Letter To The Editor: New Legislation Could Aid Greenburgh Tennis Courts

The NY State Senate approved legislation this afternoon that opens the door for the Town of Greenburgh to enter a lease agreement for the next 30 years to bubble our tennis courts during the cold weather seasons at Anthony F. Veteran Park. It is anticipated that the lease could generate about $3 million to the town during the 15 year lease. We will invite companies interested in leasing the tennis courts during the cold winter season to submit bids to the town this summer.

There will be no financial impact to any of the river villages in the town. If any resident of the villages, within the town, wants to use the tennis facilities, they will be charged a fee. No village  tax dollars will be spent on the courts. Residents of the Village of Scarsdale will now have access to the courts during winter months.

I would like to thank State Senator Andrea Stewart Cousins and Assemblyman Tom Abinanti for their hard work in successfully pushing the State Legislature to approve this historic legislation. We anticipate that our tennis courts will be able to be upgraded, at no cost to the taxpayers. We now have the potential to turn our tennis facility into one of the best in the northeast as recognized in 1989 by the USTA.

In these difficult economic times – local governments like Greenburgh- are  forced to cut government programs.  We also have to comply with the tax cap legislation that was approved by the State Legislature last year. The legislation that was approved today by the State Senate and earlier this week by the State Assembly  enables the town to increase recreation opportunities for our residents, to generate significant revenue for the town from a private tennis court operator and to improve the infrastructure of our tennis courts at no cost to the taxpayers.

Another reason why today is a day to celebrate: The vote in Albany today was part of a true partnership. All the members of the Town Board worked very hard to get the legislation approved. Our State lawmakers, Tom Abinanti and Andrea Stewart Cousins did everything they could do to persuade their colleagues in Albany to approve legislation – that earlier this year many people thought might not pass. Members of the Parks & Recreation Advisory Board, Janet Lefkowitz of the parks department (tennis program), Gerry Byrne, Commissioner of Parks and his team worked cooperatively.  This is the way government should run—we should all work together.

JULY 25 WE WANT TO CELEBRATE OUR STATE LAWMAKERS: TOM ABINANTI AND ANDREA STEWART COUSINS

Our two State Legislators – Andrea Stewart Cousins and Tom Abinanti deserve special thanks from all the community for their hard work and effective advocacy. At the next Town Board meeting we will honor both of our lawmakers for their effective advocacy. Both of our lawmakers went the extra mile for the town – they used their connections in Albany to win passage of this legislation, they worked hard for our town. And, they should be applauded. You are invited to attend our meeting which begins July 25 at 7:30 p.m. and help us salute two outstanding lawmakers.

PAUL FEINER

Diana Juettner, Town Council

Kevin Morgan, Town Council

Ken Jones, Town Council

Francis Sheehan, Town Council

Judith Beville, Town Clerk

Gerry Byrne, Commissioner of Parks