Organizations That Make a Difference
Under a New President, Friends of Rye Town Park Continues its Mission and Envisions Many More

– By Bill Lawyer –

When the Friends of Rye Town Park (FRTP) was being formed back in 1990, David Rasmussen did not hesitate to join the group. Recruited by FRTP founder Chet Williams, his answer was an easy “yes.” He had grown up in a house on Forest Avenue overlooking the park. He spent his childhood days playing in the park, watching the sunrises from his bedroom, watching the fireworks at Playland, walking across the park to swim in the Sound, and hearing the bell buoys and foghorns at night. 
While Rasmussen went on to be an attorney with an office in New Rochelle and a home in Greenwich, the park is still an important part of his life. And, he has taken on the FRTP’s leadership role. 
Along with preserving his fond childhood memories, he feels that the park is a “great regional asset” – enough to make him come over from Greenwich to use the park on a regular basis.  He also feels that it’s time to move things forward again, now that it’s been three years since the duck pond renovation project has been completed. Rasmussen is looking forward to meeting with new Town of Rye supervisor Joe Carvin and his administration, so that they can work together for the good of the park. 
Over the years the FRTP under the longtime leadership of Chris Cohan, Rasmussen’s predecessor, raised over $1,000,000 in grants and individual contributions toward improving the park. Rasmussen feels that the “key to the group’s success” was formulating a long-range plan for improvements, based on restoring some of the original design elements and adding some new ones.  He sees the installation of the new beach fencing, the addition of new benches, the restoration of the park lights, and the extensive plantings as the highlights so far. 
Plan elements yet to be completed include renovation of the pathways and replacement of the old gates and the fencing by the north beach entrance showers. Rasmussen estimates that the fencing and gates will cost about $50,000. He envisions gates that incorporate maritime designs, in keeping with the waterfront setting. They’ve approached NY State Senator Suzi Oppenheimer for a member item grant in support of this project. He’s not certain how much the pathway restoration will cost, but it will include re-grading, new crushed stone and some sort of curbing to keep the stone in place. 
FRTP has consistently provided funds toward trees, shrubs and other plantings in and around the park, over $24,000 last year. The organization has also served as a “go-between” in getting funds from private donors for special plantings projects, such as the flowers planted along Dearborn and Forest Avenues, and the flagpole garden.  Rasmussen is looking forward to the installation of a sundial near the flagpole garden, in memory of the late board member Susan DiPace, who helped coordinate the concerts for many years.
Other possible FRTP objectives are still being debated among the group’s board of directors.  These include raising funds to help with the renovation of the Park’s buildings, and deciding how far to go in pressing for more enforcement of the park’s leash law for dogs. On the latter, Rasmussen said that a letter has been sent to the RTP Commission urging them to enforce the law, and volunteering to help pay for additional signage. 
They are very concerned that the dog problem “has gotten out of hand.” FRTP feels that dog owners are not cleaning up after their dogs, and they have noticed damage being done by dogs to plantings, particularly in the pond area. They’ve asked Rye City Mayor Steve Otis to help communicate their concern to dog owners. 
The group has mixed views about what to do regarding overflow parking, as well. So far they have only urged better management of the parking, and Rasmussen says FRTP has paid for wood chipping the area around the trees to protect the root system from damage by vehicles.
Rasmussen is concerned that some park personnel are allowing cars to be parked “free-for-all” in unauthorized areas. Another issue regards some of the gardens and grounds maintenance practices carried out by the Town Parks staff.  FRTP would like to see the lawns aerated to counteract the compaction caused by vehicles. They want better handling of the daffodils after flowering, and better protection against vandalism. But, overall, Rasmussen feels that FRTP has had good relations with the Town of Rye and they appreciate the progress that has been made.
To help promote use of the park by residents, FRTP is developing a Web site and an information phone line. They already send a variety of mailings to postal patrons to let people know what’s going on.
The board is all in favor of promoting passive use of the park, including expanding the number of summer concerts or other type of entertainment activities such as outdoor movies.
Rasmussen says the group is looking for volunteers to help with the summer concerts.
In 2007, 523 people paid for new or renewed FRTP memberships. The Friends hopes to recruit more from Port Chester and Rye Brook.
Each year, new children get introduced to the joys offered by Rye Town Park, and in future years no doubt some will follow David Rasmussen’s footsteps in volunteering to keep it growing strong.