News for the City of White Plains aaaaaaaaaaa February 2022
FEBRUARY 2022 -- CALENDAR OF EVENTS
All Month
Ice Skating at Ebersole Rink -- Click here for current schedule.
All Month
Black History Month Activities at White Plains Public Library and elsewhere. (See more below)

All Month
White Plains BID Fitness February. The White Plains BID’s Winter Outlook series continues with Fitness February, a month dedicated to the various fitness businesses downtown.
Friday, 11th
President Lincoln's Birthday (He'd be 213). City Offices closed. Sanitation Holiday Schedule.
Monday, 14th
White Plains BID Dining Guide offers options on where to Enjoy dinner with your Valentine.
Monday, 21st
President's Day Holiday. City Offices Closed. Sanitation Holiday Schedule.
Monday, 21st - 26th
Winter Recess Skating at Ebersole Ice Rink for White Plains Residents Only 1:30 P.M. - 3:30 PM.
Tuesday, 22nd - 25th
Winter School Break Events all week at White Plains Library. Programs and schedules here.
Friday, 25th
Dominican Republic Flag Raising Ceremony at Renaissance Plaza, 3PM
Black History Month Programs
White Plains Library
(All programs via Zoom. Click on event to register)
Presentation by John Vorperian
Thurs, Feb 10 @ 7 pm
(For families and children through 6th grade)
For more information about Library activities click here.

White Plains Youth Bureau
  • Discussion on the Tuskegee Airman - Former Tuskegee Airmen ground crew member Edward Dancy, 98 years of age, will speak about his experience. The program will also include a presentation from the Westchester Clubmen.
Thurs, Feb 17 @ 7 pm
  • Ron Claiborne, ABC News Reporter - Sponsored by Grandpas United.
Fri, Feb 18 @ 9:30 am
For more information, call the Youth Bureau at 914-422-1378.
KITTRELL PARK

Kittrell Park, a popular downtown city park with a swimming pool, basketball court, and children's play area, was named in honor of Rosa Kittrell in 1978. Rosa was a crusader for mental health programs, founder of the Carver Community Center, and the first nursery school for children in the Black community.

A graduate of the Hampton Institute and the Bishop Tuttle School for Social Work, Rosa used her education and gifts to create programs to fulfill the needs of her community and inspire many to achieve future success. "Others, Lord Others" was the guiding mantra of the legendary White Plains "Children's Champion" and "Pioneer Community Activist."
The 1.67-acre specialty park is located at the corner of Fisher Avenue and Irving Place.

Read more about Rosa Kittrell here.
Hospital for Special Surgery Donates
New Scoreboard at Ebersole Ice Rink
Mayor Tom Roach cut the ribbon in January for a new scoreboard at Ebersole Rink donated by the Hospital for Special Surgery, located in White Plains at 1133 Westchester Avenue. The new scoreboard replaced one that was over 20 years old.

Thank you, Hospital for Special Surgery, for being a great community partner!

White Plains
Summer Day Camp - 2022
Apply for the Lottery!!!
Enrollment in our summer day camps for grades K - 8 will be by lottery.
Residents Only. 
Applications will continue to be accepted as long as space remains available. Once spaces are filled a waitlist will be created. Lottery on Feb. 7, 2022

White Plains Little League
Spring Registration Now Open!

Register now for Spring 2022 baseball and softball.

Click here and register today or Register at the Recreation Office,
85 Gedney Way.

Registration closes February 28th.
NYS EMERGENCY RENTAL ASSISTANCE PROGRAM
Westchester Residential Opportunities (WRO) can provide assistance with rental arrears, mortgage relief, and utility shut-off notices. If you are experiencing financial hardship due to COVID-19. Call WRO today at 914.428.4507 or email housinghelp@wroinc.org
The New York State Emergency Rental Assistance Program (ERAP) will provide significant economic relief to help low and moderate-income households at risk of experiencing homelessness or housing instability by providing rental arrears, temporary rental assistance and utility arrears assistance. While the program’s initial federal allotment has been depleted, it is hopeful more federal funding will become available. In the meantime, applying for the program will help protect eligible tenants from eviction and get them in line for funding if more arrives.  Please click here to apply. 
In September 2021, the City of White Plains was one of eight cities selected to participate in the Love Your Block grant program, an initiative of Cities of Service founded by former NYC Mayor Michael Bloomberg and now part of Johns Hopkins University.
Love Your Block is a two-year program that will allow White Plains to fund mini-grants for community members to help make neighborhoods cleaner and more livable.
Our neighborhoods of focus for year one will be Battle Hill and Ferris-Church. The mini-grants will be used to help fund small home repairs and to activate parks and public spaces, including vacant lots.

