Hyde Park

Most people who have Hyde Park on their radar can cite two notable things about the town: it’s the home of former President Franklin Delano Roosevelt, and the location of the Culinary Institute of America, the country’s foremost culinary college. However, if you’re thinking about putting down roots in Hyde Park, you’ll find many other things to love about this Hudson Valley town of 22,000.

The lives of Franklin and Eleanor Roosevelt are intertwined with Hyde Park. Many of the town’s main attractions are connected to the one-time First Family. Roosevelt’s home, Springwood, shares a location with his Presidential Library and Museum. FDR also built a retreat for Eleanor, Val-Kill, to give her an escape from his overbearing mother. Today, Val-Kill is the only National Historic Site dedicated to a First Lady. Another prominent American family, the Vanderbilts, built one of their stately homes on the shores of the Hudson in Hyde Park and gave it the family name.

While many of Hyde Park’s attractions are historic in nature, some laid-back leisure time options exist. The Hyde Park Drive-In, one of two in Dutchess County, is located just across from the FDR estate and is still owned by the same family who opened it in 1949. Last year, Big Bear Ziplines opened, offering canopy zipline tours through 50 acres of trees. And Hyde Park Roller Magic is a rink offering open skate and that seventies favorite, roller derby.

Parkland is in abundance. The town’s recreation department oversees eight town parks, each with many amenities, which aren’t limited to a skate park, playgrounds, hiking trails, playing fields and courts. Free lawn concerts are held during the summer on the grounds of the Vanderbilt mansion and Staatsburg, a state historic site.

The Hyde Park Central School District serves the town. There are approximately 4,300 students in the district. Currently there are five elementary schools, a middle school and a high school. However, Hyde Park Elementary School will close at the end of this school year, as a result of decreasing enrollment and budgetary issues. In addition, the state also recently identified the district as being in need of improvement in the area of English Language Arts at the middle school level. About 20% of the district’s students live in poverty. Franklin Roosevelt High School’s students have fared well, in general, on Regents exams, and 82% of the class of 2011 proceeded to a two or four year college.

The real estate offerings are vast and range from estates well over a million to small single family cottages and homes. There are many condominiums. The town’s large size, coupled with the relatively sparse population, means there are multiple lots with vacant land for sale.

Most people know Hyde Park as the hometown of our country’s 32nd president, Franklin D. Roosevelt, and many come to visit the stunningly beautiful Roosevelt estate (known as Springwood). However, Hyde Park has a lot more to it than this part of history.

First settled by the Dutch in the early 1700’s and later by the Quakers as well during the 1800’s, Hyde Park was first home to the Wappini Native Americans, who lived among the many Sycamore trees in this area (most of them are now 250 yars old). Passing through the town today, you can still see the original churches that were used by the first settlers, and milestones inspired by Benjamin Franklin still line the roads, which were used back in the day by passersby on foot, horse or carriage to know how long they’ve gone and how far they’d have to go.

Today, people come to learn history at not just Springwood but Val-Kill as well, the colonial cottage and once home to “The World’s First Lady”, Eleanor Roosevelt. Hyde Park is also home to the world-famous Culinary Institute of America, where some of the world’s greatest Chefs are born. There’s also the Hyde Park Free Library and the nearby hamlet Straatsburg’s free library. Seniors can enjoy gatherings at the local Knights of Columbus, including such events like Senior Lunch. The town of LaGrangeville has Freedom Lake, which includes a metal slide that leads kids right into the water (as someone who grew up young in LaGrangeville, I have fond memories of this lake, especially the slide). I always felt safe in the shallow roped-off areas. Residents and visitors can enjoy “Music in the Park” at Vanderbilt Mansion, and there’s lovely parks like Mills Memorial State Park or Margaret Lewis Norrie State Park. Norrie Point also has a marina for housing boats and hiking trails.

The median price of Hyde Park is $469,000; to rent is $1313 and you can get a studio for around $4,298. The area is pretty safe compared to the rest of NY. There’s seven schools served to local students by the town’s Hyde Park Central School District, that also offers ELL programs to foreign language learners. Graystone House is a very special school in Hyde Park, a unique, community-oriented therapeutic day and residential school and rehabilitation facility for youth Autism, starting as young as 3-5 years.

Hyde Park makes shopping very convenient. Here you can find a Super Stop & Shop for groceries and other needs. There’s also the Caged Bird Pet Shop, as well as Stewart’s. The coolest store I found here was The River Connection located at 9 West Market Street, where you can buy kayaks and canoes and all the water gear you’ll. It’s run by a married couple that decided to create their own business together selling anything that has to do with paddle-related boats, and they’re doing great! The store is open year round so come and find your new boat and get out there while the weather’s fine. There’s lots of wonderful restaurants to choose from as well, such as the family-friendly Eveready Diner and Joe Christiano’s Pizza or 2 Taste Food and Wine Bar for a fun night out with friends. Most restaurants can be found on NY’s 9G or Albany Post Road. There’s also a Dairy Queen and a McDonald’s.

The Town of Hyde Park lies just to the north of Poughkeepsie, the biggest municipality in Dutchess County, but it holds its own. Hyde Park has plenty in the way of history, places to live, places to eat, and places to enjoy yourself.

Hyde Park residents are generally very proud of their town's significance in American history. Indeed, the late President Franklin D. Roosevelt called it home, and you'll see plenty of reminders all over town (not the least of which is the "Welcome to Hyde Park" sign). Further, the Vanderbilt homelands are here, not far from Roosevelt's, in fact. Both of these locations bring in their fair share of tourism and still draw interest from the locals.

