Welcome to Phillipsport, a Community That Cares

   by Matthew Migliaccio

In 1955, Miss Anna Budd, a graduate of the Phillipsport School put on her hat and made her way to Albany to pay a visit to her friend, Governor Herbert Lehman. She convinced the Governor to arrange conveyance of a vacant school property on Red Hill Road to the newly formed Phillipsport Community Center Association  (PCC).   Town of Mamakating School District #16 conveyed the property to the PCC for $1. Incorporation papers were drawn up and signed on May 22, 1960, and the former school became a beehive of activity in its new role as the area’s community center.

Six years later, PCC member Margaret Morgan sent a letter to the State Department of Transportation asking the agency to clean up the intersection of Rt. 209 and Phillipsport Road, plant shade trees and create a little park with benches to “perk up” the little hamlet. That didn’t happen. But, forty-three years later, with funding from the Sullivan Renaissance program and other resources, PCC members and other area residents fulfilled Mrs. Morgan’s request, although interestingly, the project began before her letter was discovered.   

A Park has replaced what had been an eyesore--of invasive plants, old auto parts, garbage and yard sale leftovers. After three dump truckloads of dead trees and shrubs were removed, the area was re-graded with a bulldozer and York rake. A backhoe was brought in to dig holes for the flowering pink and white Crab Apple trees, native White Birch, Norway Spruce, Red Twig Dogwood, Sergeant Juniper, Serviceberry, and other compact Junipers. Perennials were added: Gala & Shasta daisy, Coreopsis, Coneflower, Black-eye Susan’s, Lucifer and native grasses.

An old road base runs through the center of the park, which was covered with several yards of topsoil to cut down on heat transfer into the raised center and surrounding beds. Two and a half tons of natural mulch 3 – 4 inches deep was laid in the beds to help retain moisture. In total over 156 plantings were put in. Care was taken to use non-invasive plantings, evergreen trees, perennials and annual flowers for year round color. 

The Park is very visible from Route 209, driving north or south. And, the newly re-located “Welcome to Phillipsport” sign now stands in the midst of the grassy center area that contains two raised gardens in custom made six foot circular bands of steel, and warmly greets all to the hamlet.  A birdhouse sits atop the base of an old telephone pole, and an old storm drain filled with rock now resembles a dry river that helps control storm water drainage. Complete with benches, the Park provides a quiet place for local residents, passersby, birds and animals to enjoy.

In addition to their help at the Park, a local Girl Scout troop planted six window boxes full of colorful annuals at the nearby Phillipsport Post Office and the PCC, adding to past year’s Sullivan Renaissance-supported garden projects at the old schoolhouse. A grant from the NYS Assembly also provided funding for much needed ADA renovations to the building, including, a new front pathway, ramps, entranceways, and bathroom. An upgraded heating system allows for year-round use of the building.  

Today, almost 150 years after the schoolhouse was built, and more than 50 years after it became a community center, its charitable mission continues as a meeting place for children and adults, hosting presentations of local interest and fundraising for the preservation of the building and to fund clothing, food and toy drives to support those in need in the surrounding community.