AMENIA – Dutchess County has awarded the Town of Amenia a $150,000 Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) to construct a new sidewalk extending from the existing sidewalk network in downtown Amenia along Route 44 to Beekman Park, one of the Town’s major recreation facilities.
Providing for a safe pedestrian-friendly downtown is one of the major goals of the Town’s Comprehensive Plan and the Amenia Hamlet Plan and the new sidewalk is expected to contribute to the Town’s overall downtown revitalization efforts.
The proposed sidewalk will complement the Town’s past grant initiatives aimed at improving the walkability and visual attractiveness of the downtown area. In 2010 the Town completed a $200,000 downtown revitalization project which resulted in a new sidewalk with extensive landscaping from the downtown business district along Mechanic Street to the Harlem Valley Rail Trail. Just last year the Town completed another downtown revitalization initiative with a $195,000 New York State Main Street grant which resulted in significant improvements to three buildings in addition to several new street trees, benches, and planters.
“We are very grateful to Dutchess County for awarding Amenia this $150,000 Community Development Block Grant,” said Supervisor Victoria Perotti. “The new sidewalk from our historic downtown hamlet to Beekman Park will help make Amenia a more walkable community while providing a safe avenue for residents and visitors alike.”
