88 trees to be cut down 1.29 acres of woods• Planning Board could decide October 21
Dear Edgemont Community,
A current plan before the Town will cut down 88 trees on the wooded ridge between the Edgemont High School track and Central Avenue. These woods are 1.29 acres, nearly the size of the football field next to them (the red area above).
With enough support, we can help turn these woods into parkland and preserve the woodland edge that has been protecting our school and community for decades. The owner can be paid a fair price; New York State has grant programs for exactly this.
The Planning Board could decide as soon as October 21, so please don’t wait.
These trees hide our high school track and fields from the thousands of cars on Central Avenue every day. The school dealt with several security threats last year. When a fire closed the high school on October 1, students waited on that field for about two hours. Cutting the woods would put them in full view of the road.
The plans allow blasting the rock on this hill, and the project’s engineer told the Planning Board he leans toward blasting “because it happens quicker.”
Next door to this lot are two of Edgemont’s historic sites (see photos and comments below):
The former Gilbert Underhill Inn & Tavern still stands on Old Army Road, and dates to 1800 according to “The History of Greenville … [a]s a stagecoach and drover’s stop and as the first meeting place for the Greenville Reformed Church.”
Since Old Army Road was one of the main north-south routes to NYC this location was probably a regular stop for mail and passengers. It was a route that was used by George Washington’s Army during the Revolutionary War as they advanced to fight the Battle of White Plains.
Source: the Historic & Landmarks Preservation Board
Drivers who are traveling along Old Army Road from the high school towards Central Avenue will find it difficult to see a car pulling out of this sloping driveway.
This is a main thoroughfare with thousands of cars per day. Residents have witnessed both emergency vehicles and cars headed towards the pipeline moving at speeds over 50 miles per hour at this location.
Rendering — not an actual photo
The track is one of Edgemont’s most peaceful places, used every day by walkers, runners, families and athletes. These trees quiet the traffic, hold the steep hillside in place, and are part of what makes it special.
We respect the owner’s rights, and he deserves to be paid fairly. The good news is the land is not expensive:
New York State offers grants that can pay for land like this when the owner is willing to sell, and land trusts can help buy it quickly. It takes the Town, the school district and the community working together, and it starts with showing that people care.
It’s a win for everyone: the owner is paid fairly, the Town gains natural parkland, and our kids keep their woods.
Here’s an email you can use. Add your name and address at the bottom, then copy it or open it in your email app.
Sincerely,
Sandra Nam Cioffi, PLA
Edgemont graduate and parent of two Edgemont students
Licensed Landscape Architect in New York State
Protect the Woods at the Edgemont Track. Please sign before the Greenburgh Town Board meeting on Tuesday, October 13.
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Thank you for signing this petition. Please share the link with your neighbors and friends.
Share this pageYes, it is possible to purchase the land using grant funds if the owner is willing. Fortunately, the land is not too expensive. Greenburgh’s official property assessment values the land at only $106,900. Surprisingly, the property owner’s attorney has filed paperwork in the NY State Supreme Court in White Plains each year from 2017–2026 stating that the value of the land is far less – only $10,000 (see “Claimed Valuation” for lot 24 on page 8 of this recent court document).
Several public programs could help turn these woods into protected land, but each depends on the owner being willing to sell at a fair price to the town, school, or a land trust.