Civic Issues
Topics getting the most attention in White Plains public meetings, ranked by how frequently they are discussed.
10 issues in parks rec with medium priority
Water Street Connector linear park (C5691)
The city is leasing an overgrown 56,000-square-foot Urban Renewal Agency right-of-way near Water Street for 50 years to turn it into a public park connecting Hillside Terrace and Ferris Avenue to downtown. It's funded with $2.25 million of the city's $10 million state Downtown Revitalization Initiative grant, with public design sessions coming early next year.
Smoking in White Plains parks
The city wants to update its smoke-free rules to explicitly cover marijuana and vaping, and to extend the ban to school district fields and playgrounds the city shares. The pitch is education first — ask people to move along, not write tickets. The council votes September 8.
Senior services funding
A funding mix-up was corrected and the city accepted an extra $20,297.78 from the county, restoring roughly $20,000 to the senior lunch program that serves about 125 meals a week.
Waller Avenue Pocket Park (C5690)
A $745,000 state grant will convert an underused 12-space municipal parking lot at 73 Waller Avenue into a pocket park with shade structures, benches, a water bottle fill station, bike racks and landscaping.
New Pre-K camp pilot program
The Recreation Department is launching a Pre-K camp with Amazing Athletes for residents ages 3-5, filling a gap for the youngest kids.
Kittrell Park Outdoor Bathrooms
Design funding was approved for two new accessible family bathrooms at Kittrell Park, with the full project estimated at $450,000.
Slater Community Center conditions and playground access
A resident says the Slater Center still needs real investment — outdated restrooms, poor layout, broken dividers, little storage — and recalls the 2023 playground closure that forced kids to walk half a mile to Cattrell Park.
Spring/Summer recreation programs and guide distribution
Spring and summer program registration opens March 16. The guide goes online the week of March 9, with postcards mailed the week of March 2 and printed copies available at six city locations for residents who prefer paper.
Gillie Room capital improvement
The Gillie Room is getting new flooring, improved lighting and a fresh coat of paint — a facility upgrade for users of the recreation space.
Recreation and Parks fee schedule effective March 1, 2026
The Council adopted on first reading an updated user fee schedule for city recreation and parks programs starting March 1. That affects what families pay for programs, classes and facility use.