The center of West Nyack has a new look and a new shape. The Town of Clarkstown has finished its West Nyack Revitalization Project, a rebuild of the historic hamlet center that took more than two decades of planning and set out to do three things at once: stop the flooding, fix the traffic and make the center a place people want to walk.

Against the water

Flooding has been the hamlet's long-running problem, and most of the second phase went into the ground. The town upgraded the stormwater system, put in new high-capacity culverts, added several new catch basins and raised a section of West Nyack Road, all aimed at keeping water off the roadway and away from nearby homes and businesses.

Wires underground

The overhead utility lines through the center are gone. The town moved them underground, which it says makes power and communications more reliable in storms, and which also clears the view down the street.

A new intersection

The old triangle where West Nyack Way splits off from West Nyack Road is now a four-way intersection. West Nyack Road was realigned to the south through that stretch, and the reshaping freed room for new parking and green space.

A center to walk

New sidewalks and decorative streetlights now connect a new park with the shops and restaurants already in the hamlet center. Beside Klein Avenue there is a new fountain, a clock and more green space. A separate update from the town on its parks lists the new park and an inclusive playground in the hamlet center as part of the same transformation.

Who paid

The town said it secured millions of dollars in state and federal grants to cover much of the cost, which kept the bill off local taxpayers. Supervisor George Hoehmann and the Town Council marked the finish with a celebration attended by other elected officials, local business owners and board members of the Heritage of West Nyack Civic Association.

Seeing it

The hamlet center sits around West Nyack Road and Klein Avenue, a short drive from the Palisades Center and Route 59, and minutes from Exit 12 of the Thruway. The new park, the fountain and the clock are open to anyone.

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