County Legislators Approve Over $8M for Ward Pound Ridge Reservation

Westchester County Legislators approved more than $8 million in bonds for a series of fixes at the Ward Pound Ridge Reservation, officials confirmed.

The Monday approval was unanimous, Majority Leader Peter Harckham confirmed.

"It's a great investment in Ward Pound Ridge," said Harckham, whose district includes the reservation. Ward Pound Ridge is situated in the towns of Pound Ridge and Lewisboro, near the Connecticut state line.

The parkland is roughly 4,315 acres, according to its online profile on the county's website. The reservation was named after William Lukens Ward, who was a Westchester County Republican leader.

The legislation included two amounts to borrow: $4,075,000 for drainage and road projects at the reservation, and $4,250,000 for building repairs. The work is part of a 5-year county plan for restoring facilities at parks, Harckham stated in a press release.

The next step is for County Executive Rob Astorino to give his approval. New York City's Department of Environmental Protection will also need to give approval because the land falls within the Croton watershed, near the city's water supply.

According to the legislation, the work includes work on a vistor center, the Michigan Road barn, maintenance garage, lean-to shelters, a maple sugaring house and an office building.

Several infrastructure items are also to be fixed.

"Included in the road and drainage projects will be repaving of the existing asphalt roads and parking areas, replacement of gravel for other roads, plus restoration of culverts and swales for stormwater management," a statement on the fixes notes. "The building improvements will be comprised of extensive interior and exterior repairs and rehabilitations."