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New Rochelle City Manager, Wilfredo Melendez 

Dear Neighbors,

It’s hard to believe we’re nearly halfway through the year, but long days and warmer weather are the clearest indications that time marches on. Here at City Hall, we’ve been hard at work to drive forward all of the plans we’ve made for 2026 and are seeing the results all around. 

The City of New Rochelle is moving forward with once-in-a-generation investments at Ward Acres Park, continuing the long-term vision shaped by years of community input and thoughtful planning. These improvements aim to increase accessibility, safety, and the overall visitor experience, while preserving the park’s natural beauty and ecological integrity. Planned upgrades include a welcoming new main entrance with updated signage and landscaping, construction of a restroom and storage facility, and restoration of the park’s historic stone bridge. Additional improvements feature a signalized mid-block crosswalk on Broadfield Road to enhance pedestrian safety and access, ADA-accessible pathways linking key areas of the park, and a comprehensive trail signage and wayfinding system to help visitors better navigate and enjoy the park. For more information and to follow project progress, please visit newrochelleny.gov/wardacres.

In April, our Department of Public Works gave a detailed presentation to City Council on their ongoing work on the City’s Flood Mitigation Program. Our programmatic approach to addressing and alleviating flooding issues throughout the City has produced six completed construction project, two completed engineering studies, and nine additional projects in varying stages of development – – -from conceptual planning and design/permitting to bidding and early construction.  The ongoing work is part of our goal to strengthen New Rochelle’s stormwater infrastructure, make our city more resilient to heavy rainfalls and minimize flood risks in vulnerable areas.

In the wake of a harsh winter marked by record snowfall and prolonged freezing temperatures, the Department of Public Works (DPW) has taken the opportunity to apply lessons learned from this past winter’s weather events. During a follow-up presentation to City Council, DPW outlined key challenges and identified several improvements for future winter operations, including the implementation of a new radio system to strengthen communication with field crews and the exploration of new technology to monitor operational progress in real time. This system would help track which streets have been plowed and treated, with the potential for a public-facing component to help better inform residents.

DPW is also preparing a pre-winter public education campaign for release this fall. It will highlight key signage—such as snow emergency routes and two-inch snowfall streets—explain how the City handles plowing and snow removal, and clarify property owner responsibilities to support efficient snow response citywide. And the snow recovery also extends to potholes. DPW crews have mobilized around the city to fill nearly 1,800 potholes by mid-April, a 24% increase in potholes addressed over the same period in 2025.

I am proud to report that our city continues to lead the way in expanding opportunity for young people, employing approximately 500 youth through the Youth Bureau’s Summer Youth Employment Program—the largest of its kind in Westchester County. This year, more than 900 residents ages 14 to 24 applied for approximately 500 positions, reflecting both the strength of the program and the growing demand for meaningful work opportunities. Through career-based internships, municipal roles, and placements with New Rochelle businesses, this initiative provides young people with valuable experience and skills that will serve them well into the future.

One big initiative from City Hall that’s garnered a lot of attention is the proposed 2026 Downtown Overlay Zone Amendments. The planned changes to zoning are taking into account a decade of lessons learned since the DOZ was originally adopted. Some of the refinements include making adjustments to attract new ‘missing-middle’ housing styles, changing ground floor frontage requirements to help alleviate retail vacancies and using targeted strategies to bring large format retail to the Downtown. In April, we held a Public Hearing where many residents provided feedback on the potential impacts of the DOZ.  We want to ensure that we’re bringing you along as this process continues.  If you’d like to learn more about the proposed 2026 DOZ Amendments, visit NewRochelleNY.Gov/DOZ2026.

Speaking of the Downtown, this Spring, we expanded our Downtown parking space inventory at three of our garages, adding 80 spots at the Skyline Garage, 80 spots at 2 Clinton Park, and 36 spots at 11 Garden Street.  That makes combined 196 new parking spaces – – – a 7% boost to parking in the heart of Downtown that’ll help boost mobility, help residents and visitors get to their destinations easier and spur support and continued growth for our local businesses. 

And as our work continues, I want to remind you of all the ways to connect with City Hall. 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 and 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, don’t forget about the monthly City Manager Update to learn more about City’s initiatives, projects, and programs. To view the update, please visit: newrochelleny.gov/citymanager.

As always, your feedback and engagement help shape our efforts, and 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.