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Red Hook board weighs turning water-district parcels into pocket parks; orders site visit
Summary
Town officials discussed accepting small wetland-encumbered parcels from the water district for passive pocket parks, agreed to obtain appraisals and a site visit, and flagged DEC jurisdictional determinations and maintenance funding as next steps.
The Red Hook Town Board discussed a proposal to take several small parcels from the water district in the Linden Acres area and convert them into passive pocket parks.
Supervisor described five small parcels that the water district no longer needs because former wells are gone, saying the land is mostly wetland and would be suited to minimal improvements such as bench seating and short access points. He suggested the Community Preservation Fund (CPF) as a possible funding source and reminded the board that CPF rules allow up to 10% to be used for maintenance. Members raised questions about jurisdictional wetland determinations by the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) and whether a DEC field determination would be required before appraisal or acquisition. One board member urged a valuation and appraisal before advancing the transfer.
Board consensus was to schedule a site visit, request an appraisal or broker input and refer the matter to the CPF committee for review of preservation and maintenance eligibility. The board did not take a final vote on conveyance or expenditure at the meeting.
