As New Paltz prepares to relocate its Police Department and Justice Court to a new facility at 59 North Putt Corners Road, an opportunity has arisen to make the site a more hospitable place for the transfer of children between divorcing parents. At the October 15 Town Board meeting, supervisor Neil Bettez shared observations by court personnel that many divorces were “not amicable,” and that the exchange of children between parents with joint or shared custody can sometimes be traumatic experiences for little ones – especially when the divorcing couple are in the midst of highly fraught, contentious court proceedings. Such transfers occur outside the courthouse about four times each week on average, Bettez reported.
To alleviate the tension of these handovers and make them less stressful for children, it has been proposed that funds be raised to build a small playground at the new courthouse site, providing a kid-friendly, “neutral” spot where one parent can drop off the kids and the other can pick them up. According to the supervisor, District 17 Ulster County legislator Jim Delaune has offered to seek some county funding for the project, and an anonymous donor has already pledged $1,000 in support.
In order for fundraising to commence, the town needed to establish a dedicated capital reserve fund for the project. The town board unanimously approved the motion to do so. The new courthouse/police station complex is expected to be completed in July of 2021.
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