Millbrook Tribute Gardens Has the Cleanest Public Bathroom I Have Ever Seen

Opening gates to the Millbrook Tribute Gardens

Sometimes it’s nice to experience the finer things in life.

Sometimes you just want to take a trip to where the rich and famous live.

Where we live is great.

I love the creeks, the daisies, and the rough country view of the Gunks, but sometimes I crave grey poupon instead of spicy deli mustard. Sometimes instead of rockclimbers, bicyclists, and hippies, I like to see men in plaid cardigans swinging golfclubs, meticulously pruned hedges lining wimbledonesque tennis courts, sprawling mansions with gate and guesthouses, and let’s not forget old women with surgically altered necks and giant sunglasses walking show poodles. When you have a child that screams at you, “I’m a monster!” It’s nice to visit a place where wild things are tamed. You can sit back and relax, observe and reflect a bit, learn maybe.

I grew up on Long Island, where you drive out to the Hamptons to see these sights, but now our replacement “Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous” destination is Millbrook, a town that has been coined the Hudson Valley’s lowkey version of the Hamptons.

In Millbrook, there are polo fields, country clubs and there is even a Sotheby’s. The men hanging outside the local deli are dressed in very good taste. The entire town is in very good taste, charming, very gentle, genteel, and loaded.

So it makes sense that Millbrook has the most impeccable park I have ever visited. We’re talking sand that literally sparkles below the swingset, two waterfalls cascading into a Koi pond, tall beautiful shading trees honoring fallen soldiers from WWI, and most impressive of all –pristine public bathrooms with teak side tables and artwork on the walls. Millbrook Tribute Gardens is a great park for any family to visit with its beautifully landscaped grounds and upscale playground equipment.

Just make sure you tell your husband not to change your kid’s diaper in plain sight in the parking lot. Mine started doing this when I wasn’t paying attention, and while the man walking by in the purple polo shirt and white shorts didn’t say anything, he must have thought we were unrefined, ill-mannered, let’s shout it out to the rafters “poor” out-of-towners. But who really cares? It’s a public green space. All can go and enjoy no matter your socioeconomic bracket. Is that spicy enough for you, white shorts?

Anyway, I shouldn’t really be angry at white shorts because he is the one paying what must be astronomical taxes for a place like the Millbrook Tribute Gardens. Let’s face it, most playgrounds are pretty boring for adults. Millbrook Tribute Gardens stands out as being a nice destination for the whole family.

Millbrook Tribute Gardens

3257 Franklin Ave

Millbrook, NY 12545

Open Dawn to Dusk

When you’re in Millbrook, make sure you check out the Trevor Zoo too. Read my blog about the zoo‘s newish parking lot. What’s with me writing about bathrooms and parking lots…?

Goodnight. I love you “M” & “R”. Big Kiss.

- Hudson Valley Kim

Waterfalls and koi pond.

Millrook Tribute Garden honors fallen soldiers. This plaque lists these soldiers’ names and shows where each soldier was honored with a tree in the park’s Court of Honor. Visitors to the park benefit from these trees’ shade and beauty. Take a moment and reflect.

Upscale playground equipment See my family in the center. See upperclass yuppie parents to the left. My husband would NEVER EVER wear lime green shorts – but you have to respect how a buck gives some men the confidence to experiment. You go Millbrook men! Just look at this sink! See the immaculate well-appointed and here is the real shocker MEN’s bathroom. Swinging good fun.

Sand that sparkles

Poetry

Shady areas for picnicking.

I’d never seen this playground digger before our trip to Millbrook. My husband had them growing up and said that was because he was from Port Washington and I was from Ronkonkoma. Ahh the class wars continue!

A little sad when you think that all of these trees are symbolic of fallen soldiers….

Good inexpensive local deli. Their competition offered a pint of fruit salad for $15. I bought a meal for the family here for the same price.

Local library raises money and spreads cheer

Contest winners

The Friends of the Greenwood Lake Public Library recently raised $462 with a holiday fundraiser to benefit the Library.  The Gingerbread Village was handmade and donated by Greenwood Lake resident and Chef, Hal Weinstein, who has donated a Gingerbread House for the Friends’ holiday fundraiser for the past six years.

Featured in the picture are Maria Alvarado with her sister, Astrid (left) and her daughter, Jacklyn (right) in front of the Gingerbread Village they won for the Friend’s  annual fundraiser. All three were thrilled to take home this holiday prize and promised that they will enjoy every last morsel!

Learn more about the town of East Fishkill

The town of East Fishkill encompasses 12 surrounding towns in Dutchess County right along the Hudson River.  This town is far from boring, with so many activities going on, it’s difficult not to find something to participate in.  Red Wing Park is a 17-acre park with a lake and beach which is open daily from June 23^rd to Sept 6^th; it also has a bath house to clean off on those long exciting days at the park.  If you’re not into the beach scene then you can visit the basketball, volleyball, badminton and playground areas.  If you are looking for a more relaxing day; the fishing and picnic area, as well as the pavilion are perfect for some R & R.  

East Fishkill also offers sports programs for men, women and children.  Basketball, baseball, softball, roller hockey, soccer, field hockey, tennis and football are available and held at participating fields and schools.  Don’t overlook the East Fishkill Community Library .  The library provides almost 70,000 books, magazines, newspapers, audio books, music CDs and DVDs, there are also nine computers for use.

Exciting events in Walden

The up and coming Village of Walden is located in beautiful Orange County with 4 popular parks, Wooster Grove, Bradley, James Olley, Martin Besdesky and Alfred Place.  Wooster Grove has many different programs for you and your family from aerobics classes to a mom & me play group. Santa is also making a special trip to Walden to help light the town Christmas Tree and holiday wreaths along main street.  After that he will be at St. Andrew’s church waiting to take pictures with the local children and it wouldn’t be a visit with Santa unless you had some candy canes and cookies to finish off a great day. 

Walden has many activities throughout the year such as a Soap Box Derby held in May for kids ages 8 thru 17, Music in the Grove, a FREE concert series that goes all through the summer, a Harvest Fest in October with local businesses, jewelry vendors, food booths and more.  Come visit and see for yourself.

Grand Opening Center for Hope and Fresh Start Café

Today was the grand opening of the Center for Hope in Newburgh, which is operated by Dispute Resolution Center, it is located in the Neighborhood Business & Resource Center. The day was full of food, beverages, raffles and tours of the new center. The center brings a valuable resource to a city that is susceptible to gang activity, violence and crime. 

 
Fresh Start Café offers beneficial job readiness skills for the food service industry, and in an economy like this we could all use some “job readiness skills”, plus some yummy food. 

I was really excited about the raffle of the O.C. Choppers Bike, they had 2 on display.  The custom blue FBI bike with gold accents was very cool and my husband would be delighted if I won it, especially since I don’t know how to ride and he has his license. 

Scaling the walls in the stairway was a spectacular mural by local artist Garin Baker depicting the exceptional people and city of Newburgh as well as the beautiful Hudson River waterfront.  It made the center feel bright and inviting, just like the opportunities which will be gained there.  The day appeared to be a huge success for the center and cafe with many local people looking around, enjoying and discussing future opportunities for this up and coming facility. 

Best of Luck to the Center for Hope and Fresh Start Café!!