Town beach rededicated

Greenwood Lake - On Friday evening, June 23, the skies cleared just in time on what was an otherwise rainy day for the dedication ceremony of the Thomas P. Morahan Waterfront Park. The new park at Warwick’s Town beach in the Village of Greenwood Lake was renamed after Morahan in recognition of his 40 years of public service and steadfast support of Warwick. Because Albany lawmakers were in late session that same night, the senator had to take a rain check. He will, however, be honored at a short follow-up ceremony this July. “This is such a beautiful spot,” said Warwick Town Supervisor Michael Sweeton, “that it deserves a beautiful park.” The new Thomas P. Morahan Waterfront Park is a textbook example of how government and the people it serves can cooperate in a public project. Although the Town of Warwick Department of Public Works spent several months hauling fill to the site and helping, along with some private contractors, to improve the entire park, almost everything else was accomplished through donors and volunteers. And the materials used were purchased with a grant and PDR (Purchase Development Rights) funds. The ceremony on June 23 opened with the National Anthem sung by Jaime Baumann, the Pledge of Allegiance led by a member of Boy Scout Troop 121 and an invocation by the Rev. Robert Sweeney, pastor of Holy Rosary Church. Then Sweeton thanked the public and praised Greenwood Lake officials, the Waterfront Park Visioning Committee and the many local volunteers who gave freely of their time and talents. Sweeton thanked all the individuals and companies that donated materials and services as well as the contractors who, he said, “went above and beyond their call of service” toward the construction of the park. Warwick Town Councilman Leonard De Buck, who serves as liaison for the physical development and upkeep of parks, also praised everyone who participated in the beach development. Greenwood Lake Trustee Barbara Moore, chair of the Waterfront Park Visioning Committee, talked about the history of the site from the time it served as the North Shore Marina to its early development as a town beach just two short years ago. The ceremony concluded with an unveiling of the new sign that reads, “Thomas P. Morahan Waterfront Park.” Occasionally opening their umbrellas, guests who remained for a “Magic Touch” concert on the park’s new stage and an audiovisual presentation of the project during intermission, were also invited to enjoy free refreshments. Perhaps the largest contribution to the new park was that of the faculty and students of the Architectural Department of the New York City College of Technology. Under the supervision of Professor Agustin “Tim” Maldonado, chairman of the department, and as a class project, the student architects developed plans for the park’s overall improvement and future construction on the site of a multipurpose community building. “We fell in love with this site,” said Maldonado. “We are very grateful to the New York City College of Technology,” said De Buck “The scale models and site plans donated by these students could have cost us well over $100,000.”