back | Village of Greenwich Vision Planning Process
Group 1
Goal: Establish strong physical and visual connections between the village and the Battenkill and incorporate the river as an active, vital corridor within the village.
Action Strategy: Prepare a plan to guide the improvement of Rock Street Park so that this site will support a variety of activities for youth and adults and enhance its location as a riverfront open space.
Why is this action strategy important?
- Rock Street Park is already there- has existing potential
- Place of inspiration- upbeat place, variety of opportunities
- It is a do-able project
When: Is this a short-term or long-term strategy?
- It is both- we could begin with Rock Street Park and then expand it in the future
Who are the individuals, organizations and agencies that should be involved in this?
- Battenkill Conservation
- Audobon Society
- DPW
- local Kayaking Club
- Gannon Trust
- M.L. Healy
- Village Trustees
- Tim Taylor
- Business Owners
- National Donors/Organizations (ex. Kaboom)
How can this strategy be accomplished? What tasks or steps would need to be taken?
1. Develop a committee
1a. Identify leadership and expertise
1b. Publicity showing development processes- get public involved*
2. Determine the footprint of usable land
3. Find studies/surveys etc. that exist
4. Consider safety issues
5. Allocate land use- determine what types of activities will happen where
6. Include signage
*another idea that came up during the summary was to hold a workshop at the park where people from the neighborhood and village could give ideas for what types of activities they would like to see occur there
Additional thoughts from the CCDR – If the improvements being considered are extensive, obtain consulting landscape architectural services (either volunteer or paid) to prepare a master plan for the park working closely with the committee and the community.
Group 2
Goal: Strengthen the sense of community, pride and belonging in residents of all ages
Action Strategy: Initiate a feasibility study that examines the reuse of vacant or underutilized buildings as places for community activities in the Village, including identifying sites and buildings, investigating ownership, assessing location, condition and physical characteristics, identifying appropriate activity matches, and determining improvements, costs and timing
Why is this action strategy important?
- People notice vacancy
- Lack of cohesiveness- use underutilized buildings
- Information and data to make decisions and make redevelopment easier and better informed
- Ready for opportunities
- Some pressure on owners
Who are the individuals, organizations and agencies that should be involved in this?
- Planning board experience- knowledge of zoning and land use, group work
- Current real estate agent
- Contractor- building condition, costs
- Marketing expertise (how to market)
- Knowledge of community organizations
- Teenagers- help with database development, document/photograph, measure
- Village representative
- Clergy – because they know organizations needing space
- County Agency
- Schools
What types of other resources would be needed?
- Space (office)
- Equipment- computer for database
- Funding- to publicize information and findings
How can this strategy be accomplished? What tasks or steps would need to be taken?
- Convene a working group- invite specific people (to lend credibility) and ask for volunteers
- Develop a timeline
- Walk streets and inventory underutilized/vacant buildings
- Tax office and records for ownership
- Tax map to mark properties
- Inventory physical conditions
- photo and rate condition/characteristics (septic/sewer, internet)
- Contact building owners
- Prepare description of project to send to owners
- Talk with people who have recently renovated buildings
- Define the final product and who does it go to
When: Is this a short-term or long-term strategy?
-Short term- start to finish within a year
The group also discussed why the following action strategy is important:
Action Strategy: Convene a multi-generational committee to identify needs and develop plans for programs of year round and affordable activities for all ages and to advise the village on the facility needs and possible location for recreation, leisure and other activities.
Why is this action strategy important?
- Need to engage younger people
- Mentoring
Supporting Documents
The support documents are Adobe PDF files.