Advisory board asks Greenburgh to name community center’s second floor for Barbara Watson Perry

Terrence Jackson, commissioner of the Department of Community Resources, asked the Greenburgh Town Board on Dec. 17 to support a proposal to name the community center’s second floor the "Barbara Watson Perry 2nd Floor extension." Jackson read a letter from the department and the advisory board saying Perry, the department’s first commissioner and its first female commissioner at the community center, helped expand the facility and its programs.

Jackson told the board the plan includes a historic walk along the second-floor hallway with photos and articles and a commemorative display combining a leadership-themed word cloud and a bronze plaque. "We are requesting your support in honoring commissioner Perry's extraordinary contributions by naming the 2nd Floor in her honor," Jackson read.

The board asked whether Perry’s children, Jason and Jennifer Perry, were engaged in the plan; the presenter and others confirmed they had been consulted and were supportive. Members praised the proposal as a way to preserve the center’s history and to honor other contributors through the proposed exhibit.

On practical details, presenters said the word-cloud mock-up is a rough draft that will be refined. A board member said the wall outside measures about 9 feet high and that the word-cloud element might be roughly 6–7 feet in height, with a portrait of Perry around 8 by 11 inches; a plaque-only estimate discussed in the meeting was about $5,000–$6,000, a presenter said. Jackson provided an email ([email protected]) for residents to submit suggested words for the word cloud by the end of January.

Board members discussed funding options. One board member noted that signage for prior building namings had come from the town and suggested working with the comptroller’s office; others recommended seeking grants because of the project’s historical significance. The group agreed not to delay the proposed March unveiling for grant timelines but to pursue grants if they would not postpone the event.

On procedure, members debated whether to pass a resolution at the board’s first meeting in January to authorize the renaming and, if appropriate, funding. Several members asked staff to return with a formal profile and detailed cost estimates before the board votes on a resolution. The board suggested scheduling a dedication for March 19 but also discussed ensuring any resolution names the space effective on the unveiling date rather than earlier.

The presentation concluded with board members thanking the advisory board and Jackson for the proposal. The meeting then moved to a motion for executive session on personnel and legal advice.

Next steps: staff will prepare a formal proposal with detailed costs and a recommended date for a resolution; the board discussed targeting a March unveiling pending those details.