VC park needs maintenance too

To the editor:

I read about the master plan of Van Cortlandt Park projects that have been completed at the 10-year mark of the 20-year plan and found it lacking in a key area — maintenance.

I have led nature walks in the park with The Nature Group of Van Cortlandt Park for more than 10 years, and my husband and I do volunteer work maintaining the Cass Gallagher Nature Trail.

The nature community would love to see the restoration of the birding bridge at the marsh, which was removed for safety concerns many years ago and has not been replaced. 

The brick stairs leading down from the Van Cortlandt Mansion to the Tibbett Meadow have been fenced off for the same reason, for many years, and are in terrible disrepair.

Planting native plants is wonderful, but invasive vines are quick to encroach upon them, so maintenance is needed.

We have staffing needs for maintenance in addition to reliance on volunteers.

It is great there will be improvements to the public pool. I fervently hope they will include redesign of the drainage system. Currently there is an outward slope to the drains so, when the chlorinated water overflows it has already killed three trees in the outlying area.

I hope future projects will prioritize nature in our beautiful park.

Debbi Dolan