Urbanski's beloved park will get his name

GOSHEN — He was a “diamond in the rough,” said Town of Goshen Councilman Phil Canterino.

The hidden jewel he was referring to was Myron Urbanski.

At the June 14 town board meeting, Canterino proposed renaming the Land O’Goshen recreation park, located on Craigville Road, the “Myron Urbanski Memorial Park.”

Urbanski, who was Town of Goshen Supervisor from 1983 to 1993, died in May. Canterino said he was instrumental in making Goshen the town it is today.

Urbanski’s goal was to create a recreational park where children could play sports, as an alternative to school fields.

“Myron jumped on a bulldozer and cut the first swatch,” said Canterino. “That’s the way Myron was. He saw what had to be done and he did it.”

Dedicated to building the field, Urbanski was there every day to work on it, even recruiting volunteers to do the engineering, legal work, and site work, and to donate heavy equipment.

Concerned about public safety, Urbanski also created the Goshen Police Department.

“This is a need that had to be filled,” said Canterino. At the time, he explained, one part-time constable served Goshen.

Urbanski for years chaired the planning board and he encouraged municipalities to work co-operatively to keep the Wallkill River clean. This practice is still followed today.

He was a big man with a gruff exterior, but underneath he was caring, his main concern to make Goshen a better community.

“He may not have always been politically correct, but he never had a separate political agenda,” Canterino concluded.

The board was unanimous in agreeing to change the name of the Land O’Goshen Recreation Park to the Myron Urbanski Memorial Park.

Although Councilman Ken Newbold was absent from the meeting that renamed the park, he said at the June 25 meeting that he supports the resolution.

“We all have our pluses and minuses, but when it comes to children, Myron was all pluses,” said Newbold. “He’d scream and holler ‘You’re out of your mind’ when you asked for something, but by the next day the job would be done. The town has a lot to be thankful for when it comes to Myron Urbanski.”

More town news A joint town/village meeting is scheduled for July 23, at 7:30 p.m., to discuss Salesian Park and/or other Joint Recreation Commission issues. The meeting will be held at Town Hall, 41 Webster Avenue. The commission will consider removing the old school building and putting in a football/soccer field.

The board approved a proposal from the Orange County District Attorney’s office to have town court officers carry their pistols during court sessions. The officers are retired from the Office of Court Administration and now work part-time for local municipalities. Both officers in Goshen courts are licensed to carry a pistol.

The board approved a $7,500 contribution as requested by the Goshen Soccer Club to work on drainage problems at the recreational park. Funds will be drawn from the parkland fees account, which now totals $49,000. The village also agreed to contribute $7,500. The funds will be combined with a $20,000 donation from the Soccer Club. In addition, the Soccer Club gained board approval for access to a water truck donated by Delancy’s in Goshen with their name on it. However, no telephone number or address will be listed. The club has secured access to water for the water truck. “This will do a lot to improve our fields with little money,” said Councilman Canterino.