006 and end April 14, 2007. The village hopes to begin construction this spring.