Chestnut Ridge Holds Ribbon Cutting for Completion of Saddle River Road Sidewalk Project

Rockland Daily Staff

Rockland County and Village of Chestnut Ridge officials gathered Tuesday afternoon for a ribbon cutting celebrating the completed sidewalks along Saddle River Road. The project gives pedestrians a safe path along a busy county road where they once had to walk alongside traffic, and residents say it has already changed the feel of the neighborhood.

Construction began in mid-July and was completed this month, adding a mile of new curbs and sidewalks along the Chestnut Ridge side of Saddle River Road (County Road 73), running from the Terrace Court area north to the New York State Thruway. The project was funded through a $1.7 million Rockland County grant secured by County Legislator Joel Friedman, who represents Chestnut Ridge as part of District 15.

Legislator Friedman was joined at the ceremony by County Executive Ed Day, Assemblyman Aron Wieder, Rockland County Legislature Chairman Jay Hood Jr., County Legislator Moshe Hopstein, Town of Ramapo Supervisor Michael Specht, Village of Chestnut Ridge Mayor Rosario Presti, Jr., Deputy Mayor Chaim Rose, Village Trustee Shmuli Fromovitz, and other local and county officials.

Until now, this stretch of Saddle River Road had no sidewalk at all. Pedestrians, including children and parents pushing strollers, had to walk in the roadway alongside cars, often after dark. The new sidewalk removes that risk, and drivers no longer have to share the travel lane with people on foot. It has also brought a welcome side effect. Families now walk to the nearby Newday Market, parents feel comfortable sending their children on errands, and neighbors who rarely crossed paths are meeting on the sidewalk. Although the sidewalk was built on the Chestnut Ridge side, residents along the Airmont side of the road are using it as well.

"The goal from day one was simple, give people a safe place to walk," Legislator Friedman said. "None of this would have happened without the Village of Chestnut Ridge, and I want to thank Mayor Rosario Presti, Jr. and the entire Village Board of Trustees for their partnership. The village's participation, including the engineering and design work, made it possible. Today you see families out on these sidewalks, walking to each other's homes and to local shops, and that is exactly what this project was for. I'm also grateful to County Executive Ed Day, to my colleagues in the Rockland County Legislature, and to Town of Ramapo Supervisor Michael Specht and his Chief of Staff Mona Montal, who were instrumental in getting this off the ground. Saddle River Road is the first project completed out of the $30 million the county has allocated for sidewalks countywide, and it's a model we plan to bring to other parts of the county."

Town Supervisor Michael Specht told Rockland Daily, “I'm proud to participate in today's ribbon cutting for the opening of the new sidewalk on Saddle River Road. This project will make our residents safer and is the first to be completed under the County's milestone $30 million sidewalk initiative. This shows what we can achieve when County, Town and Village governments work together. Thank you to County Executive Ed Day, the Rockland County Legislature , including Chairman Jay Hood and District 15 Legislator Joel Friedman, Chestnut Ridge Mayor Sam Presti and the Village Board.”

Mayor Rosario Presti, Jr. said the sidewalks have done more than make the road safer.

"Good infrastructure connects people, and you can see it happening on Saddle River Road," Mayor Presti said. "We are grateful to Legislator Friedman for securing the funding, to Supervisor Michael Specht and Mona Montal for their support, to our village engineer, Martin Spence of Spence Engineering, for the design and engineering, and to the crews at A-Tech Concrete for the work they put in over the last three months. This was a team effort, and our residents are the ones who benefit."

Village Trustee Shmuli Fromovitz said the change is visible every day.

"Walk this road on any afternoon and you will see kids walking to Newday Market, parents with strollers, and neighbors stopping to talk," Fromovitz said. "Between the new sidewalks and the street lights the village has added over the past few years, this stretch of Saddle River Road is safer than it has ever been, day or night. Joel Friedman made this happen, and residents are already feeling the difference."

Deputy Mayor Chaim Rose said safety came first.

"First and foremost, this is about safety. No one should have to walk in the road to get home," Deputy Mayor Rose said. "And someone told me that all of a sudden, strangers became neighbors. People who live a few blocks apart on Saddle River Road can finally walk to each other safely."

An interesting moment during the ceremony highlighted the immediate impact of the new sidewalks. As a pedestrian pushing a stroller began crossing the street, Assemblyman Aron Wieder called out, “Come over. We have beautiful sidewalks for you.” The pedestrian crossed over to the new sidewalk and thanked the officials.

With the project now complete, one of Chestnut Ridge's busiest roads has become safer and more accessible for pedestrians, providing families and residents with a safe place to walk while bringing neighbors closer together and improving the quality of life of residents for years to come.