Town planning board requests feedback on outdoor activities

The Newfield Planning Board is in the midst of reviewing the town’s comprehensive plan, section by section.

Currently, the planning board is looking into an expansion of recreational opportunities within the town. This has led to the board being open to suggestions about what people want to see in the town in terms of outdoor activities.

“That’ll be good for Newfield residents, as well as out-of-towners. It could attract businesses and visitors here,” said Deb Eichten, Newfield Planning Board chair. “We are a rural community, so we want to keep that culture going.”

The town’s comprehensive plan was completed in 2013. It provides various sections on development, services and resources. From geology to transportation, to housing and businesses, the comprehensive plan breaks down the town in detail.

Eichten and the planning board will summarize their findings for the comprehensive plan. The board will then present what they learned to the Newfield Town Board and residents by the end of this year.

Eichten lauded the town’s recreational efforts at the youth level, including the plethora of sports opportunities available to children from pre-kindergarten through high school. Newfield’s recreation department, Eichten added, also offers volleyball and other sports to adults.

A big recreational attraction noted by Eichten is the ongoing Newfield Music Series at Mill Park.

“[The series] provides shade from the sun and a nice summer series for music,” Eichten said.

Eichten and the planning board are looking to grow the town’s recreational opportunities by focusing on what’s needed for cyclists, runners, hikers and other adventure seekers.

Eichten said that Newfield residents take advantage of the state forests and parks adjacent to or within the town’s boundaries. Connecticut Hill Wildlife Management Area, Buttermilk Falls and Robert H. Treman state parks and Newfield and Cliffside state forests are all popular attractions.

The planning board is searching for ideas in terms of recreational routes in Newfield. Eichten said that the town has enough rural roads to potentially develop trails.

“The fact we have a rolling countryside, it’s really nice for cycling,” Eichten said. “There’s opportunities to develop trails, if people are interested. We’d be able to coordinate that.”

The planning board will hold a public hearing today, July 10, at 7 p.m. Eichten and the board welcome suggestions to further their research on recreational services. Eichten noted that the town invited the Finger Lakes cycling and running clubs to be part of the meeting.

People can also email suggestions to pbsecretary@newfieldny.org. Eichten and the planning board will accept submissions until the end of the summer.

Eichten said that once the planning board completes its current review of the comprehensive plan, it will move onto housing. The town’s comprehensive plan can be viewed at newfieldny.org.

Newfield Notes appears every week in Tompkins Weekly. Send story ideas to editorial@vizellamedia.com.

In brief:

Yoga for beginners at Newfield library every Saturday

A yoga for beginners class will be held at Newfield Public Library every Saturday during the summer.

Phyllis KuanYin Chi, a yoga teacher certified through Yoga Farm in Lansing, will lead the class. The instructor also has additional training in trauma-informed yoga.

The class is held on the second floor of the library. It is suitable for people new to yoga or those with mobility issues. There is also an opportunity to deepen poses for those with more experience.

The class is for ages 18 and older. Participants must have their own yoga mat or blanket. The class is free, but there is a suggested donation of $10.

Newfield offering citizen preparedness training on July 23

The town of Newfield and the Newfield Fire Company will offer a citizen preparedness training course on July 23 at 6 p.m.

The course will be held at the Newfield Fire Department at 77 Main St. According to a description, the New York State Citizen Preparedness Training Program will teach town residents to “have the tools and resources to prepare for any type of disaster, respond accordingly and recover as quickly as possible to pre-disaster conditions.”

The course will provide an introduction on how to respond to a natural or man-made disaster.

The program’s description notes, “With severe weather events becoming more frequent and more extreme, it is more important than ever that New Yorkers are prepared for disasters.”

To register for the course, go to surveymonkey.com/r/NFD72324. Each family who attends will receive a preparedness kit.

More information on the citizen preparedness training program is available at the Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Services section of the state’s website.

Town of Newfield to hold meeting Thursday

The Newfield Town Board will hold its monthly business meeting on Thursday, July 11, at 7 p.m. at the town hall at 166 Main St.

The public is invited to attend the meeting in person or via Zoom. For more information, contact the town hall at 607-564-9981.