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EASTCHESTER, N.Y. -- If you noticed something different about the parking lot on White Plains Road in front of the Eastchester Public Library, it may be the nine new parking spaces. Or it may be that three parking lots have been turned into one.
"Basically, what we did was took the three small lots and opened them all up to create one big lot," explained Highway Superintendent Hector DiLeo.
The lot, said DiLeo, will be easier to maintain and plow. But that is just the beginning.
"One of the best parts of the project is that we put in a sidewalk so you can walk from White Plains Road straight up to the library," he said.
Still to come for the new project will be lighting, new paving, lines for parking spaces and pay stations.
"Right now there are no meters and we have not put in the pay station yet," said DiLeo. "People are getting free parking right now."
The town spent about $150,000 to do the job, but it would have spent close to that repaving the crumbling parking lots.
"The highway department did most of the work and the only money we spent will be for the sidewalk and the paving," he said.
DiLeo said when his crew is done the Eastchester Beautification Committee will take over.
"We plan on creating a parklet, or small park, right near the new sidewalk entrance to the library from White Plains Road," said Judy Blau, co-chair of the committee.
"So far, we have a plan for putting in 6 benches, plantings and several indigenous shade trees," she said. "We see this as a nice piece of green space in the center of town."
Blau said the space will also have stone pillars that match the ones at Town Hall and the same wrought iron fencing as well.
"The entire beautification committee is working on this project and it is part of our overall plan to create architectural harmony throughout the town," Blau said.
DiLeo said he expects his part of the work to be completed by September.
"Then I will start to do one of the most difficult jobs of the Highway Department, the battle between us and the falling leaves," he said.
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