 Sensory Park Grand Opening Highlights Town Park Revitalization
Investments in Town Park spaces have taken center stage in Fishkill in the past year, as the Town has undertaken significant investments to enhance facilities and programs for seniors, children and families.
On Monday, that investment was celebrated as the Town Board and Town Clerk joined students and staff from Fishkill Elementary School for the Grand Opening of the Town of Fishkill Sensory Playground located at Doug Phillips Park.
 The playground is an inclusive play space for children with all abilities and features a number of fixtures which enhance the play experience for children who have differing play needs. The playground was the brain child of former Town Councilmember Kenya Gadsden and Councilmember Louise Daniele, who proposed the idea in 2021 as a way to revitalize Doug Phillips Park tennis courts which were in need of work.
Councilman Carmine Istvan joined the Town Board in 2022 and has teamed up with Councilmember Daniele, Town Parks staff and a park-and-playground contractor to design and construct the play space as part of larger improvements at Doug Phillips Park.
The existing tennis courts were milled and leveled, and the Sensory Playground space was designated along with space for pickleball courts. The milling material was repurposed to extend the driveway and install and kayak launch into the Fishkill Creek for paddlers seeking to enjoy the waterway.
Installation was completed earlier this year and the playground was finished up over the summer, complete with traditional playground fixtures including a swing, slides and a balance beam, and some more specialized equipment including a xylophone and tactile play fixtures for climbing, exploring and touch.
Councilmember Daniele said the process was collaborative, and offered her thanks to everyone involved.
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"Our design began with Mike Stankina from Gametime, who we purchased the equipment from," Councilmember Daniele said. "Carmine helped me and made sure everything came together to get us to completion, and from the beginning I had the help from the head of our Buildings and Grounds Department, Brandon Knapp and Brian Canero and all the guys through the past two years - without them it couldn't have been done."
Councilman Brian Wrye said the park space comprises more than just a play area.
"This more than just a park, it's a public service unlike any other park," Councilman Wrye said. "This space and what it represents makes such a difference in our community, and I applaud Carmine, Louise and the Buildings and Grounds team for their amazing work making this a reality - it is a piece of art!"
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A Change In Priority
Town Supervisor Ozzy Albra said the recent park improvements are a sign of a drastic shift in how the Town uses its public resources.
"Instead of committing our resources to subsidizing developers and helping them make a bigger profit on high-density developments, we're committing those funds to enhancing the quality of life of the citizens of Fishkill with upgrades to our parks, recreation and historic preservation," Supervisor Albra said. "This park is a perfect example of what the Town of Fishkill can deliver when the people in charge are working for you and not the developers, and I applaud Councilmembers Daniele and Istvan and former Councilmember Gadsden for their efforts to bring this to fruition for the benefit of Fishkill families."
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Doug Phillips Park is far from the only park in the Town to receive major improvements coinciding with this shift in priorities.
Elsewhere in Town, the Jean Van Pelt Park has recently undergone major revitalization with a brand new parking area and kayak ramp, and the installation of the ne Washington Avenue Bridge gave the Town an opportunity to shore up the riverbank, where a new deck for nature and fishing is planned for 2024.
Shepheard Park has also gotten some upgrades with the installation of new fences for Little League, and so has Doug Phillips Park. Councilman Istvan and Supervisor Albra said they are both prioritizing further park space investment for 2024, including the completion the pickleball courts at Doug Phillips Park, new tennis and pickleball courts at Maurer-Geering Park, and a full repaving of the Geering entry and parking area. The Town also dedicated a new, "pocket park" near the Hudson River on the Route 9D corridor, which the Town will make plans for in the future.
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