White Plains’ Greenway Named for Activist Jack Harrington
Saturday morning, November 16, a crowd of people gathered at the Gedney Way entrance to the Greenway trail to honor Jack Harrington and witness the unveiling of a sign bearing the trail’s new name – Jack Harrington Greenway City of White Plains Walking Trail.
Harrington is fondly referred to by many as the ‘Father of the Greenway’ for the work and activism he applied over the years to bring attention to the ignored, overgrown and basically unkempt stretch of land on the former New York, Westchester and Boston Railway right-of-way, and eventually obtaining parkland status for the trail.
In 1939, the railroad line had to be dismantled for the war effort and soon became a dumping ground. Nearly two miles long, the trail runs through White Plains and the White Plains/Scarsdale border. The Greenway was dedicated as parkland by the city on February 5, 1996, and serves as a nature trail and public recreational area.
Today, the Greenway’s woodchip surface provides a surface for hiking and running. It has become a favorite path for many city residents and groups of volunteers often assist the White Plains DPW in cleaning up garbage and overgrowth that can clutter the path. That is how beloved this winding trail is to those who use it.
Many new trees have been planted along the trail, always of a species indigenous to the region to attract wildlife to the area. Landscaping and benches have been added to several of the entrances to attract newcomers and welcome regulars.
Since coming to White Plains, Harrington who was born in 1919 in Oswego, has been a key figure in the city’s development. He is a former president of the White Plains Historical Society, was co-founder of the White Plains Greenway Committee, served on the White Plains Conservation Board, chaired the White Plains Comprehensive Plan Committee and was on the White Plains School District Annual Budget Committee. His contributions as an activist and preservationist have been credited with improving the quality of life for city residents.
The gathering of old and new friends from many parts of White Plains on Saturday gave testament to Harrington’s guiding hand in many areas that have been preserved in White Plains from historic buildings and landmarks to public open spaces.
Harrington often commented on the importance of place. “I cannot express how important a sense of place is. How it impacts you,” Harrington told those in attendance. “The place and the ground are so important,” he emphasized, further commenting that Superstorm Sandy had devastated much of the area and the look had changed because some very old trees had been lost.
Councilman John Martin, chairman of the Memorialization Committee that had been instrumental in naming the Greenway after Harrington, officiated over the event. Susan Arterian Chang, who had walked beside Harrington many times on the Greenway and worked with him to restore the property also said a few words.
Mayor Tom Roach, said that as a child he often played in the area and would look down into the ravine, into the overgrowth, and try to figure out what was down there. Roach said he felt very pleased to be attending such an important event.
Roach also commented about Harrington’s constant consideration for the community of White Plains and how he would often call to speak about his concerns on how the landmarks of the city were being treated.
For all of us in White Plains, we owe Harrington a tremendous debt of gratitude because he is responsible for so many of the special elements in this city that do give us our sense of place, our home.
It is very fitting indeed that the day following the sign dedication was Jack Harrington’s birthday. We wish you a very Happy Birthday Jack. Many thanks and good wishes from the entire city.
