This whole park thing is ridiculous!!!! Isn't that "park" IN the TOWN of Cornwall. Don't we all pay TAXES for such things??? Even village residents have to pay to use their own park!!!! When is someone going to stand up and DO SOMETHING!!! All Cornwall residents should be able to park there --- I can see charging a SMALL fee for the use of the gazebo (which they HAD to have but no one can use). But $250? ABSURD!

OK, I'll take a shot at all of these entries. Rudi, the Jr. & Sr. proms are not private events. These are our kids from our public high school. Permits shouldn't be and aren't required for their event, just valid parking permits. Scrooge, for the record, Donahue park is in the village, not the town. And again, permits were designed to prevent the park from being overrun. The village is simply taking active steps to prevent that from happening. The reality is that parking there is limited, and the fact that we're all talking about access to this beautiful place proves the necessity of establishing some control.For the person who didn't sign his or her name, we are planning to establish a presence at the park this year of a person who will issue day passes for parking. This should eliminate the hassle you mention. Lastly, Mr. Wilkinson should know that our group use policy is a work-in-progress. We're not claiming that it's perfect at this time. The $250 charge being cited was quoted because it would have reserved the entire area for a full day. As it turns out, that was much more than the wedding party required. In fact, they were flexible enough to not NEED to have exclusive access to the gazebo or any other area of Donahue Park. Therefore, they're perfectly happy to take their chances on the day and get their photographs as they can. Consequently, there is no permit required; just valid parking permits.

The challenge we have is to keep our riverfront the peaceful and beautiful place that it is, while making it accessible to our residents as well as visitors.I hope Mr. Wilkinson will find that California has these things worked out better than we do.
In the meantime, we'll do our best to make things fair and right.

Rick Gioia

Yes, the gazebo is paid for, but the village still needs to maintain it, as well as the entire park. 80% of the cars parked at the park last weekend did not have a sticker ( my own actual observation). The village is losing much needed money to keep the park clean and under control $250 for a wedding photo session is reasonable fee for such a spectacular place.

It is really sad that after living here for one's entire life, that then one is asked to pay the outrageous fee of $250 to use a location (in the town or in the village!) I would want my daughters to to have their wedding pictures taken there someday but when I can go to the gazebo in town at the pond or to The Gasho's gardens for free, I know I wouldn't pay the $250. Very sad to have hometown pictures only for those who can lay out the large sum at a time in their life when they are already met with so many expenses

What's next, a $50 charge to walk on the grass???

I agree with village viewer our park is a beautiful space and allowing it to be overrun would not be in the best interest of anyone who would like to be a part of its environment. Mark Edsall made a valid point that if the wedding party had stickers they wouldn't need to pay 250 for use of the park. And carpooling to the park would possibly be cheaper.

$250 for use of the park for local residents marrying of thier children is absurd. The Gazebo was built with a state grant and therefore we are obligated to allow public use of the facility. The simplistic view that the bridal party arrive in vehicles all bearing stickers is not realisitic and is frankly arrogant. The village is allowing Cornwall Hospital exclusive use of our beautiful park for a WEEK in September for a Gala that excludes the residents of the communtiy; unless you have the $500 per couple ticket price. Here's an idea; why not welcome Town AND Village residents and thier children with a smile, permits for gazebo photo's $25, not to last more than 45 minutes on a first come first serve basis.

I am pleased to announce that our daughter Jessica Muller married the love of her life, Anthony Mariani on Saturday April 19, 2008. The ceremony at St. John's Episcopal Church on Clinton and Hazen officiated by Father Tom Margrave was inspirational and the reception at the Poughkeepsie Grandview was unbelievably beautiful. My husband, Charlie did try to comply with the Village's rule of having all cars display passes including day passes. Unfortunately, when he went to pay for the extra day passes none were availbale. We did go to the river with our photograher, Jimi Ferrara,from Cornwall. We spent all of 35 minutes shooting pictures. All the concerns about exclusivity of the gazebo was exactly what I had thought. Fisherman and others using the gazebo were more than happy to move for us. In fact, all congratulated the happy couple and stayed to see the photo shoot. We did try to comply with a very complicated set of rules...it didn't work...but thank goodness there was a higher power watching over us on this most special day in a family's life. The day was perfect and no one got ticketed.
Linda Muller

Perhaps the village and town would consider the use of the park(s), pool, summer playground to be a "benefit" to our local men and women who faithfully serve our communities as volunteers in the Fire and Ambulance corps?

Revolt- I fail to see the logic of turning our beautiful river front into a "Newburgesque" area as a "good idea" or using the area to it's "potential"? Keeping the village river front as just that is using it to it's potential. The plan that seems to finally be moving forward, thanks to new blood in office, to make day passes available is wonderful. It's welcoming to visitors and a great way to generate revenue. The current system for season passes for boaters and people who just like to be able to park at the river front works very well and has for many years. The only thing I take issue with is giving St Luke's Cornwall Hospital the river front for their gala in September during boating season. As I have suggested before- why can't this date be moved to October when boating season is usually over- the trees would be glorious and the tents could be heated for the cooler evening? Any takers on explaining this one?Rick G.- can you shed some light on this? It's the second year in a row now, and looking like it could become and annual event here- No? Thanks for the feedback.

Interesting idea and worth discussing. Thanks. I hear everything else you're saying, too.

Rick Gioia