The recently established Peekskill Arts Council has made several recommendations for public art in the City of Peekskill.
On Monday, June 2, City Planner Peter Erwin presented to the Common Council recommended art works, some in the form of renderings. They include a sculpture at the Field Library, murals on South Water Street arches, and banner murals on two downtown Main Street buildings.
The Pierced Figure, a small steel sculpture produced in 1979 by Peekskill resident Al Landzberg, is being donated by his family, including Chuck Newman. It was rehabilitated in the Youth Bureau garage during the last few weeks by Highland Welding and is being considered for exhibition at the Neighborhood Center in front of the Field Library.
Carol Bouyoucos’s “Above the Fruited Plain,” a series of nine murals on the South Water Street arches, was the arts council’s top choice out of more than 70 artists who applied to design the murals, said Peekskill Arts Alliance President Larry D’Amico. The abstract piece gives a nod to Peekskill’s history and past and is proposed to be installed on vinyl banners. It is designed as a temporary installation that can be replaced in about five years.
“I’m not usually the first one to go wow. I’m saying wow,” said Councilman Brian Fassett. “I wrote vibrant, beautiful, cheery, happy, sophisticated. So I think you guys have hit it.”
Mayor Vivian McKenzie also commended the work of the Arts Council.
“I think that the council is doing exactly what it was set up to do versus the trials and tribulations we went through as we tried to get art already accepted and so forth,” McKenzie said. “So I appreciate that the council is taking new endeavors seriously and bringing it to us. It’s exactly what we want.”
A returning art piece for discussion was the Downtown “Making Connections” murals. D’Amico said the alliance went back to the drawing board and reworked the pieces, in response to the council’s feedback. The 5-foot-by-25-foot banners, reflecting the daily life of Peekskill, are proposed to be placed on the side of Baxter’s Pharmacy. There are larger banners proposed for the side of Birdsall House, including a photograph of the late Ray Blue, a renowned international musician raised in Peekskill.
City reports on community outreach for Civic Hub and Connectivity project
Erwin provided an update to the Downtown Revitalization Initiative’s Civic Hub and Connectivity project, particularly the replacement of the Brown Plaza gazebo with a sculptural pavilion, which has received mixed reaction from the community.
To foster feedback on the pavilion concept, there were community open houses at the Mother’s Yay market and downtown during two weekends in May, attended by more than 100 people. The city also received community feedback via a survey. Out of 46 respondents, 42 percent liked the design, 21 percent were neutral, and 30 percent disliked the design.
The varied opinions on the gazebo rendering included those who like proposed improvements to pedestrian safety and functionality of the redesigned plaza and intersection, and those who see the design as out of character with the downtown historic district.
Erwin suggested the city work closely with the boards and commissions in responding to the community feedback. The department proposes a strategy for continuing the design work and completing the project in the next year, and make use of the council’s previous authorization to put the project out to bid.
Erwin also sought a $226,600 bid for enhancements to Monument Park using DRI funds but that would require the city to spend about $15,000 to complete. The project has been scaled back since its original bid-out in 2023, Erwin said, adding that projects such as a housing development at the former White Plains Linen site could help fully realize the project. Director of Planning Carol Samol said developers expressed interest in the park as a potential area of interest of investment.
Council discuss pollution concerns on two projects
The Common Council followed up on two items each discussed previous public hearings, including an auto repair facility and a go-kart racetrack.
The proposed auto repair shop for minor repairs at 614 South Street elicited concerns by Mayor Vivan McKenzie about an apartment over the proposed shop.
Director of Planning Carol Samol said the Planning Commission recommended requiring a fire barrier and vapor seals to protect the resident from the effects of the repair shop, carbon monoxide monitors be installed and maintained in the residence, and a mechanical ventilation system for the garage itself.
Members also shared some concerns about potential congestion caused by the project seeking a variance of nine on-street parking spots, in addition to its 11 spaces off-street.
The project will be examined for environmental review by the Planning Commission on June 10, then looked at by the Zoning Board on June 18, then returned to the Council on June 16 and later June 23 for special permit action.
A proposed project of a three-level electric go-kart racetrack, lobby, classroom and storage space at 7 John Walsh Boulevard saw fewer concerns from the council after they were given a sound demonstration at a nearby go-kart track to gauge how loud it would be.
Deputy Mayor Patricia Riley told the Peekskill Herald that several groups of council members and Planning Commission members went to the site of the proposed go-kart track at 7 John Walsh Boulevard and at Lents Cove Park in the Village of Buchanan for the sound demonstration.
“There was somebody driving it so you would get the full effect,” Riley said. “We wanted to make sure that if people are at that park they’re not going to be disturbed by go-karts.”
Mayor McKenzie shared at the council that the trucks going down the road were louder than the go-karts while Councilman Dwight Douglas said the sound didn’t carry across the water.
Councilwoman Katheen Talbot said she thought the sound presentation lacked in the fact that only one go-kart was part of the demonstration, as opposed to the three to five that would be racing at a time.
Director of Planning Samol said she would request from the architect what types of sound barriers would be used. She also said the Planning Commission will be listening to the Town of Buchanan for its concerns.
Building Department and Fire Department give presentations
The Building Department and Fire Department presented updates and accomplishments to the Common Council.
Building Inspector Nicholas Cecere said so far in 2025 the Building Department has issued over 219 violations of which 103 are considered quality of life, including litter, trash, sanitation, overgrowth, off street parking, unlicensed vehicles, and property maintenance.
The full Building Department presentation can be viewed here.
Fire Chief James Seymour IV said so far in 2025 the Fire Department has responded to 95 false alarms, 75 good intent (similar to false alarms in which a resident may report smelling gas but it is determined there is no natural gas leak), 70 public service, 82 hazards, and 33 fires. There have been 492 EMS responses since May, an uptick over the last two years (409 for 2024 and 434 for 2023).
The full Fire Department presentation can be viewed here.
