Philipstown, NY - November 17, 2008 - Today, the Open Space Institute announced a gift of 22 acres of land to the Town of Philipstown, to be incorporated into its Department of Recreation. The property contains a 33,000 square-foot building and five acres of ball fields.
“OSI is thrilled to partner, yet again, with the Town of Philipstown on the new Recreation Center. We have worked hard for a long time in this community to protect its bucolic character, and we cannot think of any better stewards than the Town Recreation Department, or any better users than the people of this community, for this facility and property,” said Joe Martens, president of OSI.
The tan brick building, recently dedicated as the Claudio Marzollo Community Center of Philipstown, and the surrounding land have been in use by the Recreation Department for the last five years. Leased from the Open Space Institute, the Town has run a wide variety of programs on the property including preschool and afterschool care, basketball and soccer leagues, a community summer camp, pottery, music, computer, and adult education, to name a few.
“Because of this donation, we can continue to provide excellent resources to the community, and on behalf of the tens of thousands of users of the Community Center, I would like to thank OSI,” said Town Supervisor Bill Mazzuca.
“OSI has shown great cooperation in working with the Town both on the new Recreation Center and with the Philipstown Town Park. We’re all very appreciative,” said Claudio Marzollo, a member of the Town Recreation Committee.
Originally acquired in 2001 by the Open Space Conservancy, the land acquisition affiliate of the Open Space Institute, this 22-acre parcel was part of the larger Glenclyffe acquisition. The 93-acre Glenclyffe property, acquired from the Capuchin Monastery, also includes almost 12 acres housing the Garrison Institute. Remaining acreage includes the Hamilton Fish Mansion, open space, a trail network marking the flight path of Benedict Arnold, and another trail network blazed in memory of Philipstown resident Marcia Favrot. The property is located immediately south of Arden Point State Park on Rt. 9D in Garrison, Philipstown Town, in Putnam County.
The Open Space Institute has been protecting land in Philipstown since the early 1980s and to date has protected more than 20,000 acres there. In addition to the Glenclyffe property, protected lands include: more than 8,000 acres added to Fahnestock and Hudson Highlands State Parks; the 21-acre Dockside Park, recently donated to New York State as a new state park; the 25-acre Philipstown Town Park, donated to the Town in 1994; North Redoubt; Mystery Point Preserve, and others.