Officials Meet to Celebrate Peekskill’s Progress on Several Fronts

City, County and State officials held a press conference this week at Pugsley Park in Peekskill to discuss the city’s recent certification as a New York State Pro-Housing Community, its $10 million award from the Mid-Hudson Momentum Fund, and to celebrate the opening of Pugsley Park with a ribbon cutting.

Over 50 people were in attendance on Tuesday, which included City Manager Matt Alexander, Deputy Mayor Patricia Riley and Council members, New York State Assemblywoman Dana Levenberg, Westchester Deputy County Executive Ken Jenkins, Westchester County Legislator Colin Smith, and members of the Peekskill Arts Alliance.

“The grand opening of the newly renovated Pugsley Park, the designation of Peekskill as a Pro-Housing Community, and winning a $10 million Momentum Fund award are examples of a community working together with all wheels turning at the same time,” said City Manager Matt Alexander. “We are grateful for our partnerships with the county and state and thank them for their participation and support.”

“As a lifelong resident, I am proud that the City of Peekskill has been awarded $10 million from the New York State Mid-Hudson Momentum Fund and has been designated as a Pro-Housing Community,” said Deputy Mayor Patricia Riley. “Peekskill is a true gem in the Hudson Valley, with the completion of the Pugsley Park project adding to the beauty of our city.”

“It is a privilege to be here in Peekskill today,” said Westchester County Deputy County Executive Ken Jenkins. “Peekskill is a shining star on the Hudson, and the County is proud to partner with the city and its leadership in moving its projects forward.”

The City of Peekskill was awarded $10 million through the New York State Mid-Hudson Momentum Fund on Wednesday, May 29^th as part of Governor Kathy Hochul’s initiative to increase the housing supply in New York’s Mid-Hudson region, address the housing crisis, and reduce housing costs. The $10 million award will be used to provide essential infrastructure improvements in the City of Peekskill and ensure existing residents are not unduly burdened by future development. Specifically, this funding will be used for streetscape, water, sewer, and parking improvements to support in-fill development and adaptive reuse in the downtown and redevelopment on the waterfront. Certified as a Pro-Housing Community in 2023, the City of Peekskill is actively working to unlock its housing potential, and through its certification, is now eligible to receive up to $650 million in state discretionary funding.

Pugsley Park, a pocket park located in the heart of Downtown Peekskill, has been enhanced as part of the New York State’s Downtown Revitalization Initiative $10 million award. Previously, Pugsley Park lacked sufficient seating, efficient lighting, and merely served as a pass-through space rather than a destination for events and passive enjoyment. The completion of this project has brought new plazas and seating areas to support downtown events and passive enjoyment, additional pedestrian scaled lighting, planting of trees, shrubs, and flowers, infrastructure for power hook-ups and watering, concrete work, a stage, and public art installations featuring works from members of the Peekskill Arts Alliance.