‘We want to build the fire tower to give people the opportunity to have an amazing destination in an amazing park.’
— Tom Cohn, fire tower advocate
By LUCIE COUILLARD
After six years of effort, the construction of a fire tower at the Ward Pound Ridge might finally begin by the end of this year, said Tom Cohn, the former president of the Friends of the Trailside Museum.
Mr. Cohn said recently that he plans to schedule a meeting with George Latimer, the county executive, and county legislators to determine if there are any additional requirements that the new administration has before building can begin.
He noted that County Legislator Kitley Covill has expressed support for the fire tower project in the past.
Last year, Mr. Cohn said, he focused on identifying and understanding the requirements on the part of Westchester authorities for building a fire tower in the Ward Pound Ridge. These include the tower’s dimensions and safety measures to prevent falls.
“We can easily be compliant, and will be compliant, with New York State building requirements,” Mr. Cohn, who lives in Bedford Corners, said. He added that understanding these conditions “took some time.”
Getting to this point meant answering the county board legislators’ questions about the tower on such topics as safety, building code and community support for the project.
However, he cautioned, the new county administration might have other concerns or requirements that need to be addressed before he can move forward, Mr. Cohn said.
After Mr. Cohn meets with county officials, he believes he can start engaging with the public to fundraise. Mr. Cohn added a modest amount of money has already been donated for the project, however, once the tower is
approved, a new round of fundraising will be needed.
“This is something people would like to see done,” Mr. Cohn said.
The original fire tower was built in 1926 and was operated by the Westchester County Park Commission until 1930, according to authors Beth Herr and Maureen Koehl in the “Ward Pound Ridge Reservation.” Control of the tower was transferred to the New York State Conservation Department in 1931, where it remained for nearly 40 years. In 1971, the tower was decommissioned then torn down in 1982.
Mr. Cohn became involved with the rebuilding project while serving with the Friends of the Trailside museum.
The campaign to bring back the tower received broad support from representatives of all of the neighboring towns. However, the county’s concerns over compliance with safety and building codes kept stalling progress.
Matters were further complicated when, during the early stages of the project, there were few similar projects that could serve as examples and provide officials with a level of comfort about their concerns.
That has changed. Recently there has been a resurgence of fire tower building projects throughout the country. In New York State alone, there are now more than 40 fire towers, including in the Catskills and Adirondacks regions, on both private and public properties, according to the New York Department of Environmental Conservation website. Mr. Cohn explained that the state has strongly backed this revitalization.
The proposed fire tower in Ward Pound Ridge Reservation would be the only one in Westchester, at least under current plans. Supporters believe that it will become a destination for tourists and local visitors, and draw attention to the area, Mr. Cohn said.
At a peak height of 60 to 80 feet, the tower would be 950 feet above sea level and afford hikers views of New York City, the Long Island Sound and the Hudson River.
“We want to build the fire tower to give people the opportunity to have a amazing destination in an amazing park,” Mr. Cohn said.
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