POUGHKEEPSIE – After years of consideration, the Poughkeepsie Common Council gave historic landmark designation to scenic College Hill Park.
The park is a rolling landscape of green space, trails, Morgan Pond, a golf course and a few structures, including the golf clubhouse.
College Hill Park golf course
Design Historian Holly Wahlberg appealed for council action, noting the landmark’s significance in city history.
“When we were known as the city of schools, the school at the top of college hill was the grandest example, considered one of the great educational sites of our young nation,” Wahlberg said. “Our nickname ‘Queen City’ derives from an early travel writer being so awed by College Hill that he called it a ‘throned queen’ and the name was soon applied to our entire city.”
Council members were mostly enthusiastic in support, except for former chairman Christopher Petsas.
“My issue with tonight’s resolution is that we have a public hearing scheduled for February 21st, to talk about amending the historic preservation law so that we avoid certain issues like what may occur on College Hill should the body go ahead and designate it.
Current Chairwoman, Natasha Cherry, sees no conflict in proceeding now.
“Believing in good faith that this is the intent of the historic commission; that they’re going to work with the golf course, meet with them annually for 20 minutes and not make an issue out of regular routine upkeep and maintenance,” Cherry said, in urging an affirmative vote.
The vote to grant the local historic designation passed, 7 to 1.
