Ossining

 Like many of the lovely Westchester County river communities along the scenic Hudson River, the village of Ossining is steeped in history and offers a wealth of waterfront recreation, many forms of public transportation, award-winning public schools, gracious residences and an affluent lifestyle. Residents enjoy its close proximity to New York City, which is accessible in under an hour by car or rail. Boasting a population of about 25,000 residents and encompassing an area of a little over 6 square miles, the village of Ossining has been ranked among the top 10 places to live in New York State. The village and a portion of neighboring Briarcliff Manor are located within the 16.6 square mile town of Ossining, which is home to about 37,700 residents.

Numerous forms of transportation connect Ossining residents to not only New York City, but also to communities throughout Westchester County. Metro-North, which runs along the Hudson River, makes several stops servicing residents: one in the center of the village at Ossining Station and the other at the Scarborough Station. The train station in Ossining provides computers with rail service via Metro-North’s Hudson line to Grand Central Station, and the trains run approximately every half hour. Travel time to Grand Central Station by rail is about 50 minutes. Ferry service, provided by the MTA, also runs during rush hours between Ossining and Rockland County’s Haverstraw. Additionally, commuters enjoy access to bus service provided by the Bee-Line bus system.

The Ossining Union Free School District comprises several elementary schools, a middle school and high school, in addition to an early childhood center. Ossining High School received the honor in 2012 of being named an Intel Star Innovator and School of Distinction for excellence in high school science programs. The district schools include, in addition to the high school: the Anne M. Dorner Middle School, Roosevelt Elementary school, Claremont Elementary School, Brookside School and the Park Early Childhood Center

Downtown Ossining offers myriad opportunities for shopping and dining, with its many retail stores, boutiques, eateries and businesses. The village boasts ample meter parking in it’s downtown hub. Ossining’s diverse assortment of restaurants offers taste sure to please all palates, from Jamaican, German, Chinese or Italian cuisine to fresh seafood, great burgers, and freshly baked sweets found at local hotspots. Whether out for a festive night on the town or a relaxing mid-day break at the local café, Ossining’s eateries have much to offer.

The town Ossining maintains more than 130 acres of park land, which offers residents myriad opportunities for outdoor recreation. The recreation and parks department oversees numerous fields and facilities, including ball fields and baseball courts, horseshoe pits, soccer and football fields, fitness trails, tennis courts, playgrounds, picnic areas and walking/biking trails. There is even a dog park in Ossining at 235 Cedar Lane where four-legged friends can also take advantage of the great outdoors. Golfers enjoy teeing off at the 18-hole Hudson Hills Golf Course in Ossining.

When it comes to exceptional communities in Westchester County in which to live, Ossining has ranked among the best. Westchester Magazine gave Ossining the No. 2 spot in it’s periodic assessment of communities, based on above average schools, shopping, lively nightlife, downtown, property taxes, diverse population, housing costs, proximity to the river, and wealth of parks and recreation.