New York State Senator Pete Harckham was, on October 21st, joined by Putnam County Executive MaryEllen Odell, Putnam County Director of Veterans Services Karl Rhode and local officials to announce that $165,000 in state grant funding has been awarded to renovate the public bathrooms at Veterans Memorial Park in Carmel and make them accessibility in line with the American Disabilities Act (ADA).
“Veterans Memorial Park is a sacred space of Putnam County, featuring a number of great amenities and activities,” said Harckham. “Unfortunately, some members of the public have been unable to fully access the facilities at this great community space. Greenspace should not be limited for those who are differently-abled, which is why I’m proud to announce funding that I helped to secure to build ADA accessible bathrooms, so that everyone can enjoy what Veterans Memorial Park has to offer.”
Veterans Memorial Park is home to a veteran’s museum, which honors all of the men and women who have served in the United States Armed Forces, and holds in its collection authentic memorabilia from before the American Civil War to present day military operations. The park also hosts numerous events throughout the year, including the 4-H Fair, Irish Feis and Daniel Ninham Pow-Wow, plus horse and dog shows. The playground and picnic areas at the park are popular with county residents.
“The veterans who served our country have always been a first priority for me and for Putnam County,” said Odell. “We owe the protection of our freedom to their selfless sacrifice - sometimes the ultimate sacrifice. Making all public facilities easily accessible to them and to all members of our community is of the utmost importance for us in the government.”
The awarded grant funding was secured within the State and Municipal Facilities Program (SAM), which is among the grant programs administered by the Dormitory Authority of the State of New York (DASNY) to support community and economic development.
“The new bathroom facilities will enhance the use of the park for all who visit Veterans
Memorial Park,” said Karl Rohde, director of the Putnam County Veterans Service Agency. “The ADA upgrades to the bathrooms are something that we have been trying to acquire for a very long time. Handicapped accessible bathrooms will make visits to the park more comfortable to everyone, including disabled veterans.”
The grant funding for the renovations at Veterans Memorial Park in Carmel reflects Harckham’s long-standing efforts at inclusion in terms of constituent services and “making sure that everyone has a seat at the table,” especially those “with differing abilities,” as he has said. This new project, which represents the fifth undertaking directed toward improving accessibility in a public space that Harkcham has secured grant-funding for since taking office in January 2019, is especially meaningful for him, he said, as one of his grandfathers was a World War I veteran and his father was a World War II veteran.
In the past 10 months, Harckham has secured SAM funding for a total of nine community projects and municipal initiatives in Putnam County, including upgraded computers for the Putnam County District Attorney’s Office; license plate readers for the Putnam County Sheriff; nearly half a million dollars for the Carmel Friendship Center; restoration of the Town Hall in Southeast; a playground at Carmel’s Airport Park; and a new police cruiser for Brewster—saving county taxpayers nearly $1.5 million in spending.