The Village of Chestnut Ridge celebrated the completion of new sidewalks along Pinebrook Road on Friday, July 10, with a ribbon cutting alongside Congressman Mike Lawler. Congressman Lawler was joined by Town of Ramapo Supervisor Michael Specht, Chestnut Ridge Mayor Rosario Presti, Jr., Deputy Mayor Chaim Rose, and Village Trustee Shmuli Fromovitz as well as Rockland County Legislator Joel Friedman.
The project was made possible by $1 million in federal funding that Congressman Lawler secured for fiscal year 2024. The funding is administered through the Town of Ramapo, which received the fiscal year 2024 funds and built the sidewalks along a substantial portion of Pinebrook Road. An additional $400,000 for fiscal year 2026 has already been signed into law by the President and is now moving through the final steps of the federal process. Once those funds are released, the Town of Ramapo will build additional sidewalks in the Village.
Pinebrook Road has long been dangerous for pedestrians, particularly along the steep incline where the new sidewalks were installed. The improvements finally give residents a safe place to walk in an area that offered none.
The Pinebrook Road sidewalks are the first project completed from Congressman Lawler’s 2024 Community Project Funding, part of a total of $7 million he secured for sidewalk and infrastructure improvements across the Town of Ramapo.
Congressman Mike Lawler told Monsey Scoop, “Residents of Pinebrook Road have put up with this dangerous stretch of roadway for far too long, with no safe place to walk, putting families at risk every day. This funding will make critical safety improvements that will directly benefit the hardworking families of Chestnut Ridge.
I want to thank Town of Ramapo Supervisor Michael Specht, Chestnut Ridge Mayor Rosario Presti, Jr., Deputy Mayor Chaim Rose, Trustee Shmuli Fromovitz, and the entire teams at the Town of Ramapo and the Village of Chestnut Ridge for their partnership and hard work in making this project a reality.”
Town of Ramapo Supervisor Michael Specht told Monsey Scoop, “The completion of these new sidewalks along Pinebrook Road is a major step forward for pedestrian safety in Chestnut Ridge. The Town of Ramapo was proud to partner with Congressman Mike Lawler and the Village of Chestnut Ridge to turn this long-awaited project into a reality. We appreciate Congressman Lawler’s efforts in securing the federal funding that made this possible and thank Mayor Rosario Presti, Jr., Deputy Mayor Chaim Rose, Trustee Shmuli Fromovitz, and everyone involved for their collaboration. We look forward to continuing this work as additional funding becomes available to further improve safety for our residents.”
Mayor Rosario Presti, Jr. told Monsey Scoop, “This is a proud day for Chestnut Ridge. Pinebrook Road needed these sidewalks for a long time, and thanks to Congressman Lawler our residents finally have a safe way to travel it. We are grateful for his leadership and for the Town of Ramapo’s partnership in getting this built.”
Deputy Mayor Chaim Rose told Monsey Scoop, “Pinebrook Road was one of the most dangerous roads in our village, and for years residents had nowhere safe to walk. Seeing these sidewalks completed is an incredible accomplishment. The Village is truly grateful to Congressman Mike Lawler for bringing this funding home, and we thank Supervisor Michael Specht and the Town of Ramapo for getting the work done.”
Trustee Shmuli Fromovitz told Monsey Scoop, “These sidewalks address a serious safety concern for pedestrians along Pinebrook Road, especially in the evening hours and during the winter months when snow and ice made walking here treacherous. This project will protect residents for years to come, and we are grateful to Congressman Lawler for making it possible.”
Neighborhood residents turned out for the celebration and were raving about the difference the sidewalks have already made. A road they once had to walk along with cars rushing past is now a place where they and their children can walk safely, and many thanked Congressman Lawler, the Town of Ramapo, and the Village of Chestnut Ridge for making it happen.
