The Rye Town Park Commission hosted a ribbon-cutting ceremony for the park’s newly renovated bathhouse on May 17.
Located a brief walk from the pavilion, the bathhouse features an all-new interior for the men’s, women’s, and family rooms, and ADA-compliant flat, paved walkways to enter.
The project cost more than $1.4 million, which covered the construction, equipment, IT capabilities, and security cameras, according to the commission. Most of that money was raised through grants from multiple sources, including state parks and local and federal government offices.
“Sometimes I felt like an acrobat juggling balls in the air, trying to put it all together,” joked Gary Zuckerman, president of the Rye Town Park Commission. “Today is the culmination.”
At the time of the ribbon cutting, the facilities were not yet operational. Officials said the bathrooms would be open to the public by May 20.
The occasion also marked a celebratory moment for the Friends of Rye Town Park, a group of volunteers that wasn’t directly involved in the bathhouse project, but one that has taken on many beautification projects in the park. Many of the group’s members were present, including Diana Page, Steve Vasko, and Chris Meier, and its projects, including the repair of the tower building, were commended by Zuckerman.
“The Friends of Rye Town Park have raised a considerable amount of money,” he said. “It used to be limited to gardens and flowers, and now they’ve expanded into an entity all their own.”
Before the ceremony, the commission held a meeting along with its annual Community Conversation from 10 to 11 a.m. Some attendees raised concerns about a storm water runoff mitigation project potentially affecting water flow into the park’s pond, and about preserving green space while hosting big events. Several residents also expressed a desire to limit personal motorized vehicles, such as electric bikes and scooters, in the park.
“ They’re dangerous. They’re a hazard. Also, they don’t go through the DMV,” said Pat Brady, a Rye resident. “And more important than that, it’s lithium ion batteries, and it’s a different type of fire hazard, so it’s a safety hazard.”
Earlier in the meeting, Mayor Josh Nathan expressed similar sentiments, and said the city would be working deliberately to propose restrictions within its code.
“ They move very quickly, they can be dangerous for pedestrians, they’re kind of counter to what park life is about,” Nathan said. “We’re very supportive of not having them operating in the park.”
