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Written by Joanne Wallenstein

Published: 20 April 2022

Created: 20 April 2022

Last Updated: 20 April 2022

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In celebration of Earth Week, the Village is giving away FREE high quality food scrap compost to Scarsdale residents on Saturday, April 23, 2022, at the Scarsdale Recycling Center, 110 Secor Road, from 8:00 AM to 3:00 PM. It’s first come, first served, so bring a pail, bucket, or other receptacle, and take home some compost! Prior events have been well attended, so plan to be there early.

Food scrap compost can be used in one’s vegetable garden, flower beds, or to enrich turf in place of chemical fertilizers.

Residents are strongly encouraged to join the Food Scrap Program – it’s easy and leads to a meaningful reduction to the solid waste stream, which results in less trash incineration. Volunteers will be available to answer questions to help you get started, and food scrap recycling starter kits will be available for purchase. In addition, extra rolls of compostable bags will be available for your countertop and curbside bins.

The high-quality food scrap compost being given away in celebration of Earth Week is provided pursuant to the successful Village of Scarsdale residential Food Scrap Recycling program, which was developed by the Ad-hoc Committee on Food Scrap Recycling, comprised of Village staff and dedicated resident volunteers. Over 2,000,000 pounds – or roughly 1,000 tons – of food scraps have been recycled since the beginning of the program in January 2017!

For any questions about the April 23rd compost giveaway, or the food scrap recycling program, please email [email protected].

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Written by Joanne Wallenstein

Published: 27 April 2022

Created: 27 April 2022

Last Updated: 27 April 2022

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What is the status on the renovation of the Scarsdale Pool Complex? And what is the vision for the next iteration of Scarsdale's aquatic center? Architects Lothrop Associates presented their findings of the existing pool conditions and plans to survey and engage with the community to assess views at a work session of the Village Board on April 26, 2022.

Their inventory of the existing facility found that many features of the current complex are deteriorated, outdated, non-compliant with current health and safety regulations and inefficient. The pool equipment, the locker rooms, facilities and even the pool depths require substantial updating and replacement.

The report explains, “At over 50 years old, the pools at the Complex have reached their expected service life. There are structural failures with the concrete pools, failures of the underground piping between them, and an obsolete hydraulic filtration system. It is also known that building and sanitary codes have developed and expanded significantly during the lifetime of the pool complex. While upgrades to meet current codes do not always apply to existing facilities retroactively, pool water hygiene standards will be required to comply with current health code requirements. Furthermore, compliance with current codes and standards can yield significant hygienic, life safety, and operational cost benefits.”

Furthermore the facility does not meet accessibility standards as outlined in NYS building code.

Long story short, the architects outlined cost estimates in three categories as illustrated below.

They provided estimates to address the risk of safety or damage, code compliance and operations and maintenance costs. All told, they estimate that it would cost $13.2 mm to simply replace the current pools and facilities, without adding any enhancements or special features.

Take a look at a detailed report on the pool fencing, barriers, pool decks, pool vessels, pool depths and more here.

There is almost nothing that does not require attention. The pool equipment needs to be replaced. Currently all four pools have only one drain each while current code requires two drains in each pool. The overflow gutter systems are cracked and need to be replaced and the intermediate pool wall needs to be leveled. The main pool and diving pool share a pool pump and each needs a dedicated pump. The same applies to the intermediate pool and wading pool. The filter tanks for all four pools are 30 years old and need new filters. The report found that the underground cast iron pool piping is corroding and is not code compliant.

And the problems don’t end with the pool itself. The locker room, doors and roof are in serious need of renovation or replacement. The facilities are not code compliant and do not meet accessibility standards. The facilities are also not adequate for the current pool users and 13 additional toilets are required in the women’s locker room.

Problems continue into the concession building where walls are cracked, new doors are needed, the roof needs work, the floor requires replacement along with the ceiling, lights and countertops.

The list goes on -- Read more details here.

What to do?

As part of the process, Lothrop is working with Ballard and King to assess the market, demographics and potential users for a new pool complex. What is the extent of interest within the community for the pool and what features would users like to see?

Can the pool continue to be self- sustaining? According to the report, “The median income in the secondary service area is higher than both the state and national figures, with the income level in the Village being close to triple those figures. The income level in the Village creates a unique opportunity for a seasonal pool to capture 100% of its operating expenses. However, the Village pool complex needs to differentiate itself within the market so that they can continue its enterprise fund operating philosophy and supporting rate structure.”

And who will use the pool? Of the Village’s total population of 18,344 the largest age groups are children ages 5-17 and adults ages Charles Cook Memorial Pool in Cortlandt Manor45-64. So a pool update should offer features to attract people in these age groups.

