Westchester County honored the extraordinary life, leadership and legacy of Congresswoman Nita M. Lowey with the dedication of the United States Congresswoman Nita M. Lowey Community Green at Kensico Dam Plaza.
For more than three decades, Lowey served the people of Westchester County in the United States House of Representatives, earning a reputation as a tireless advocate for the communities she represented and a powerful voice on behalf of families, children, environmental protection, health care, education and critical federal investments.
Westchester County Executive Ken Jenkins said: “Nita Lowey dedicated her life to public service and to making life better for the people she represented. Her impact can be seen and felt throughout Westchester County, not only in the investments and initiatives she championed, but in the example she set as a leader of integrity, compassion and determination. It is fitting that this beautiful public space at Kensico Dam Plaza now carries her name and will serve as a lasting reminder of an extraordinary public servant and an extraordinary Westchester resident.”
United States Senator Chuck Schumer said: “Nita Lowey was a happy warrior for the people of Westchester. A history-maker as the first woman to chair the powerful Appropriations Committee, she delivered billions to support education, affordable healthcare, women’s rights, and better roads, bridges, and water systems. She was passionate and compassionate and worked across the aisle to get things done for the people of the Hudson Valley and beyond – from the Violence Against Women Act to expanding access to Head Start for millions. I was extremely fortunate to call Congresswoman Lowey a colleague and, above all, a dear friend. Establishing the Rep. Nita Lowey Community Green in Valhalla is a fitting tribute to an amazing person.”
United States Senator Kirsten Gillibrand said: “Nita was not only my colleague for many years, but she was also a close friend who exemplified persistence and compassion. She loved our nation and had a passion for public service that never wavered throughout her 32 years in office. Throughout her career, Nita broke barriers that changed the course of our state and improved her community. As the first woman to chair the House Appropriations Committee, her decisions and leadership helped get critical infrastructure projects completed and money into the pockets of New Yorkers. This community green, dedicated in her honor, will help ensure Nita’s service to our country will never be forgotten.”
Lowey represented parts of Westchester County in Congress from 1989 through her retirement in 2021. During her 32 years in the House of Representatives, she rose to become Chairwoman of the House Appropriations Committee, becoming the first woman in congressional history to hold the position. She died March 15, 2025.
Throughout her career, Lowey fought to bring federal resources home to Westchester and the region while championing issues of national and international significance. Her leadership helped strengthen local communities, protect the environment, support public transportation, expand access to health care and education, and improve the lives of children and families.
The newly dedicated United States Congresswoman Nita M. Lowey Community Green created a permanent tribute at one of Westchester County’s most recognizable and beloved public spaces. The Community Green will ensure that Lowey’s contributions to Westchester, and the example she set through a lifetime devoted to public service, will be remembered for generations to come.