Date: March 27, 2001

To: Senator Hillary Clinton

From: Floyd T. Holt

RE: Creating a 21st Century Science and Technology Discovery Center

Dear Mrs. Clinton;

I am in the process of creating a series of national Science and Technology Centers across the United States. The first of these will be in New York and, hopefully, the second will be in Washington, DC. I believe, as many do, that we need a way to attract and retain tourists in Hyde Park and Dutchess County. Presently, in fact, the number of tourists visiting our area is rapidly diminishing! This proposal is meant to transform Hyde Park and the surrounding region into a tourist destination for Dutchess County. It would consist of a Science and Technology Discovery Center surrounded by a tourist village. It would be in close proximity to the Roosevelt Historic sites and serve to draw visitors to the Roosevelt Home, the Vanderbuilt Mansion, the Culinary Institute and others and to improve and perpetuate tourism in Dutchess County and New York State. At the same time it would also be a wonderful opportunity to educate school children, from near and far, and at the same time encourage them to witness the History that surrounds the beautiful Hudson Valley. In addition, we are confident that its operation will enhance the Park Service iniatives. We wish to enlist your support in this endeavor.

As you may know I am the president of "The Classroom of the Future, Inc." a non- profit corporation dedicated to improving the quality of Science education in America. We have received the support of numerous corporations which are featured on our web site which may be found at http://www.spaceshipclassroom.com. I am now in the process of contacting numerous corporations and writing a series of State and Federal grants to create a number of national science and technology discovery centers across the United States.

With this letter we are asking for your assistance to obtain $50,000 in bullet aid from the governor’s budget. My target goal for the initial funding is $350,000 with an eventual total of $5,000,000. Thank you, in advance, and we would appreciate so much your help in this endeavor. I have also included supplementary information, for your reference, below. If you have any questions please feel free to contact me at home at 914-229-6263 (H).

Sincerely,

Floyd T. Holt

President- "The Classroom of the Future, Inc."

Walt Disney American Teacher in Science for the United States

Presidential Award for Excellence in Science and Math in the USA

Princeton Woodrow Wilson National Fellow

IBM Teacher of the Year

Physics Teacher Resource Agent for the United States

All-USA TEACHER TEAM FOR THE UNITED STATES

PROPOSAL

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Introduction: I believe, as many do, that we need a way to attract and retain tourists in Hyde Park and Dutchess County. Presently visitors see the FDR site, then Vanderbilt Mansion and promptly leave for Rhinebeck.( With only 4-5 hours of sightseeing available to them there is not enough of a venue to retain them.) With the tourist village and Technology museum a greater number of families would be encouraged to travel here because it would educate their children with the latest technology, and provide them with a way to understand the importance of the history of this area. Children, in this fashion and who may not have the same initial interest as their parents, would be have a different, almost introductory way to explore this experience with their parents.

This concept employs a proactive rather than reactive approach for the future of Hyde Park before it is too late.

Background Information

As you may know I have been working on a project on Education in the Future. Essentially I have created the "Classroom of Tomorrow". I have enlisted the support of a vast number of corporate executives. As a result this project has received over $2,000,000 worth of Corporate and Educational grants and donations and is also sponsored by the White House, The National Science Foundation and many other sponsors. In addition I am a Walt Disney American Teacher in Science for the United States, a Princeton Woodrow Wilson National Fellow and a Presidential ward for Excellence in Science and Math in the USA.

Television Appearances

To date we have appeared on many national television programs: MSNBC (which was recently broadcast worldwide for 250,000,000 people), Channel 2, Channel 4, The Disney Channel, Channel 6, The USA Channel.

Coalition

If a "Gateway to Hyde Park" coalition were to be formed, we could bring together all stakeholders, such as The Town Board, The Chamber of Commerce, Scenic Hudson, National Park Service, local businesses, public, private and college students, as well as the Hyde Park community, etc. to create a Dutchess County village center for tourists, area residents and school children at the entrance to Hyde Park. It would serve as a point of departure and offer them a greater number of options than currently exist.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 



Location: On the southwest corner of Rt. 9 and St. Andrews Road there exists an ideal location on which to locate the gateway to Hyde Park. It would not detract from the mansions and other tourist attractions but rather serve to enhance and supplement them. Currently the Dutchess County attractions are separate and isolated entities but in a sense this plan would put together all the pieces of the puzzle in a grand scheme to make Hyde Park a tourist Destination.

