Rendering of a possible 'lid park' between exits 10 and 11

SOUTH NYACK – A “lid park” is a concept that appears sweeping in scope, but, Village of South Nyack officials believe it is feasible and doable.  The concept was outlined during an informational forum and tour of the possible site, Thursday afternoon.

“To provide a beneficial economic and recreational component for the rive villages region”, said village Planning Board Chairman Jerry Ilowite

The idea is to build a ‘lid’ or deck over the eight-lane highway.  An immediate benefit would be to reconnect the village, essentially split for a half-century by the Tappan Zee and state Thruway.

“The topography lends itself very well to that”, said Ilowite.

The obvious question is cost.

“It’s hard to say at this point, because we need to do a feasibility study”, Ilowite said, adding this would need to involve all levels of government – federal, state, county and local. 

Among those speaking at the forum was Jeff Olson, a principal with Alta Planning, a national planning and design company, with an office in Saratoga Springs.

“When people tell you things can’t get done, haven’t been done and never been done before, I’m usually the one who walks in the room and says ‘of course’.”

Olson borrows the ‘food pyramid’ as an example, putting the most important element, people, as pedestrians and bicyclists, at the base.

Hundreds of cyclists come through the Nyacks every weekend, so the interest is already there.  Tentative plans for the new Tappan Zee include bicycle and pedestrian lanes. 

Olson, and Jeff Anzevino, director of land use advocacy for Scenic Hudson, both say creating a unique green area would be a significant enhancement that would boost properety values, bring in money, new business and grow the tax base.