Village of Washingtonville - Naomi Sewell Richardson Park - It's Happening

Naomi Sewell Richardson Park

Planned first in 2017, with a long pause due to Covid, Sewell Park is moving back into the forefront for Washingtonville’s next historic site! The park development is a joint effort between the Village of Washingtonville, Town of Blooming Grove’s Conservation Advisory Commission (CAC), and the Naomi Sewell Richardson Park Foundation.

The CAC Chairperson Ryne Kitzrow and Co-chair Jean Campbell Galli led the meeting this past Monday evening, March 4, 2024, at the Town of Blooming Grove Senior Center. The meeting, sponsored by the Washingtonville Kiwanis Club, started with a presentation by Jean explaining the future “pollinating pathways” park. She shared the park design with its bandstand, flower beds and lawn seating area. With the support of Washingtonville High School’s (WHS) Community Service Club led by teacher advisor Elizabeth Frey and Seniors Gavin Chaing and Nilia Francis, a database of pollinating plants has been created. 

Since the park is in a floodplain, plans are currently being reviewed by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). The Department of Environmental Conservation’s (DEC) program “Trees for Tribs” also recently reviewed the site and will be providing plantings along the stream bed to help mitigate future potential flooding of the area.

Town of Blooming Grove resident Kate Ahmadi spoke about the 2017 park dedication held with the Sewell Family, Senator James Skoufis, and former Congressman Colin Schmidt. Kate also spoke about the history of the Sewell Family and its importance to Washingtonville. Deborah Sewell was a beloved long-time teacher at WHS. Sadly she passed in 2020.  

Naomi Swell Richardson, for whom the park is named, was an educator and one of the founding members of the largest African American Sorority, Delta Sigma Theta. Born in 1892, she was 101 when she passed away. Debbie Sewell, a former Washingtonville middle school teacher, was the last resident of the home that stood there. For further information on Naomi Sewell Richardson check Wikipedia at https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Naomi_Sewell_Richardson

Many of the attendees contributed ideas on the preservation of the property, future events, and the addition of an historic plaque. Attending members of the Sewell Family spoke about the homestead, the memories, and th challenges of living so close to a force like Moodna Creek.

As for financing for the park, Kaitlin Kitzrow spoke about various sources of funding that will be sought. All private funding and fundraising is being managed by the Naomi Sewell Richardson Park Foundation, a non-profit fund of the Community Foundation of Orange and Sullivan. For more information on the fund visit https://cfosny.org/our-funds/project-funds/naomi-sewell-richardson-park-foundation/

The park has been and continues to be a community effort, and an effort to benefit the community. Countless volunteers and volunteer hours have been spent planting trees at the site, clearing brush, designing the park and garden beds, working with FEMA, applying for grants, fundraising, advertising, and mobilizing the community. The Village of Washingtonville has already received a tremendous response from local businesses who would like to assist with the development. 

The park is looking for volunteers as we move forward. Check out their Facebook page, Naomi Sewell Richardson Park, and look for their booth at future village events. The March 23 rd , 2024 Washingtonville Bagpipes and Bonnets event at Van Allen Park will also help spread the awareness of the park.

For more information, email Sewellrichardsonpark@gmail.com.