Originally posted on May 23, 2023
The Village of Pelham Manor is proud of our historical roots in Westchester County, New York. One of the components within our community that we feel holds significant historical value is the Hutchinson River Parkway (HRP). We pursued a determination of eligibility with the New York State Office of Parks, Recreation, and Historic Preservation Division of Historic Preservation (State Historic Preservation Office (SHPO)). Our application was originally submitted June 9, 2022 and the final revised submission was on January 2, 2023.
Over the past several months, SHPO evaluated the criteria submitted within our application and determined that the HRP appears to meet the criteria for listing on the State and National Registers of Historic Places under Criteria A and C in the areas of transportation, recreation, landscape architecture, and engineering as a representative, intact example of an early twentieth century, limited-access, automobile parkway (determination attached). SHPO is in the process of updating their Cultural Resource Information System to reflect this determination.
The New York State Department of Transportation, as the owner with jurisdiction over the parkway, has also been involved in this process and has issued a concurrence letter (attached). SHPO and NYSDOT will be working together to develop a comprehensive inventory of contributing features to this historical designation.
Full news release from Village of Pelham Manor regarding Hutchinson River Parkway Determination of Eligibility for Historic Status (PDF)
As a result of this determination of eligibility NYSDOT will need to manage the roadway with additional care to consider the historical resource. It will not impact NYSDOT’s ability to make safety or efficiency decisions, but it will mandate that the heritage of the parkway is taken into consideration.
Yours In Service,
Jennifer Monachino Lapey, Mayor
Bridget (Breda) A. Bennett, Deputy Mayor
Maurice I. Owen-Michaane, Trustee
Timothy M. Case, Trustee
Daniel W. "D.J." McLaughlin, Trustee