In the northern part of the town, you'll find the hamlet of Staatsburg. It's a little more isolated and there's not nearly as much to do except hang out at home (or head up to the village of Rhinebeck, perhaps), but the southern part of town is where most of the action is. This is where you'll see the shops, local businesses, schools, movie theaters, quality restaurants, pubs/bars, and all of the other establishments you'd expect to see in a reasonably-sized town. The rest of the good news is that you're close to Poughkeepsie, where you're bound to find much more to do. Of course, some serious fine dining is located right here in town: the Culinary Institute of America (CIA). For those not interested in that sort of experience, there are plenty of local restaurants that will suit your fancy, many of which are along the main roads.

Getting around by car is easy here, though Routes 9 and 9G get a little heavy at peak hours or on weekends. At rush hour near the Roosevelt Mansion, those local shopping centers and diners are busy and Route 9 can crawl at times (as someone who commuted through here my fair share, I know what I'm talking about). The Dutchess County Loop Bus services this town, while the Metro North train to New York City is nearby in Poughkeepsie. That same train station is also where one can catch the Amtrak.

You're not going to find big-box retailers in Hyde Park -- supermarkets yes, but for the major shopping options, Poughkeepsie and points south are your best bet. There are local shops and grocers to take care of you otherwise. Still, those towns aren't all that far away, so Hyde Park is conveniently located in that respect. With medicine, you're covered: the two main area hospitals, St. Francis and Vassar Brothers, aren't in Hyde Park, but neither one is far from it. There are plenty of doctors offices and specialists in the surrounding area. There are also gyms nearby, like Planet Fitness and Mike Arteaga's.

In spite of the town being busy and having lots of attractions and things to do, it's still kind of quiet in some respects. Hyde Park always crossed me as one of those towns that was a little bit of both: not too active but not too dull. With some solid schools in town and new housing (like everywhere else in this area), this is a good town to settle down and raise a family, though many professionals also reside here, as do retirees looking for a little bit of a more peaceful, safe existence.

Hyde Park is a historical town in the glorious Hudson River Valley known for being the birthplace of FDR and for playing long-time host to the internationally renowned Culinary Institute of America. But Hyde Park has yet more tricks up its sleeves, boasting many beautiful parks with myriad recreational activities and events, glorious Hudson River views, some great food destinations, a wonderful farmer’s market, eclectic shopping and antiquing and an equally wonderful community spirit made known by people proud of the area’s heritage.

History buffs can rejoice for Hyde Park is home of the Franklin D. Roosevelt National Historic Site where you can visit FDR’s beloved home, Springwood, the first presidential library and a great museum. A fourteen dollar ticket will afford you a visit of two days, however, the elaborate grounds, pretty rose gardens and FDR burial site are all free. One hour guided tours are offered. You should start off your visit at the Henry A. Wallace Visitor and Education Center where they show a short, introductory film and where you can get info and arrange the tour. You can also visit “Top Cottage,” a little Dutch colonial retreat that FDR built to escape the hub bub of Springwood. There is also “Val-Kill,” the first lady’s cottage retreat of choice.

The Vanderbilt Mansion Historical Site is a wonderful glimpse into the “Country Home Lifestyle.” You can tour the house and walk the 200 plus acre grounds that are replete with old trees, beautiful gardens and awesome views of the Hudson River and the Catskill Mountains.

For more outdoor resources, there is Margaret Lewis Norrie State Park in Slaatsburg which houses the second oldest golf course in the country, Dinsmore Golf Club. Pinewood Park has a very cool skate park, a playground, tennis courts, a basketball court, a ball field, a nature trail and fishing, There is also Hackett Hill Park which has a swimming pool, a pavilion, hiking trails, campsites, and playing fields. This is where the town’s terrific day camp is held. In fact, the town of Hyde Park has a well-developed parks and rec department, appropriately enough, and holds many community events including parades and a concert in the park series which is held at the aforementioned Vanderbilt Historic Site as well as other places in town. Hyde Park also has a fantastic Senior Activities Club.

And as if that wasn’t enough, The Culinary Institute of America is also located in Hyde Park. What is very cool is that the CIA actually has five award-winning public restaurants on campus where students gain invaluable experience and local foodies can partake in sumptuous fare. St. Andrew's Café, Ristorante Caterina de' Medici, the Escoffier Restaurant, American Bounty Restaurant, and the Apple Pie Bakery Café are all visitable and open to reservations.

Other notable area eateries include Hyde Park Brewing Company, Eveready Diner, Coco’s Pizza, Joe Cristiano’s Pizza, Antonella’s Pizzeria & Restaurant, Belvedere Country Inn, Coppola’s Italian Bistro, 2 Taste Food & Wine Bar, Cranberry’s at Tilley Hall, Pete’s Famous Restaurant, Portofino Ristorante. There is also a Rita’s Italian Ice, Dunkin Donuts, Baskin Robbins, Dairy Queen and McDonalds. Hyde Park also has a Super Stop and Shop and Stewart's shop for your grocery needs.

Crossroads Pub and Darby O'Gills are two nice quality bars in the area.

Hyde Park also has a roller rink, a drive-in movie theatre, the River Connection which has guided Kayak Tours and Hyde Park Landing which has Hudson River access.

As a shopping destination, Hyde Park is also quite fun with a wonderful array of interesting stores including an Amish Market, Deer Hill Farm Cross Stitching, Green Oak Florist, Hyde Park Jeweler, Hyde Park Farmer’s Market, The Kitchen Drawer, Liquorama Wine Cellars, The New Deal Store, Molloy Pharmacy (which is like a General Store), Hyde Park Antiques Center and Village Antiques as well as some additional bookstores, antique stores and florists.

Students are a part of the Hyde Park Central School District which is pretty good.

Hyde Park is quite safe and the crime rate is low.

The median household income is about $50,870.

The population of Hyde Park is approximately 21,571.