3
Wallkill Valley Times, Wednesday, August 28, 2019
Metzger pledges her support for Tillson Lake
By LAURA FITZGERALD
[email protected]
Senator Jen Metzger, members of the
advocacy organization Friends of Tillson
Lake and local elected officials showed
her support for repairing the dam at
Tillson Lake with a press conference on
Aug. 14.
Created in 1929 by Hasbrouck (Hassie)
Tillson, the 22-acre lake in Minnewaska
State Park is managed by the Palisades
Interstate Parks Commission (PIPC) and
is a recreational destination for local
community members and tourists.
The press conference was prompted
by the release of a recent report
commissioned by The New York State
Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic
Preservation (NYSOPRHP), which finds
that the dam could be restored at a lower
cost than originally estimated.
“Tillson Lake is a beloved scenic and
recreational destination in the community,
and supports a diversity of native plant
species, as well as amphibians, reptiles,
and birds,” Metzger said. “Residents enjoy
the lake for kayaking, fishing, canoeing,
and bird watching, and it is also used by
the Shawangunk Valley Fire Department
for training. I am very pleased that the
new study estimates a far lower and much
more manageable cost for restoring the
dam than originally suggested by the
Commission, and I am hopeful that by
working with PIPC, the Office of Parks,
Recreation and Historic Preservation,
and the Palisades Interstate Park
Commission, the State will move forward
with the needed dam improvements.”
In 2012, an engineering report
commissioned by The New York State
Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic
Preservation (NYSOPRHP) determined
the Tillson Lake Dam to be a Class “C”
High Hazard. At that time, the cost
New York State Senator Jen Metzger, Friends of Tillson Lake President Morey Gottesman,
Gardiner Town Supervisor Marybeth Majestic and Friends of Tillson Lake Vice President Andy
Hague discuss Tillson Lake’s future at a press conference on Aug. 14.
estimate for Dam refurbishment was
estimated to be from $5 million - $9 million
and the cost for Dam removal, which
would destroy the lake, estimated to be in
the $1 million to $2 million range.
The report prepared this year by
Schnabel Engineering used a new model
for passing flow analysis and, as a result,
suggests that the spillway does not need to
be increased in order to meet passing flow
requirements at the regulatory threshold
of half Probable Maximum Flood (PMF),
reducing the estimated repair costs to $3.2
million.
“This support from our elected
representatives has been a crucial
component in getting this new study
done, and Friends of Tillson Lake
acknowledges and appreciates this” said
Morey Gottesman, President of Friends
of Tillson Lake. “Both Senator Metzger
and Supervisor Majestic welcomed this
new, more realistic cost estimate and
pledged to work to preserve the Lake and
help obtain the necessary funding. We
look forward to continue working with
Senator Metzger at the State level to guide
us through the budgeting process.”
Today, the lake is accessible by a small
parking lot, a small boat launch and a few
trails around the lake. But years ago, the
lake was a bustling community hub and
summer destination with a swimming
area, diving boards, a roller-skating rink,
a concession stand, a casino and more.
Born and raised in New York City,
Gardiner resident Tom Francese
remembers the first time he saw the lake
as a young boy. When his family pulled up
and opened the car door, he was amazed
by the beauty of the countryside. He
remarked the lake looks like Marlboro
country, referring to the popular cigarette
commercial that featured an idyllic
countryside.
“The lake was the most beautiful lake,”
Francese said. “I’m a 62-year-old man,
and I’ve seen a lot of lakes, but I still
remember that as the most beautiful.”
Francese was visiting his aunt’s cottage
at the lake. His father and uncle followed
suit and bought their own cottages. He
spent every summer at the lake.
He has fond memories of jumping off
the high dive, skating at the roller rink
and making new friends.
“It was just a wonderful place to go,”
Francese said. “I grew up there every
summer.”
A self-professed “country boy at heart
who was born and raised in the city,”
Francese left New York City when he was
22 to live in the Hudson Valley. He bought
a house just down the road from Tillson
Lake.
Francese said while he’s disappointed
the lake has become overgrown, it still
gives him joy. He brought his children
to the lake and will hopefully bring his
grandchildren to it as well.
school bus routes for 2019-20
no children would have to walk along a road with a speed
limit of 55 mph, some bus stops were placed along 45 mph
roads with no sidewalks.
“If [a stop] is somewhere where we deem that it’s
hazardous to have a stop, we’ll move it down,” Pacella
said, “but getting to the stop is not a determining factor
on whether that bus stop is safe or not.”
Pacella said due to the rural nature of the district, it
would be very difficult to design routes that didn’t have
children walking along roads with speed limits of 45 mph.
The district has few streets with sidewalks and lighting,
adding to the district’s decision not to have the safety of
the route to the bus stops taken into account.
Board Vice President Cara Robertson took issue with
the 55-mph threshold.
“45 is no different than 55,” Robertson said at the Aug.
20 meeting. “Somebody is going to get hit. Doesn’t matter
at a child’s age, at 45 or 55. I’m not in agreement.”
It is the responsibility of the parent to transport their
child safely to the bus stop, Pacella said.
“Hopefully the parent doesn’t allow their child to get
hit,” Pacella said in response to Robertson. “Once they
step on the bus, it’s our responsibility.”
Superintendent Tim Mains reminded the board they
have the power to amend the transportation policy.
Parents may appeal the school district if they feel their
child’s bus stop is unsafe. Visit pinebushschools.org/bus-
stop-review-form.