Details

Published: 05 June 2013

Created: 05 June 2013

Last Updated: 05 June 2013

Hits: 6532

After residents watched workmen take down countless trees and clear George Field to create a storm water retention pond, many were worried that the once beautiful expanse of green would become a permanent eyesore. They were also concerned with whether or not the new system would be successful in relieving the chronic flooding that swamped basements and yards downstream for years. The project converted George Field into one of the largest wetlands areas in Westchester County, able to hold seven acres of water at a depth of one to three feet.

Happily, as the South Fox Meadow Improvement Project, nears completion, most agree that it is aesthetically pleasing and successful at gathering and moving water out of the area. The $3.1 million project included work at George Field Park (re-habilitated wetland and construction of a bio-detention basin), Cambridge Road (installation of catch basins), Cooper Green (construction of rain gardens and a bio-detention basin) and the open watercourse along Post Road (cleaning and stream restoration).

With the project in its final stages, nearby residents have noticed positive results. One Cambridge resident spoke on the projects effects on his area, "the new system has relieved flooding on Cambridge Road and had an even bigger impact on Greendale, Oxford and Windmill, which suffered previously." He also commented on how the new projects in his neighborhood look and have been received by the community, "Cooper Green looks fantastic – better than before... if you drive around you will notice new construction—a sure sign that people feel great about the situation and remediation efforts. The problem is solved." Another resident commented, "it's been raining all day and Oxford hasn't flooded, which is an improvement."

An Eton Road resident shared ideas that could improve the George Field project, "It would be better to look at if there were more shrubs, grasses and small trees planted, as on Cooper Green. At least they did not put in a cell tower...it will hopefully look better in a few years."

We also asked Assistant Village Manager John Goodwin for an update on the project and here is what he shared:

When is planting on George Field planned to take place?

The work at George Field Park is complete. The Village will consider additional landscaping for the project based on the successful achievement of the overall project priorities which are flood mitigation and water quality improvements once construction is complete at Cooper Green and George Field Park and bids have been received for the Harcourt Woods segment of the project. The Harcourt Woods segment of the South Fox Meadow Project is scheduled to be released for bids on May 1, 2013 with an anticipated bid opening on June 3, 2013. After the bid opening, the Village will be able to determine if any funding balances will be available for additional landscaping. Any additional planting would be reviewed comprehensively at both sites.

What has been the biggest rainfall in Scarsdale since the installation, and what effect did the new stormwater management system have?

I do not know the largest rainfall that Scarsdale has experienced since the detention basins were effectively completed and fully functional. With that said, I do not believe that any rain events have been greater than 2" in a 24 hour period. (The basins are designed to mitigate flooding in rain events that are 3.5" in a 24-hour period). Last Thursday/Friday (May 23 and May 24) the rain event was 1.64". For those rain events that have occurred, the basins have operated effectively.

Were there any issues or problems that came up during the planning or execution of the project that were not anticipated?

With all construction projects, unexpected field conditions and changes occur. During the planning stages of the project there were several issues that arose as detailed in the attached resolution. During the construction of the project changes had to be made to accommodate an unmapped residential sanitary sewer lateral pipe at Cooper Green; higher than anticipated ground water at George Field Park; and a redesign/alternation of the tree removal plan at George Field Park. None of the changes had a significant impact to the projects goals.

How much debris was removed from the George Field and Cooper Green areas during the process of the project?

The project entailed the removal of approximately 25,000 CY of soil and 1,000 CY of organic yard and wood waste. The final as-built surveys to determine the exact amounts have yet to be submitted but we anticipate them to be close to what was estimated.

What has been the response of residents living near the project sites?

The Village has received many positive comments about the project from residents neighboring George Field Park and Cooper Green. Some residents have requested additional landscaping at both sites. See above.

When is the entire project expected to be fully functional?

The final administrative work to close -out both contracts is underway and there will be some additional signage, both directional and educational, placed at George Field Park. With the exception of the Harcourt Woods segment of the project, all segments are fully functional.