Defining The Town Center: This project would help to define where the center of Hyde Park should be. Description: See attached

Scale model: A Scale model would be built and 3D virtual reality walk-through is presently being designed

Parking: All parking would be in the rear so as not to distract from the appearance.

Map: A special map using ICONS, (pictures) to colorfully denote all areas of interest would be generated similar to the one that was started several years ago. (Similar to the one created in Freeport Maine)

Merchants could subsidize this map.

Entrance: Ideally visitors would encounter a "roundabout" or a small service road leading to this complex. They would enter a ROTUNDA where visitors could see, illuminated panels illustrating "THE BEST OF HYDE PARK". In this way they could receive a map or plan an itinerary on the computer while here and thus visualize all of the wonderful places we have to offer.

KIOSK: A KIOSK in the center of the Rotunda with a large plasma display screen and touch screen computers would show continuous historical movies and photos of our wonderful town including the Roosevelt era, allow them to see the large map and clearly depict all of those features we wish them to visit with colorful icons.

 

 

College connection- High School and College students could assist in the design, development, and implementation of these facilities thus providing a greater sense of ownership. They could also serve as guides and mentors for possible credit in their curriculum studies.

Teacher Training

Teachers would have access to the latest technologies

Elementary teachers would be able to offer a Science component to their students.

Business leaders

Corporations and small businesses alike would have a high technology conference center in which to teleconference with similar businesses across the USA.

They could form partnerships here with schools and each other.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Multifaceted Goals and Objectives: The operation would be multifunctional and have the ability to serve many needs including Public Service. It would:

The Spirit of Cooperation: Ideally this project would allow the many committees in Hyde Park to mutually join forces for the common goal of creating a beautiful Hyde Park.

 

 

 

 

 

 

The FDR Connection

Methods to illustrate the History and importance of this area

Technology

Large LCD displays

would greet visitors

Touch screen interactive computers

would allow them to navigate through a myriad of ideas

Narrated Audio tours

(such as those in the JFK museum in Dallas Texas)

Large interactive Science, Technology and other displays

for children of all ages.

Operation: We are hopeful that its operation will enhance the Park Service iniatives.

Design: Presently the design is subject to modification

Sketches and Renderings: Initial designs will be followed by more complete renderings.

Location: Southwest corner of the intersection of Route 9 and St. Andrews Road

Plot Plan: Available on request

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Signage: To be mutually agreed upon

Consulting: David Pesanelli and company. (Others available upon request).

Land acquisition: Presently Dutchess County owns this parcel and is looking for a viable solution.

Funding: Foundation grants and Corporate funding as well as Government programs.

Fees: Visitors would be charged a $4 fee for the operation of the center while the primary cost

could be obtained from a Federal or State grant with matching corporate funds.

Web Site: Our "Classroom of the Future, Inc." web Site address is: www.spaceshipclassroom.com

Rationale: According to the latest data, the number of tourists visiting Hyde Park continues to significantly diminish.

Access: There would be a Roundabout with signs and a gateway with good access but the facility

would be mostly obscure from Route 9.

Developers: The property in question is presently owned by the County. Other areas are owned by Columbia Hyde (400 acres)

We could publish a package including this information with appropriate diagrams and meet with Developers looking for realistic projects

Brochures: Trifold brochures similar to those on display will be commercially printed and distributed.

Zoning, Environmental and Visual Factors:

Avoid strip development

All parties should come to a consensus

Marketing and advertising: Pamphlets and advertising could be created that would draw attention to this facility and distributed, among other places at the Roosevelt Home; in newspapers, magazines and via the offices of Dutchess County Tourism.

Architecture and Appearance: It is imperative that the appearance not deter from the landscaping of the town with its beautiful mansions. For this reason we are suggesting that it be set back at least 150 feet from Route 9 and be obscured from view by a buffer zone of trees and plantings. It is our hope that the external architecture of this operation will fit the guidelines of the Dutchess County Greenway plan and the initiatives of Scenic Hudson.

Parking: All parking will be in the rear and be environmentally sound.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Conclusions:

The Future: The whole concept could be expanded at a future date to make the museum larger and possibly include a tourist village, similar to the one described in various other places including various articles in the Poughkeepsie Journal. Other towns could also be included to create a grander scale.