Residents of Tarrytown and Sleepy Hollow, deprived of their community park for more than a year due to construction, are expressing anger at the delays.

The RiverWalk, Scenic Hudson and Westchester County project that has closed sections of Pierson Park since August 2008 was supposed to be finished by now. First, it was sinkholes at the north end of the park that delayed the development. This time, it’s a manufacturer’s mistake that will require ripping up 18,000 paving stones. While many who have defied the fences that are supposed to keep them out look forward to the improvements and enjoy the new design for RiverWalk, they express frustration at the fence and construction zone that have separated them from a once vibrant community park.

Dr. Claudia Mausner, a longtime Tarrytown resident, holds a Ph.D. in the field of Environment- Behavior Studies, researching how outdoor public places are experienced in a multi-sensory way, rather than solely how they look. While she said changes to RiverWalk may appear to improve it, the reality may at times be different. And she fears that without adequate input from park users, the interior of the park may suffer the same fate.

For example, she pointed to the decision to replace the flat concrete slabs of “rip rap” with more attractive but smaller stones and boulders placed at a greater angle,

“It takes the visitor further away from a direct physical relationship with the water,” Mausner said.

She also noted how the overlook, a rounded stone structure in the northern part of the park, represents an older paradigm that park visitors passively observe static views.

“You experience the unfolding river views dynamically as you walk along the path,” she said, “but unfortunately the overlook to the north obscures the view of the river and the lighthouse.”

In addition, Mausner said new benches adjacent to the pathway replaced old ones set further back that gave the illusion of privacy and contributed to Pierson Park’s reputation as one of the most romantic parks in Westchester County. The lack of shade over many of the new benches also means they will get too hot for people to enjoy for long periods.

A recent visit to the park showed that some residents are continuing to use this space even though it officially remains a “construction site.”

“The fence is offensive,” said Peter Ginandes, who sat on a bench reading a book. “I come here for peace and that fence makes it feel like Guantanamo. I feel locked out from the Hudson River.”

Other users interviewed said they were grateful, even with the fencing and construction issues, having increased public access to the waterfront for the first time in 100 years was worth the delays.

Two local residents had their own views about the unfolding plans for Pierson Park's final configuration and its present status. The two were questioned by Alec Roberts in the Park area - Click on picture for video: