Newburgh - Recently, representatives from the Newburgh Enlarged City School District, in conjunction with representatives from several Newburgh community organizations, attended a press conference in the Newburgh Armory Drill Hall to announce a community partnership to support the development and implementation of a sustainable plan for the former Newburgh Armory.
In 2009, the City of Newburgh purchased the 60,000 square foot former Armory building and 12 acre property for $1. Now, through a partnership with The Kaplan Family Foundation, the goal is to begin the planning to develop the property and make it self-sustaining. Phase 1 includes creating handicap accessibility to the restrooms and the gymnasium area as well as improving the existing basketball court. Once the work is completed, the work will be gifted to the City of Newburgh from Habitat for Humanity.
At the press conference, NECSD’s Acting Superintendent of Schools Ralph Pizzo, Newburgh Free Academy Principal Peter Copeletti, and Vice Principal Melissa Siegel, spoke about the role that the NECSD hopes to play in the revitalization. The trio spoke about the possibility of utilizing the partnership to give NFA’s Construction Career Academy students, and possibly other NFA students, real world experience through an elective credit-based course in conjunction with the construction/improvements that will be taking place in the building.
Pizzo, a Newburgh native, explained that although the role that the students will play is still in the brainstorming stages, the NECSD promises to be an active partner in this monumental project which will hopefully revitalize the city. "I firmly believe that Newburgh is coming back," expressed Pizzo.
