Potential Upgrades for Pleasantville Rec Center Parking Lot

The new Pleasantville Recreation Center on Marble Avenue is running into a new problem.

"People are queuing on Marble [Avenue] because there is not enough room to turn around in the lot," Village Administrator Patricia Dwyer explained to the Board of Trustees at its Feb. 25 work session.

The 48 Marble Ave. space was formerly occupied by the Pleasantville Volunteer Ambulance Corps and was renovated to accommodate the recreation department staff and its programs. It officially opened in January.

Expanding the lot for more visitors will mean three trees will be taken down, said Department of Public Works Superintendent Jeffrey Econom.

"So we will have to replant," Dwyer added.

Trustee Mindy Berard pointed out, "They are big—they aren't little trees."

And Trustee Brian Skarstad added the village has been asking new tenants along the strip to add more trees as they build and rebuild.

"We are trying to have a tree-lined Marble Avenue," he said.

Dwyer said there are currently four parking spaces reserved for the three employees in the lot, which Berard contended are too many.

Trustee Jonathan Cunningham suggested employee parking be moved to Hopper Street.

"I don't think it really solves the problem there," said Trustee Colleen Griffin Wagner, who suggested turning around, rather than the number of parking spaces, was posing the biggest hazard.

She added, "I would rather keep the trees and have a cut out."

Econom said he could likely cut into the currently grassy bank at the north end of the lot, as well as add up to five more spaces as parallel parking along the Parkway Field fence.

"If you look at the pick-ups that happen at the pool and the Catholic church, having a loop like that works out pretty well," Mayor Peter Scherer added.

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