Given the scale of the project, have you received any inquiries concerning the project from neighboring communities hoping to implement a similar system?

The Westchester County Soil and Water Conservation Board has asked the Village staff to take them on a project site visit, which is scheduled for next month. The Village has not received any other inquiries from local governments, however it is expected that as time goes on and the benefits of the project can be observed, that neighboring communities may inquire.

The final segment of the project at Harcourt Woods was redesigned and is currently out to bid. It is anticipated that construction of the Harcourt Woods segment will start early this summer. A Municipal Services Committee meeting is scheduled for June 5th at 6:30 PM where a presentation will be given detailing the scope of work at Harcourt Woods.

This article was contributed by Brian Shabto, a senior at Scarsdale High School.

Details

Published: 13 June 2013

Created: 13 June 2013

Last Updated: 17 July 2013

Hits: 3696

Now that the storm water improvement projects at George Field and Cooper Green nears completion, the Scarsdale Board of Trustees is moving their focus downstream to Harcourt Woods below Scarsdale High School. On Wednesday June 5th, the Board of Trustees met once again with Robert DeGiorgio of Dvirka and Bartilucci Engineers to discuss a revised plan to improve storm water management in the South Fox Meadow Area, namely Harcourt Woods.

Harcourt Woods, the wooded area adjacent to the high school and north of Scout Field, is the seventh and final segment of a comprehensive storm water management plan for the South Fox Meadow area of Scarsdale. The other six segments include George Field Park, Cambridge Road, Cooper Green, Post Road, Murray Hill and the gravel parking lot at the High School. Each of these segments has been deemed a strategic area and has undergone alterations to facilitate excess storm water. George Field Park and Cooper Green have been transformed into dry detention basins that store water in order to protect against flooding and erosion. The open watercourse along Post Road is being de-silted and re-channelized to help eliminate the bottleneck and reduce overall peak flows. As is evident, each of the seven segments requires individual maintenance and plans to improve water flow in Harcourt Woods are now in the works.

The goals of this project are:

-Sediment and erosion control
-Storm water conveyance
-Erosion protection for Scout Field and the high school tennis courts
-Improvement of water quality
-Management of invasive plants.

To fulfill these goals, D &B has devised a comprehensive plan to de-silt the watercourse, install a sediment trap, create a Gabion Wall, install a maintenance access trail, divert the storm water away from Brewster Road remove some trees and plant others.
A key aspect of this project is the creation of a sediment trap. A sediment trap is a device installed to capture eroded soil that is washed off during a rainstorm. This trap will remove sediment and debris from Brewster Road before it reaches South Fox Meadow and thus protect the water quality of nearby streams and ponds. The sediment trap is not the sole modification to Brewster Road which will also have up to 1,100 feet of new catch basins and rain piping and 900 feet of curbing and walkway additions. The curbing on Brewster Road will improve the flow of water at the high school by capturing water and stopping it from entering the HS parking lot. "It is not going to be a 100% solution for the parking lot, but will be an enormous improvement," said DeGiorgio. These changes will lead to more efficient water capture, improved water quality, and most importantly, reduce flows to the South Fox Meadow Brook.

DeGiorgio explained that the Fox Meadow Brook now meanders through Harcourt Woods in a hooked path that may have been diverted at an earlier time. The current stream bank encroaches on Scout Field and borders the high school tennis courts. The stream bank is eroding and there are many dead and dying trees in Harcourt Woods, which at some points obstruct the watercourse.
"Erosion control is also critical to keeping sediment out of the system," says Rob DeGiorgio. It is especially important to mitigate erosion along the Fox Meadow Brook because it deteriorates the stream banks, allowing for water to overflow and excess sediment to deposit in the brook. According to Rob DeGiorgio, this sediment is "the number one pollutant" and yields an overall poorer water quality in the watercourse.

