The city of Middletown only paid $1 for their parks and recreation building complex and then the $400,000 in funding, secured by Senator Jen Metzger, allows the city to be reimbursed for the building's renovations. 

"So rather than going to the common council and asking for $400,000 from city taxpayers, we were able to get this property for a dollar from the state of NY," said Joseph DeStefano, City of Middletown mayor. 

The hope is to use the campus to expand recreational programs for kids. The 15-acre property includes an ADA accessible gymnasium, multiple buildings, and a sports field.

"The gym is now operational and I think within a few weeks we'll have people doing activity out of here," DeStefano said.

 

 

This building renovation is just one part of the city's bigger plan to expand outdoor recreation in the area.

"The reservoir trails are going to be 1200 acres, trails through our lake and streams, it's like a mini Minnewaska People are just going to be able to enjoy outdoors for a five-minute bike ride from downtown Middletown," DeStefano said. 

Middletown resident Julie Santiago says these outdoor spaces are long overdue. 

"There's so many people, kids, and people don't really have anywhere to take their kids to play. To get a walking trail, I actually go to another town to get a walking trail," Santiago said.