Progress is being reported on the development of Walden park and boat launch on the banks of the Wallkill River.

At last week’s village board meeting, the board accepted a bid of $221,000 from Consorti Brothers Paving and Seal Coating for paving of a parking area, sidewalks and curbing, along with the creation of a riprap, stone used to prevent shoreline erosion.

Village Manager John Revella said an alternative bid was received for a gazebo on the property, but suggested the board hold off on that, in the event that additional grant money is available. Revella said the village had originally received a grant of $150,000 for the project, of which approximately $130,000 remains. Additional monies would come out of the village’s fund balance.

The park is dedicated to the late Marcus “Mickey” Millspaugh, a former village trustee and historian who passed away in 2022. One of the key supporters of the project is Trustee Becky Pearson, who was re-elected to a second term on March 19. Pearson, who had made the completion of the park a part of her election platform, is an employee of Millspaugh Furniture.

“There was someone who had an issue with me voting, possibly talking about this park because I work at Millspaugh Furniture,” Pearson said. She asked to read a statement into the meeting minutes.

“I am an elected official by the people to represent them and all that is to be happening in this village. This park was formed a long time before I was sitting on this board elected two years ago. It’s been over eight years I believe that it is in the process of,” Pearson said. “I do work at Millspaugh Furniture. Millspaugh Furniture has never paid or funded this park. It is a village park. It happens to be named (for) Mickey Millspaugh and for all good reasons because he sat on the board. He was a trustee. He was on the zoning board. He was on the planning board. He was a volunteer. Historian. ...So as a trustee I have the duty along with many other projects that aren’t completed to help that and question why they’re not and have them become a reality.

“This park benefits the whole community not the Millspaughs. My responsibility as a village trustee is to offer my opinions, do research and vote on all the projects. So I don’t feel there’s a conflict so I’m just putting that on the record.”