To restore the stream bank and remedy erosion, D & B will install an 800-foot Gabion Wall along the banks of the Fox Meadow Brook. A gabion, which comes from the Latin cavea (meaning cage,) is essentially a cylinder, most often used in civil engineering, that is filled with rocks, concrete, sand and soil and built for the purpose of erosion control. This particular Gabion Wall's composition is a mixture of plastic, metal and stone. The wall is enclosed in mesh, which includes live plant stakes that will grow to form vegetation, making it appear "more natural than a cement wall" says Mr. DeGiorgio. However, the four-foot wall may initially appear to be an eyesore, as "it will take about a year for the foliage to fully grow along the wall." In terms of functionality, the wall will soften the current, steep vertical walls of the stream bank and turns in the watercourse will be removed. This would facilitate the brooks' flow through the woods, prevent further erosion of the stream bank and protect tree roots along the watercourse. According to D&B, this Gabion Wall has a "useful life of over 20 years" so "there is no reason why it wouldn't be there for quite some time." So while it is not a permanent fix, the Gabion Wall appears to be the best option for long-term erosion control.

Another crucial aspect of this operation is removing trees that impede the flow of the stream. D&B has identified approximately 50 dead, fallen or endangered trees to remove. Though residents have expressed concerns about the removal of these trees, DeGiorgio said that Harcourt Woods is not being transformed into a detention pond like George Field and Cooper Green where there was massive tree removal. In this case, a few trees will be removed and replaced with new ones that don't impede stream flow. The revised project includes the planting of 28 new trees, along with dozens of shrubs, to replace what is removed.

This project is estimated to cost $1,000,000, a $50,000 increase from the prior proposal in October 2012 due to the difficulty of working in that area. "The space in Harcourt Woods is tight and the work is very labor intensive which increases the cost," says Rob DeGiorgio. This price increase is also due to the inclusion of tree and shrub planting, which was not in the original proposal but added after residents expressed concern about the potential loss of trees. Some also questioned the project from a cost/benefit perspective. Deb Pekarek wondered if it "would provide sufficient benefit to warrant the price tab." The cost of the project will be partially underwritten by a grant from Westchester County and construction is slated to begin this summer.

Details

Published: 29 May 2013

Created: 29 May 2013

Last Updated: 29 May 2013

Hits: 3661

Scenario: You are walking down your street and in the distance, you see someone, a stranger, walking in your direction. You continue walking towards one another. You assume that he will walk passed you, and expect that the two of you won't share any sort of interaction, as this is what happens with most strangers. However, as he passes, you hear him mutter something extremely vulgar and disrespectful. You are offended, astounded, scared and angry. You turn around to strike back with a verbal assault of your own, but decide that escalating the conflict would be risky and immature. So instead, you begin walking away. Seconds later, you are struck in the head with a forceful punch. There is no one around to help you. You feel violated, victimized and abused. Would you allow this mad man to continue beating you, perhaps until you awake in a hospital bed? Or do you fight back, recognizing that you must protect yourself and achieve some sort of retribution?

Most people would agree that being abused, in any form; by another person is immoral, illegal and completely unacceptable. And most people believe that if they found themselves in a situation where they were being or had been abused, they would find a way to stop the abuse and seek proper retribution.

In the fictional scenario above, someone was violently assaulted by a complete stranger. That is an obvious form of abuse, and would be recognized as such by all parties involved, both internal and external.

But what if the abuse occurs within a "loving" relationship? What if the abuser is a boyfriend, girlfriend or significant other? How can you recognize abuse when you have an affinity for the abuser?

Danielle DeZao knows firsthand about the ambiguous, discreet nature of dating abuse. After entering one of her first dating relationships at Marist College, she felt all the initial excitement of attraction. However, soon that thrill collapsed into verbal fights, control over her activities, and eventually physical abuse.

