Putnam Valley

Let me begin by saying that I do not believe most people move to Putnam Valley for the shopping. Putnam Valley is just over the Westchester County border but there's a world of difference in the feel of the town. You can enjoy the rural feeling you get while winding down the country roads and yet be only minutes from the hustle and bustle of Rt.6 where you will find the Cortlandt Town Center, Jefferson Valley Mall etc. Putnam Valley does offer the essentials including the small strip mall with a bagel shop,beauty salon, tanning salon,dance academy and other shops all next to a medical building, post office, deli & bank. One could also not neglect to mention the Putnam Valley Market (one of my favorites) with their own pizza ovens and freshly made dailly specials. So as you can see Putnam Valley is a unique town where people come to live and enjoy that peaceful hometown feeling and still be only minutes away from all of the suburban amenities like shopping centers, restaurants, movie theatres, golf courses etc.

A supportive community with extensive parental involvement,an active PTA/PTSA, the Putnam Valley Central School District supports academic excellence and well-rounded extra curricular programs. The districts three schools serve 2000 students and its 300 teachers and staff members are known for their education, expertise and commitment to the students. PV boasts a brand new state-of-the-art high school, wireless internet access in all classrooms and buildings and a one to one laptop program for all students ( I believe from 5th grade & up they receive their own laptop for use during the school year). The districts award winning technology program is leading the way through the 21st century & giving students cutting edge training in new areas of study for the future. You can always check out their website for further info. on the schools, test scores etc. www.pvcsd.org

Putnam Valley is both a town and hamlet in Putnam County, NY and is affectionately referred to as the “Town of Lakes,” as it does indeed have many pretty ones. It doesn’t have many amenities, however, so it is good for those who prefer a quiet lifestyle and do own a reliable car.

Putnam Valley is a little scant on decent eateries but does have Forno III Brick Oven Pizzeria, Spruce Hill Inn, Panda Garden and Richy’s Pub Grub. For more options one need not go far to nearby Mohegan Lake where there is Augie’s Prime Cut, Café Pizzazz, Piazza Roma, Panera Bread, Baskin Robbins, Applebees, Cold Stone Creamery, Wild Fusion and Mohegan Diner.

As far as retail shopping, there isn’t a whole lot in Putnam Valley itself, but there are some major stores in nearby towns. Cortland Manor has a Marshalls and a Kohl’s. Mohegan Lake has a Walmart, a Bed Bath & Beyond, a Barnes & Noble, an Old Navy and an UA Cortland Stadium 11 multiplex showing the latest biggies. The Jefferson Valley Mall in Yorktown Heights is within reasonable driving distance at 4.3 miles and there you will find Macy’s and Sears as well as over 90 specialty stores including such favorites as H & M, Hollister, Victoria’s Secret, Express, Foot Locker, Gap, etc. They also have a 400-seat food court and a lot of other great restaurants, chain and independent, in the immediate area.

There is a Super Stop & Shop in Peekskill which is about 2.9 miles away and a DeCicco Marketplace in Jefferson Valley which is about 3.3 miles away.

Every September, the town holds the wonderful Putnam Valley Town Day with fun exhibits, vendors, a concert and a fireworks display.

There is also Putnam Valley Town Park which has three lighted tennis courts, several multi-purpose courts, two playgrounds, a rentable pavilion with a full kitchen, two sanded volleyball courts, several playing fields, a roller hockey rink, horseshoe pits and some nice hiking trails. Putnam Valley has access to Clarence Fahnestock State Park, a stunning 14,086 acre park that boasts a beautiful beach, picnic areas, wonderful hiking trails, a pretty campground, boating, hunting, fishing and birding.

Putnam Valley is also not far from the fantastic Franklin D. Roosevelt State Park in Yorktown Heights which has an enormous and very popular outdoor pool, disc golf, cross country skiing, snowshoeing, sledding, snowmobiling, ice skating, boat rentals, boat launches, playgrounds, playing fields, hiking, fishing, pavilions, picnic tables, concession areas and restrooms and showers. The town park has a wonderful concert series that kicks off in May and hosts some pretty great acts including the likes of Steve Forbert. The concerts are always free and they sell reasonably priced food. The park also holds a fun car show. Putnam Valley also has the Lucky Dog Park. Just make sure you register your furry friends at the park and rec office first!

Putnam Valley students are a part of the Putnam Valley Central School District which is quite good.

The median household income is $72,938.

The population is approximately 11,000.

People flock to Putnam Valley for its lack of urban sprawl and environmental appeal. The town is surrounded by rolling hills, miles and miles of trees and rocky terrain with an expanse of trails and recreational areas to compliment the landscape. If there's one place that's ideal for nature lovers, outdoorsmen, sportsmen and those who just appreciate quiet, Putnam Valley is definitely the area you're looking for. Accessible by the Taconic State Parkway and Route 301 from Carmel, Putnam Valley makes its name for possessing parts of Clarence Fahnestock State Park, which contains lakes, ponds, trails, etc. The town's huge recreational park doubles as a sports arena and venue for various performances throughout the summer months. There are various summer camps and educational programs to get the community engaged with the community at large. The residents are kind and community-oriented.

While Putnam Valley offers an intimate relationship with nature, there is not much business to compliment the surrounding landscape. Some enjoy the fact that the town encourages developers to lump houses together, others are frustrated with the town's lack of commercial development. There is one intersection in town (Oregon Corners) that holds a glorified deli, bagel shop, doctor's office, etc., but a lack of sidewalks and parking lots makes it difficult to shop in this small sector. Those looking to shop are forced to travel to Mahopac, and those needing county services must travel 35 minutes to the county seat in Carmel.

What Putnam Valley contains in beauty and seclusion it makes up for with a lack of development, both in housing and business.