Phase one fundraising for Spencer Street Park is complete

The CNY Children’s Foundation announced that phase one construction of the ADA- compliant Spencer Street Park will begin this coming spring.

The Handicap- accessible park, which will be situated next to the Canastota Community Pool, will be an inclusive attraction for children and families all around, officials say.

Purchase of the Jolly Roger Pirate ship and supporting playground equipment will be made within the month, and fundraising for phase two is expected to begin soon.

The following are major contributors for phase one of the project:

Nice and Easy Grocery Shoppe

James & Juli Boeheim Foundation

Abscope Corp

CNY Community Foundation Chapman Charitable Foundation

Oneida Saving Bank Charitable Foundation Walmart Employees Basilio Buda Sausage, Co. Big Kahuna Sausage Stand Canastota VFW Post 600 Gerald & Ellen Romagnoli in Memory of John & Lucy Romagnoli

Mark Laclair in Memory of Walter & Lucy Laclair

Steven & Carole Ann P Sinnett John and Jean Finocchiaro As the project moves along, the design of the park is changing slightly to incorporate more natural elements, like poles with rope to represent a pier, a project official stated. Such elements are also more easily obtainable and in stock at surrounding municipality facilities.

Additionally, CNY Children’s Foundation officials say that the plastic for the slides and swings will be donated by the German company who makes them, and metal for the swings will be donated by another company.

Much of the park is expected to be finished and installed by late spring 2021, except for the Aeroglider, which is a wheelchair- accessible type of attraction the moves back and forth. Separate fundraising will likely be necessary to bring in this special piece of equipment.

People or organizations who wish to make a donation or learn more can visit CNY Children’s Foundation. org or mail contributions to: CNY Children’s Foundation at PO Box 90, Canastota, NY 13032.

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Donations to aid playground project in Canastota

CANASTOTA — The Big Kahuna and Basilio Buda Sausage teamed up to raise money for the CNY Children’s Foundation and donated $1,000 total for the Spencer Street playground project.

With the New York State Fair closed this year, the Big Kahuna sold its food near Tops in early July while taking all the precautions needed to be compliant with New York guidelines in the face of COVID.

Basilio Buda Sausage and the Big Kahuna both donated $500 for the Spencer Street playground project to purchase ADA compliant playground equipment.

The park will be located next to the Spencer Street Public Pool and under control of the village of Canastota. The ADA compliant playground will be the only one of its kind in the region.

The current goal of the CNY Children’s Foundation is to raise around $172,000 in donations to purchase the ADA compliant equipment and fencing for the street park. The CNY Children’s Fund also raised money for the park now built in Wampsville, near the Social Services building. Donators to the CNY Children’s Foundation include Diemolding Corporation, Nice and Easy Grocery Shoppes, Abscope Corporation, James and Juli Boheim Foundation, Gerald and Ellen Romagnoli in memory of John and Lucy Romagnoli, the CNY Community Foundation, Oneida Savings Bank Charitable Foundation, Steven and Carole Ann P. Sinnett, Dr. Kerry Brown, Mark LaClair in Memory of Walter and Lucy LaClair, Walmart, Diemolding Employees, Community Car Wash, former Lenox Supervisor John Pinard, the Canastota VFW Post 600, and the Chapman Charitable Foundation.

People or organizations who wish to make a donation or learn more can visit cnychildrensfoundation.org, call 315-697-3331 or email spencerstreetpark@gmail.com for more information.

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Wampsville Community park officially open

WAMPSVILLE, N.Y. >> Two years after the committee was formed, and a year after construction, the Wampsville Community Park is officially finished — with only a few final touches planned.

Members of the Wampsville Community Park Committee and residents came out for the official ribboncutting, with some of their children taking the chance to hop onto the swings before the adults started talking.

Committee Chair Lori Seymour said there have been some new additions since construction was finished last August.

“In one year, we built this entire park. We’ve got the accelerator swing in; we’re getting the slide ready and there’s going to be a wheelchair accessible picnic table,” Seymour said. “We’re going to add some trees

and bushes after but I think that’s it for now.”

The park has been open since its construction was completed last year, except for closing in the winter or during the addition of new equipment. Since then, Seymour says she has always seen people using the park when she drives by. Not too long ago, she said, she saw a family have an afternoon picnic in the park — something she agreed is rare nowadays.

Seymour added that there may be more down the road, but that it’s still too early to tell.

At the ribbon- cutting ceremony, Seymour thanked all the committee members who spent countless hours volunteering to ensure the park was built, the fundraising efforts of residents and buildings — including Die Molding who matched the committee’s $25,000 raised — and organizations like the Central New York Children’s Foundation who made the process of becoming a 501 (c) (3) much easier.

