101 Ideas

Increase investment in roads and bridges - make Bedford number one in the county in terms of quality of roads

Create point-to-point rideshare i.e. "Senior Uber"

Enhance pedestrian and cycling infrastructure

Establish more parks and green spaces ; increase passive and active recreation areas

Publish and promote a town-wide trail map

Develop a community garden

Publish tree planting plan and share with community members to solicit feedback

Create a public art program to beautify the town

Increase public benches and seating areas ; publicize the community for sponsorships

Reevaluate recycling program and waste reduction - what's working, what's not ; and keep score

Study water quality including town-wide wells

Run pop up local farmers markets in hamlets in addition to John Jay Homestead

Develop and publish specific plans to help local businesses and entrepreneurs

Establish and promote business incubators and co-working spaces

Provide financial incentives for businesses to invest in the town and partner with those willing to invest

Promote and attract visitors to our hamlets

Create joint historical advisory committee involving all three hamlet organizations

Amplify Destination 39.3 so that they can continue to organize great festivals and events, showcasing local talent and culture

Start an Adopt-A-Road program

Bring high speed Wi-Fi to each hamlet

Establish a local business association for Bedford Hills ; should not be town-run

Review town wide public lighting for safety and aesthetics ; where can we improve?

Re-establish a comprehensive town master plan (a missed opportunity with the existing Town Board)

Create more affordable housing options for residents after doing an audit and a report to the community

Implement energy-efficient and sustainable building practices

Promote green building initiatives and LEED certification ; explain and publicize in addition to talking about cost impacts on residents

Publish cost benefit analysis for all renewable energy investments ; set payback targets by policy

Work with local healthcare facilities to establish walk-in or minute clinics in one or more of the hamlets

Arrange visits from mobile health providers to give access to underserved community members

Seek out a business to move into the Bedford Hills train station

Expand physical fitness through recreational programs or closely partner with Northern Westchester Hospital

Promote expanded use of newly renovated Bedford Hills Community Center ; keep track of progress year over year (a $3.4 million investment needs to pay dividends for the community)

Develop local vocational training opportunities ; work with the Community Center of Northern Westchester to expand program

Create dirt roads advisory committee to help improve the quality of our signature dirt road system

Expand and professionalize our intern and mentorship program for youth

Promote volunteerism and community service ; recognize contributions at least monthly

Create 'Volunteer of the Year' award

Establish a youth council or advisory board ; consider adding high school student as a non-voting Town Board member

Improve access to and publish available affordable childcare services

Develop programs for at-risk youth ; work with interfaith council and drug advisory council

Consider establishing a drug court

Support local schools and education initiatives - schedule regular joint meetings with KLSD and BCSD to explore areas of common interest

Establish a library or expand existing library services ; publish town-wide audit of available services

Partner with Traffic Safety Working Group - continue traffic calming measures to improve road safety ; publish annual report of accomplishments

Install bike-sharing programs based at Katonah and Bedford Hills train stations

Embrace and leverage more surveys to encourage resident feedback - everything from traffic and road safety concerns to programming feedback

Create an inclusive playground for children of all abilities

Implement a town-wide public safety awareness campaign

Install security cameras in high-risk areas i.e. train station parking lots

Measure and improve emergency response times ; publish annually

Expand senior citizen center programs

Promote intergenerational activities and events

Re-energize community theater to facilitate more opportunities as well as use of our newly renovated Community House in Bedford Hills

Identify and support programs for mental health

Create a town newsletter or magazine to keep residents informed ; it can be ad-sponsored and expand the reach and communications to the community

Evaluate street signage for clutter as well as for better wayfinding

Improve dog park - add water fountains and webcams

Develop a community sports complex

Establish a town museum or historical society

Support Community Center of Northern Westchester efforts in food support ; select liaison to the Town Board who reports quarterly

Improve town clean-up day - get more community organizations involved beyond Chowder and Marching and KVIS ; study Yorktown's success

Evaluate town-wide composting program - is it working?

Audit public charging stations for electric vehicles - are they being used, at what cost?

Promote hamlet business traffic through online platforms and social media

Implement a town beautification program

Consider establishing a loyalty program to support local businesses in conjunction with local chambers

Improve accessibility for people with disabilities

Create a town-wide recycling education campaign

Develop a business retention and expansion program ; track vacancy rate

Evaluate private vs town-provided garbage/waste collection

Create a town market for locally produced goods

Organize neighborhood watch programs ; connect with community via social media for suggestions

Develop new opportunities for youth recreation

Establish a community podcast

Promote water conservation practices and develop metrics for measurement

Install public art murals and sculptures

Develop a technology innovation hub

Establish a town hall or civic center

Expand walking trails at recently purchased Buxton Gorge

Implement a citizen feedback system for local government

Track citizen complains via a trouble ticket system ; provide annual report of results

Encourage Town Board members and department heads to host office hours that allow residents to schedule time to discuss issues, concerns and feedback

Simplify the process to make it easier for community members to organize and throw neighborhood block parties

Re-evaluate rental fees for town-owned buildings (Community House, Bedford Hills Train Station) to encourage residents to keep events in town

Improve support of local sports teams and leagues ; form youth sports advisory group

Secure a grant writer who operates on commission to identify and apply for grants that award Bedford with funds

Establish a town-wide energy-saving challenge (competition between hamlets?)

Develop a mentorship program for new residents - match each new family with a town official

Start emergency robo-call system like Mount Kisco

Publish emergency communications system combining email, social media channels and automated calls

Develop a new business navigator program that assists new brick & mortar locations in opening and succeeding in Bedford

Develop a community-based emergency preparedness plan ; involve residents and share results

Establish a town-wide tree planting initiative

Consider creating a public lookout point

Create town sponsored young artist competition ; give annual award/consider scholarship

Develop a town-wide historical preservation plan that goes beyond our historic building committee

Install public water fountains in high-traffic areas

Assign Town Board members as liaisons to community organizations an permitting boards

Give an 'Entrepreneur of the Year' award to the most successful new business or best idea

Audit public facilities for disabled individuals such as accessible restrooms and ramps

Set annual goals at the Town Board level and regularly report on progress (i.e. OKR's)

Obtain grant funding specifically allocated for improving drainage at the Katonah Pool fields as these frequently remain unusable for days after rainfall, unfairly affecting Little League and Softball programs.