Why do people come to the pool complex? The research finds that the vast majority of people come to the pool for the social aspect:

4% look for organized activities
20% want organized and recreational
76% recreational only

If the Village does decide to enhance the pool complex, the consultants identified some features and activities that might be included:

-For leisure and recreation, the complex could include “leisure pools with zero-depth entry, warm water, play apparatus, slides, seating areas and deck space.”

-Instructional programming in “Reasonably warm water, shallow depth with deeper water (4 ft. or more), and open expanses of water.”

-Fitness programming, aqua exercise classes, lap swimming.

-Therapy in warm, shallow water for therapy and rehabilitation

-Social/relaxation in natural landscapes

-Special events/rentals for birthdays, corporate events, community organization functions and rentals to outside groups to generate additional revenues.

What do residents want to see at the pool? Slides, a lazy river and water features? Upgraded dining options, classes or upgraded seating?

In order to assess community opinion, a survey will be issued both in print and online. A random group of 2,000 households will receive a survey in the mail to be completed in writing or online. The online survey will open on May 30, 2022. Survey findings are expected to be reported in July 2022. The Village will use their outreach to support survey response.

Also planned are community engagement sessions on a Friday and Saturday in early June.

During public comments, two residents spoke in support of repairing and maintaining the Scarsdale Pool.

Michelle Lichtenberg of Greenacres Avenue said, "The pool is such an important asset. I remember when we first moved here on July 3 and we were at the pool July 5. I heard rumors that people thought the pool was not interesting any more – it is! There is nothing more lovely than the Scarsdale pool. Is it aging? Yes! Does it need improvement? Yes! Is it an asset, Yes!"

Susan Ross of Ardmore Road said, "The pool and the schools were a factor when we decided to move to Scarsdale over many other lovely towns in Westchester. And now that my kids are grown, I still enjoy the lap pool and seeing friends there. There is nothing like our lap pool. It would be irresponsible to let this valuable asset slip away."

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Written by Joanne Wallenstein

Published: 30 March 2022

Created: 30 March 2022

Last Updated: 30 March 2022

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What words come to mind when you think of Scarsdale? Excellence, stability, classic, volunteerism, small town, charming, historic and traditional were just some of the descriptors that emerged from recent focus groups of residents conducted by the Village’s Advisory Council of Communications (ACC).

They did this research as a part of a rebranding process, to update and unify the Village’s graphic look on communications, the Village website, signage, buildings, vehicles and other entities. On March 29, 2022, Dara Gruenberg, Chair of the Advisory Council of Communications presented a progress report at a work session of the Village Board.

The Village’s current seal, which includes a native American and a pilgrim, looked dated and was not consistently used as an identifier. Furthermore, Gruenberg explained, "The ACC discovered that what had evolved over time was that the Village was using it’s seal as the logo but they actually don't have an official logo.  Why this is an important point is because a seal and a logo are very different things….a seal is used in a legal capacity whereas a logo is a visual representation of brand. Therefore, it became even clearer that the Village needed to develop a visual identity for Scarsdale that is intentional and also represents who we are today.”

In order to formulate a new look, the Advisory Council on Communications harnessed the talents of their twelve members and other residents and undertook a professional branding process which included research and focus groups to inform the design process.

The results of this year-long endeavor, were unveiled at a meeting in Village Hall on March 29, 2022, and on the Village website on March 30, 2022.

Gruenberg explained the process. The committee called on Village Historian Jordan Copeland to analyze Village history and the evolution of its identity. They looked at other municipalities to review their branding and held focus group with different constituencies.

Based on this feedback, designers Kerry Hayes and Diane Greenwald developed three concepts which the committee considered and then selected the logo above. It features the village color palate – blue, gray and maroon, an illustration of the cupola atop the Harwood Building and the year of Scarsdale’s founding. According to Gruenberg, “The design combines classic and modern typefaces to look retro, idyllic and nostalgic and connect to good elements from the past.” The logo has been incorporated into a seal and two logo designs so that it can be adapted for a variety of uses.

However, implementing this design will take time and the ACC is currently working on creating an inventory of all branded items that will need to be updated.  There are budget constraints and they want to do this methodically.

Village Branding lacked a consistent look.

Gruenberg reported that this is not the only work of the Council.

They have redesigned the Village website to make it more visually appealing and user friendly to navigate. In 2021 they developed evergreen video content for the Village website featuring interviews with department heads. These will help residents get to know who runs the Village and make them more approachable.

Other initiatives include developing communications plans for targeted issues, improving the registration process on the recreation department platform, developing a social media policy and supporting initiatives to bring business to the Village Center.

Most impressive, all of this work is being done by volunteers, at no cost to taxpayers.

Kudos to the team for a fresh new identity for Scarsdale.