Highlighting how important local parks can be, Seymour quoted educational psychologist Patricia Ramsey, saying “Play, while it cannot change the external realities of children’s lives, can be a vehicle for children to explore and enjoy their differences and similarities and to create, even for a brief time, a more just world where everyone is an equal and a valued participant.”

“At any given moment,” she continued. “You will see parents, grandparents, children, foster care workers, community residents children with their parents and teenagers here enjoying this space. A mom who was a school teacher shared that this past summer, she and her children went to different parks in central New York. They lived in Westmoreland and happened to go by our park one day.”

According to Seymour, the mother described the Wampsville Community Park as one of her family’s favorites, saying “…it seems calm, relaxing and inviting.”

And thanks to it being ADA accessible, another mother was able to watch their child with developmental delays have fun with other children without any issue, Seymour added.

“I am sure you can imagine just how proud I was and for those of you who know me, you will know that it made me tear up to hear this,” Seymour said.

CNY Children’s Foundation President Peter Finocchiaro said the park turned out great and was proud to be part of the project. He and his granddaughter, Isabella Szemkow, took a turn at the swings before the day was over.

“I love this community,” Seymour said. “So it’s nice when you’re able to give back.”

Fundraising will continue for the park through the Wampsville village office. Residents can purchase a paver to honor, remember or celebrate someone special. Donations are always welcome, and those that donate will be recognized through the “Friends of the Park” wall on the back of the park sign. Funds will be used to complete a slide, even with the ground, the addition of new plants and bushes and more.

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Playground receives $7,000 donation

The CNY Community Foundation has donated $7,000 to the CNY Children’s Foundation for the Spencer Street playground project to purchase ADA compliant playground equipment.

Representatives of the CNY Children’s Foundation said the budget for phase one is almost complete and the equipment is expected to be purchased this fall, with installation following in the spring.

The park will be located next to the Spencer Street Public Pool and under control of the village of Canastota.

The Spencer Street playground project has received a total of $17,500 — The James and Juli Boeheim Foundation donated $10,000 and Walmart

donated $500.

People or organizations wishing to make a donation or learn more can visit cnychildrensfoundation.org or send an email request to spencerstreetpark@gmail.com.

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Spencer Street Park receives $10,000 donation from the James and Julie Boeheim Foundation

CANASTOTA, N.Y. >> After receiving donations totaling $10,500, the CNY Children’s Foundation is moving forward with the purchase of Americans with Disabilities Act-compliant playground equipment for the Spencer Street playground.

The James and Juli Boeheim Foundation donated $10,000 and Walmart donated $500 to the Canastota Spencer Street Playground project.

Representatives of the CNY Children’s Foundation said the budget for phase one is almost complete and the equipment is expected to be purchased this fall, with installation following in the spring.

The park will be located next to the Spencer Street Public Pool and under control of the village of Canastota.

Canastota Village Administrator Jenn Farwell, Canastota Mayor Carla DeShaw and CNY Children’s Foundation President

Peter Finocchiaro were presented with a check from the Boeheim Foundation in Canastota on Thursday, Aug. 1.

People or organizations who wish to make a donation or learn more can visit cnychildrensfoundation.org or email spencerstreetpark@gmail.com.

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Abscope donates $10,000 to Park

Abscope Environmental, Inc. of Canastota has pledge $10,000towards the construction of Canastota Spencer Street Park.

CANASTOTA, N.Y. » Abscope Environmental, Inc. of Canastota has pledge $10,000 towards the construction of Canastota Spencer Street Park, which is to be located next to the Spencer Street Pool in Canastota.

The budget to build the park is $150,000. This will be one of the only handicap accessible and usable parks in the region. Construction is expected to begin next fall. The project is being spearheaded by the CNY Chil- drens Foundation, a not for-profit organization devoted to building children parks throughout Central New York, and the Village of Canastota.

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Playground for All

CANASTOTA >> There is no existing park or playground in the entire Madison County region that provides full accessibility to individuals with locomotor disabilities, and one Canstota man is spearheading a project to change that.

President of the Central New York Children’s Foundation and Canastota Rotary Club project chairman Peter Finocchario explained the need for such an inclusive playground to members of the Oneidas Club at a recent luncheon.

“There is no fully handicap accessible park in the entire region,” he said. “This ADA-compliant playground will be the only one of its kind in the region and will be used by a wide range of people and groups.”

He also believes the playground can serve as an informative, educational experience through the inclusive nature of the design.

Plans for the playground are well underway. Finocchario said the location will be on Spencer Street in Canastota, directly adjacent to the community pool. The village has already provided the land for the project and will also be responsible for security, maintenance and insurance. The Town of Lenox has committed a workforce for the site preparation.

