Finneran Exemption Approved; Tennis Bubble Possible in Greenburgh
In a major coup for the Town of Greenburgh, the state Assembly and Senate unanimously approved legislation to exempt the town from the Finneran Law, paving the way for the town to build a tennis bubble on top of the courts at Veterans Park.
The measures were approved right before the state recesses for the summer. The Finneran Law bars residents from outside the unincorporated part of the town from using its tennis courts.
Town Supervisor Paul Feiner said he expects the town to receive $3 million in revenue over the course of 15 years, and the facility would remain open for residents of the unincorporated section of Greenburgh during the summer.
“This is very significant,” Supervisor Paul Feiner said. “Getting this approved is very helpful for the town. It’s going to provide more recreation to people who enjoy tennis at no cost to the taxpayers. It’s a win-win, a real no-brainer.”
Sportime USA had previously proposed an agreement in 2005, but backed out after learning that residents would be excluded. Sportime had also offered to resurface five tennis courts, a basketball court, and construct two new tennis courts as well as other improvements.
Feiner has said that this law would not impact any of the villages in the Town of Greenburgh and that nobody should object.
“We’re not forcing anybody to go to the tennis courts and use the tennis bubble,” Feiner said. “Our tennis courts are in need of infrastructure improvements and we don’t have the money. If we contract them with another company, we can get them to do it.”
After seven years of trying to get this exemption approved, Feiner said he was very excited and praised Assemblyman Thomas Abinanti (D-Greenburgh) and Senator Andrea Stewart-Cousins (D-Yonkers) for working to get the exemption passed.
“This is an enormous accomplishment,” Feiner said. “It is one of our top legislative goals for the year. Government has to think outside the box during difficult economic times.”
The exemption must now be signed into law by Governor Cuomo, which Feiner does expect to be an issue. The town is currently preparing a Request for Proposal (RFP) and is inviting companies to bid, with the rewarding coming in the fall.
“Every government is cutting back and cutting services,” Feiner said. “We’re able to increase services and increase revenue at a time when everybody is cutting back. I find it really exciting.”
With the recess coming, Feiner, a Democrat, said he was nervous, since the legislation was introduced very late in the senate. He also feared a Republican-controlled senate would not be receptive to a Democratic controlled town.
“I thought we had a lot of things to overcome,” Feiner said. “This is an example of everyone working together. This is really terrific. I’m just really ecstatic.”
While Sportime would be the expected bidder on the tennis bubble, Feiner said he doesn’t know if they are interested and said they will reach out to as many interested parties as possible.
“This is going to be serious and open process,” Feiner said.
Adam has worked in the local news industry for the past two decades in Westchester County and the broader Hudson Valley. Read more from Adam’s author bio here.