Danielle and her mother Denise shared their story May 22nd at the Scarsdale Woman's Club as part of the Love Shouldn't Hurt campaign, a program designed to inform parents about dating abuse, and to arm them with knowledge to help their own children when it comes to dating and healthy relationships. Danielle and Denise were joined by a panel which included:

• Lauren Pomertantz, Scarsdale High School Youth Outreach Worker
• Sharon Charles, Youth Counselor with Westchester Jewish Community Services
• Detective Sherri Albano, Youth Officer of the of the Scarsdale Police Department
• Amy Paulin, New York State Assemblywoman
• Chris D'Silva, Leader of the SHS Chapter of Terminating Abusive Relationships


The panel was sponsored by The Scarsdale Coalition on Family Violence.

The abuse that occurs within a dating relationship takes on a very different form than the fictional scenario described above. "Abusive relationships... start slowly and gradually progress towards utter chaos," says Danielle.

Teen dating abuse will likely start out similar to any other relationship. It begins with perfection, laughter, and all of the exciting things that come with new love and new beginnings," says Danielle.

However, once the initial honeymoon phase starts to wear off "within a couple months," the initial stages of abuse begin. This abuse often takes discreet forms like jealousy. These types of seemingly harmless relational features are often deemed by society as a normal part of relationships, and thus do not receive the attention and concern they ought to warrant.

A common scenario in the initial stage of dating abuse is a boyfriend who becomes jealous when his girlfriend talks to another guy. This jealously eventually escalates to more serious stages where the boyfriend becomes possessive and controlling. For Danielle, her boyfriend was soon "telling her who to hang out with and what to wear." This brings up another warning sign of dating abuse: isolation. Danielle's boyfriend isolated her from her friends and family, claiming he was "trying to "save" her from everything else in her life" when in reality, he was the one "who was hurting her the most."

And while dating abuse may not start out as abrupt and violent as in the first scenario described, it can certainly escalate to that level if left to naturally progress. And for Danielle, that is exactly what happened. She found herself constantly "using make-up to cover her bruises" and "thinking of new ways to hide the different marks on her body."

Considering the initial argument that most people wouldn't willingly tolerate abuse from someone if they had the power to stop it, it would seem logical that anyone involved in a relationship like this would simply end it and cease the abuse. But when dating and "love" are involved, it becomes much more complex than that.

First off, it is often hard for someone to know when he or she is in an abusive relationship. "Abusers don't walk around with red X's on their forehead. They are regular people who are excellent at concealing their motives," says Danielle.
Often times, the abuse is well disguised as a mere product of genuine, passionate love. Or maybe the abused party is so infatuated with certain aspects (appearances, money, etc) of their partner that they are wiling to put up with "abuse" and consider it a minor detail. They rationalize warning signs like overt possessiveness, claiming, "It's just because he cares about me."

Many victims, like Danielle, remained attached to their abuser despite mistreatment. They endure the "endless promises that he didn't mean it, that it will never happen again." They don't want to end the relationship because they genuinely "believe it will change," that they "can make it change." They end up trapped "in a vicious cycle of dreamy, fleeting happiness."

Dating abuse is a very distinct and difficult type of abuse to prevent, mainly because the abused party is often unaware, or does not want to believe that she (90-95% of dating violence is perpetrated by men and done to women) is being abused. She will try to "justify the seemingly pointless arguments by saying it's still a relatively new relationship, and that trust issues are normal."

With courage, honesty and the support of her family, Danielle was able to escape her situation before it gravely damaged her life. She is "thankful she survived." Many teens however, have not been as fortunate. In recent events, two 16-year-old boys raped a young girl, and the girl was actually blamed by her peers and received no empathy from the national media. In other recent news, a Virginia lacrosse player was beaten to death by her boyfriend.

One in three teens is involved in an abusive relationship. According to Reverend Dr. John Miller of Hitchcock Presbyterian Church, "We need to create a community of respect for our children so that they understand what healthy relationships look like and feel like. At the same time parents need to be educated about the danger signs of unhealthy and dangerous relationships and given tools on how to discuss these sensitive issues with their children."