From the Office of the New Rochelle City Manager
New Rochelle City Manager Wilfredo Melendez
Dear Neighbors,
Earlier this year, I compared the work we’re doing at City Hall to that of an air traffic controller: focusing our efforts on safely ‘landing the plane’ on projects already in the works while pursuing and launching new initiatives that benefit our City. And as many of you prepare to hit the skies this Summer, we’re still hard at work ensuring the planes are safely touching down on work that will touch you and your community.
One of those ‘planes’ is Ward Acres Park, where we’re in the middle of a generational investment shaped by years of community input and thoughtful planning. Last month, we wrapped a renovation on the Park’s historic stone bridge. The work included masonry repairs, stone removal and resetting, as well as weatherproofing of the bridge. I’d like to thank park visitors for their understanding and flexibility as the repair may have temporarily made access to the bridge and trail difficult, but the efforts being poured into Ward Acres Park today will ensure that this community asset is around to be enjoyed for many more years to come. If you’d like more information and to follow project progress, please visit newrochelleny.gov/wardacres.
In May, our Department of Development gave a presentation on the results of the City’s Local Safety Action Plan (LSAP) study. Through a process of data collection and community input, our team identified challenges to roadway and pedestrian safety. The formation of the LSAP is a necessary step for New Rochelle to apply for Federal “Safe Streets for All” funding that will help us implement safety solutions identified in the report. We submitted a Grant Application last month focused on safety investments on North Avenue Corridor. With the spine of North Avenue connecting a number of the City’s arteries, including Main Street, Quaker Ridge Road, Beechmont Drive and Webster Avenue, this investment would complement our ongoing “Complete Streets” projects to improve safety for pedestrians, cyclists and drivers alike.
Also in May, our Development Department presented the results of a Parking Study to better understand the challenges experienced by residents and visitors to downtown New Rochelle. The study outlined some short-term solutions for parking troubles, including clearer wayfinding signage and a new demand-based pricing model, as well as more long-term solutions such as an automated license plate reader enforcement systems in City garages. We’ll be sharing more of our plans for parking at this month’s Committee of the Whole City Council meeting on June 9th.
Summer 2026 is shaping up to be a busy one in New Rochelle and beyond. June 6th marks the start of our much-loved Summer Sizzle Concert Series at Ruby Dee Park. Every Saturday through August 26th, Ruby Dee Park will host exciting live performances from acts across genres including rock, blues, gospel, jazz, reggae and more. It’s a series that’s become a staple of the summer months and brings out a regular following.
This Summer also marks the 250th Anniversary of the founding of our great nation. And as cities across the nation mark America 250, New Rochelle has planned a special celebration for the 4th of July. Along with our annual “Spark the Sound” Independence Day Fireworks, Hudson Park will play host to a special 4th of July Summer Sizzle show at 6:30 PM, featuring Southern rock group Parker Barrow and The Full Count Band, a 20-piece swing and jazz act playing classics from the American Songbook. It’s poised to be a great celebration of our nation’s birthday and a night to remember. For more information on additional 250th celebrations, please visit newrochelleny.gov/250.
This summer’s World Cup will see a number of games played not far away from our fair City at MetLife Stadium. In honor of this historic moment, we’re launching Summer of Soccer, a slate of events and programming celebrating the excitement around “the Beautiful Game.” The Summer of Soccer Kickoff starts 6:30 PM Friday, June 12th at Fosina Field in Flowers City Park with open play on the field, food trucks, music and a beer garden as we wait for the 9PM start of Team USA’s first match of the tournament against Paraguay. On July 11th, Skidelsky Field at Flowers City Park will host a Community Soccer Tournament where 12 teams will face off on the field in a friendly contest to determine the best co-ed 18+ squad in New Rochelle. And Summer of Soccer will wrap with a Finale Fest on Sunday, July 19th from 1 PM to 8 PM at Ruby Dee Park. The event will feature live music on the Summer Sizzle stage, awards presentations from the winners of Summer of Soccer events and a screening of the tournament’s championship game. We’d love to have you on-hand to join in the fun!
Our City Hall team will be here and working hard all Summer, so I want to remind you of all the ways to connect with us. You can sign up for our NewRo Alert system at http://www.newrochelleny.gov/newroalert to receive calls, texts and/or email updates. The MobileNR app, available on the Apple App Store Google Play Store, is also a great tool to let us know about any non-emergency concerns in your neighborhood. You can also look to our City social media accounts on Facebook, Instagram and X. And, check out my monthly City Manager Update to learn more about City’s initiatives, projects, and programs. To view the update, visit: newrochelleny.gov/citymanager.
As we keep working for you and our City, we welcome any feedback and all feedback. I encourage all residents to reach out to my office with any questions, comments or suggestions. Thanks for your continued support and partnership and I look forward to connecting with you.