The overall theme of the playground will be a raider or pirate theme in homage to the Canastota school mascot. Items include a teeter-totter that can facilitate two individuals in wheelchairs, dragon-styled slides, an aeroglider, a platform swing, and a belt swing designed specifically for immobile or paraplegic individuals.

Keeping with the pirate theme, the central piece of equipment is called the “Jolly Voyager” and is designed in the shape of a ship, replete with slides, a bridge and climbing wall. Blue chips will cover the ground, helping alleviate danger from falls or trips.

Fencing will surround the perimeter of the park due to the close proximity to the road, Finocchario said. There will also be a pavilion for a picnic area.

Currently, organizers are seeking a 501c3 tax exempt status in order to access fur- ther grant opportunities and kick off a local fund raiser.

Finocchario said engineering studies are complete and contracts have been signed, but the CNY Children’s Foundation needs support in order to finance the project.

The projected cost of the playground is $137,806 with a budgeted cost of $150,000. The CNY Children’s Foundation has secured donations from various local organizations such as Nice N’ Easy and the Canastota Rotary Interact Club.

As of March, the foundation received nearly $22,000 in private donations, bringing them almost halfway to the private donation goal of $50,000. The goal of $10,000 to $20,000 in donations from corporate groups has already been exceeded as the CNY Children’s Foundation has received $25,000. For grant monies, the goal is to acquire between $75,000 and $100,000 in Rotary Global and district simplified grants amongst others.

Finocchario also plans to approach New York State Assemblyman William Magee, D-121, and Sen. David Valesky, D-53, to see if the politicians will match funds raised by the community for the playground.

Finocchario said his organization intends to create a gofundme account to generate donations for the project.

The CNY Children’s Foundation president wants all members of the community to be aware of and involved in the project, including local area students.

“The more kids are involved in the project, the more they patrol it and watch out for it,” he said.

He also stressed the fact that the playground will be open to the greater Cen- tral New York community as a result of its proximity to the Thruway exit. Surrounding the park are the Villages of Canastota and Wampsville, the Towns of Lenox and Lincoln and the Hamlet of Whitelaw, all of whom have no municipal park. It is the intention that this all inclusive park will service the entire re- gion. The park will be accessible to regional travelers using the inter-state and recreational trail-ways that pass within 200 yards of the facility.

“This is not just a Canastota project,” Finocchario said, explaining his goal of creating similar parks and playgrounds after this one. “It’s the first work in a larger overall project.”

If fundraising is successful, he said the “dream” would be to begin the initial phase of development for the park this Fall. Finocchario hopes for volunteers from the community to assist in assembling the playground when the time comes, saying that a fifty- person team could assemble the playground in three days.

“I want everybody in the region to be aware of it,” he said of the playground and his group’s efforts to make the dream a reality. “Every penny, without exception, will be for equipment or something involved in the park.”

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Nice N Easy donates to Spencer Street Park

The convenience store chain donated $20,000 toward the construction of the Canastota park near the pool.

CANASTOTA >> Nice N Easy Grocery Shoppes has donated $10,000 towards the construction of Spencer Street Park, to be located next to the Spencer Street Pool.

A community fund raiser is scheduled to begin next month for the park, which has a budget of $150,000. Construction is expected to begin this fall

he project is being spearheaded by the CNY Children’s Foundation, a not-for-profit organization devoted to building children parks throughout Central New York.

The donation by Nice N Easy was one of five grants to local organizations made with proceeds from the Syracuse Country Run, a 5K fun run.

The local charities that benefitted from the proceeds from the Country Run were Aldersgate Camp & Retreat Center, Paige’s Butterfly Run, Inc., Rotary Foundation/CNY Children’s Foundation Inc., Tillie’s Touch and Upstate Golisano Children’s Hospital.

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Playground planned for Spencer Street Park

Officials say fundraising for a planned handicap accessible Spencer Street Park beside the pool in Canastota is due to begin this winter.

Getting an early start is recent Canastota graduate Allyson Malbouf, who recently gave a check for $500 from the Interact Club to Rotary President June Clarke. The Interact Club has now donated $1,000 toward its construction.

Fundraising is beings spear- headed by the CNY Children’s Foundation and Canastota Rotary Club. CNY Children’s Foundation is a not-for-profit organization devoted to building children parks throughout Central New York.

Peter M. Finocchiaro, president of CNY Childrens Foundation and Canastota Rotary Club project chairman, says there are several steps that must be accomplished first, so it’s impossible to set a date, but organizers would like to complete it next year. He also said announcements of grants for the project are “imminent.”

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