However we encourage residents to reach out to us if they have a project suggestion in another neighborhood to determine if the city can help facilitate the project. The goal is for residents to answer the question, "What would it take for you to love your block?"

For more information call 914-422-1300 or
email Dolivos@whiteplainsny.gov or Vfields@whiteplainsny.gov.
Gateway 2 Going Up Near Metro-North Station
You may have noticed construction fencing and activity at 85 North Lexington Avenue (a/k/a the Gateway II site) near the White Plains Metro-North station. The Common Council approved plans for a mixed use development of this property in 2021. This is an exciting project close to the train station that will enliven the area with new retail opportunities and restaurant space and bring new residents as well. It replaces a private parking lot

In total, the project consists of 500-multi-family units, 19,000 square feet of street level retail along the Hamilton Avenue and Ferris Avenue street frontages, and a total of 755 parking spaces (563 parking spaces dedicated for the proposed project, and an additional 192 parking spaces to be utilized by employees of the Gateway I office building at One North Lexington Avenue).
A mix of studio, one, two and three bedroom apartments are planned. The project will contain both active and passive open space in the form of plazas, lawns, gardens, sculptures, and sitting areas.

In compliance with the City’s affordable housing requirement, the applicant has opted to set aside 8%, or 40 of the total units as affordable. 15 of those affordable units will be provided on site and the developer will buy-out of the remaining 25 units. The funds from the buy-out go directly into the city's Affordable Housing Fund that was created to enable the city to facilitate the creation of additional affordable housing. 

Did You Know?
You can find out more information about this project, and all projects in development in White Plains on the Projects & Proposals pages of the City website.
City to Launch Peer Advocates for Healthy Living Program with High School Students
The City of White Plains Youth Bureau has received a grant from the US Conference of Mayors and the American Beverage Foundation for a Healthy America for the Peer Advocates for Healthy Living program, in which high school students will serve as peer advocates and promote healthy living to their younger peers.

This innovative approach to educating children about all aspects of healthy living earned the city this award and recognition from the US Conference of Mayors. Learn more about our program here: https://youtu.be/KJa974vxbIc
New American Bar
166B Mamaroneck Avenue
THE WHALE TEA
Bubble Tea Shop
148A Mamaroneck Avenue
WP Youth Bureau Accepting Nominations For the
UNSUNG HEROES PROGRAM
Throughout its 50+ year history, the WP Youth Bureau has engaged its community partners to help youth reach their full potential. The Unsung Heroes program recognizes those who work quietly and tirelessly and without fanfare behind the scenes and whose work contributes positively to keeping our city and community running. The Unsung Heroes program has recognized school bus drivers, cafeteria workers, custodians, school crossing guards, secretaries, administrative assistants, Rec. Leaders and Youth Ministry Leaders in the past. To nominate a hero, call 914.422.1378 or email whiteplainsyouthbureau@whiteplainsny.gov.
Don Stevens, Jr. Wins EMMY Award
Don Stevens, Jr., a White Plains resident and a deacon at the Little Mt. Zion Holy Church, has won an EMMY in the Entertainment Short Form Content for his song You Can Change the World.

Using the idea that one conversation with a stranger can change the world, Stevens wrote an uplifting song about the power of connection.

"Don Stevens has been an active part of the White Plains community for years,” said Mayor Tom Roach. “He cares about this city and its residents. He expresses that through his music, his faith and through his participation in important city initiatives. . . We are lucky to count Don Stevens as a resident of White Plains.”

Rocky Del - Reynal Park Association Little Free Library
on Ridgeway
Great Looking From Every Angle!
Questions? Comments? Go to feedback@whiteplainsny.gov
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