Community2gether launches three new projects

WARWICK — On Sept. 25, a core of about 40 Warwick residents gathered in Greenwood Lake for the second Community Action Fair of the year.
It is at these Fairs that the ideas and dreams that more than 3,000 Warwickians expressed during the year-long Visioning process get turned into projects, each with its own Community Action Team of avid supporters.
These new projects all got off to strong starts:
• A "Hiking and Biking Trails" initiative to connect all parts of the town.
• A focus on improving "Handicap Accessibility" throughout the town.
An exploration of ways to enhance and improve "Youth and Family Activities.”
During the CA Fair hosted by the Greenwood Lake Elks Lodge, the three newly formed CA Teams met with only 15 minutes to talk about “starter ideas,” lots of good ideas, or the seeds of ideas were produced.
Some of those included:
The Hiking/Biking team came up with a host of possibilities to pursue including:
• Connections along the Route 94 corridor to the supermarkets;
• The possibility of electric carts;
• Bike rental stations similar to New York City and White Plains;
• Trails around the lakes; and
• A network of mountain biking trails that would attract residents and visitors alike.
The team focused on Handicap Accessibility also had a wealth of great ideas. Some of the more noteworthy ones were:
• A mobile ramp that could be used for special events or ordered when needed;
• Rollable mats for wheelchair access over grass (parks) and sand (beaches);
• Accessible picnic tables in the parks;
• A phone app listing handicap-accessible parking, entrances, rest rooms, etc., and;
• A listing of the “Top 10 Challenges” for handicapped people in Warwick.
Those looking into Activities for Youth and Families followed two related but separate paths:
• One group saw opportunities that could be realized in the short term in the realm of cultural activities, specifically art and music events geared to specific ages and demographics.
• Others in the group were intrigued by the possibility of somehow getting a swimming pool here in Warwick, especially one that was part of a larger, multi-dimensional facility.
The road aheadThese CA Teams, formed on Sept. 25, will each have their first real meeting in mid-October. Anyone interested in joining any of these teams and helping turn these project ideas into realities in Warwick, should go www.community2gether.org for more information.
These new projects will now join the already running Community2gether projects that were launched in May, the Clearing of the Wawayanda Creek and the 3 Lakes Festival. Both are currently proceeding strongly with active, committed teams of their own.
In the spring or fall of 2019, Community2gether will launch two or three additional projects that emerged from the town-wide Visioning process.
The plan is for a third Community Action Fair in Florida, part of the overall Vision strategy to hold these meetings throughout the town so that everyone gets involved.