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Facility Improvements & Specific Park Master Plans
The following discussion is a Phase I facility improvement priority
list drawn from the park specific improvements discussed further in this Section. This
partial list was compiled using suggestions from the public at three public forums, input
from Westchester County Parks Department and Westchester County Department of Planning and
resulted in the identification of specific improvements at selected parks. Organized
alphabetically by county subregion beginning in the north, it includes parks slated for
several Capital Improvement projects and some with potential for building re-use and new
revenue generating uses. 
Croton Gorge Park is an important segment in a connected web of local,
private and County owned parks and facilities. The park has direct trail access to the old
Croton Aqueduct Trailway as well as using the Briarcliff Peekskill Trailway as a link with
Blue Mountain Reservation to the north and John E. Hand Park and Teatown Reservation to
the south. It represents a critical node in the effort to create links throughout the
Westchester County Parks system. As such, several improvements are recommended to ensure
that the Park continues to provide the diverse activities that appeal to numerous groups
and park users throughout Westchester County. These include: - Acquisition of Ottinger Property: as County parkland to provide security for the Park; to operate as an environmental center/nature center; or in conjunction with New York State Department of Parks as an interpretive center for the Old Croton Aqueduct.
- A biodiversity study has been recommended for Croton Gorge Park to account for existing wildlife, flora and fauna and to help maintain the ecological balances.
- Explore additional and expanded recreational uses for the Croton River. Some of these may include the feasibility of canoe rentals for trips down the river to Croton Point Park and back and additional fishing activity support services.
As part of a comprehensive effort to upgrade facilities within Croton Gorge Park and Stokes Green, the following suggestions have been made for rehabilitation:
- Repaving the entrance road and parking lots to safely accommodate the potential increases in traffic seeking access to the trails and trailways and install park friendly directional signs along the internal pathways.
- Upgrade existing play structures.
- Expand existing picnic areas, and renovate restrooms.
- Rehabilitate Lower Barn and greenhouse at Stokes Green for re-use.
The Main House at the former Stokes Green property is in very good condition and has potential for revenue generating uses including: a conference center, a concessione bed & breakfast, meeting center, weekend retreat, and/or an environmental studies center administered by the Conservation division to provide trained volunteers for the entire WCPRC system. A targeted marketing initiative for Croton Gorge Park would encourage increased use of the Parks diverse facilities. In addition, new uses for the Main House at Stokes Green include an environmental studies center to provide trained volunteers and professionals that may allow continued monitoring of the ecology at the park.