Mt. Kisco Mulls Buying Boys & Girls Club Land for Park

Mount Kisco and the Boys & Girls Club of Northern Westchester are exploring a deal where the village would buy some of its property for conversion into a park, the group's executive director confirmed.

Brian Skanes told Patch that the discussion is "preliminary" and involves acquiring about six acres. The total size of the property, which is between Routes 117 and 172, is approximately 13 acres, he said.

The site eyed, located along the northern and eastern sections of the property, includes a wide-open recreational field, playground and gathering space for campers.

An access road to the Woodcrest condominium complex, which was built in the mid 2000s, slices through the site and an easement was given for its usage. The section to the north of the easement includes the open field, while the part to the south is more wooded.

Some of the land being considered for acquisition is around a nearby parking lot for Woodcrest, which also exists with support from an easement.

Currently, the Boys & Girls Club uses the property for a number of events, including soccer, kick ball and tetherball, Skanes said. A gathering circle in a more wooded section of the land is used for the group's summer camp. If the village were to take over the property, the intent would be for the club to continue using the land for its activities, with public access being allowed in addition.

The site is also a rare remaining open space in Mount Kisco, according to Skanes, who said the village is "very interested in not developing that land."

The reason behind the talks is a desire to preserve the green space, Skanes explained.

Skanes is open to the plan, and feels that it would be great for the Boys & Girls Club and for the community. 

"Hopefully it will go forward," he said.

One advantage the site has, Skanes told Patch, is that it has a higher elevation than Leonard Park, which floods from heavy rain, and drains more easily.

The proposal became public late last week after a Newsday story about Skanes and the group's attorney, Joe Carlucci, appearing before Westchester County's Industrial Development Agency (IDA) on Thursday. Skanes told Patch that the appearance before the IDA was for it to give the go ahead with the process, which it granted.

The IDA has sway over the club because the entity serves to facilitate bondholders of debt that was issued in the early 2000s to pay for renovation and expansion work on the group's existing facility, Skanes stated. About $7 million in debt was taken out, and there is approximately $3.15 million left to pay off.

Attempts to reach Mount Kisco Mayor Michael Cindrich and Village Manager James Palmer for comment were unsuccessful.