Mariano Rivera weighs in on Westchester County prep school battle

WHITE PLAINS, Westchester County (WABC) -- There's a battle underway in Westchester County over a plan to build a new school.

The $60 million proposal would build a private prep school at the site of the former Ridgewood Country Club, but critics say the school poses a safety risk. Now, even former New York Yankees star Mariano Rivera is weighing in.

The property was purchased by the French American School of New York, with the plan to build schools for 640 students in grades 6 through 12 who are currently scattered in three different locations across the county.

But some residents say the neighborhood can't handle the additional traffic, as there are already six schools within a one-mile radius. And some believe the project is just the first phase in the ultimate goal of building a large-scale prep school campus.

Rivera recently joined the fray. The Yankees legend is building a $5 million mansion across the street from the property, and he has written a letter expressing safety concerns. Opponentsare glad to have the former all-star as a teammate.

"He really hit the nail on the head," White Plains resident Pat Lee said. "He took one look and said, 'These roads are already dangerous. These roads are already busy.' This is not supportable. It's not supported by the residents, and it's not sustainable."

For its part, the school has scaled back the project considerably and promised to give 60 acres of the golf course as park land at no cost to the city.