WILLIAMSTOWN — A new playground at the Oswego County Nature Park at Camp Zerbe was unveiled during a ribbon cutting on Friday, August 14.
Camp Zerbe is owned by Oswego County and operated by the Oswego City-County Youth Bureau’s Division of Parks and Recreation. Located east of Happy Valley Wildlife Management Area on state Route 104, the 540-acre park features three miles of trails, picnic areas, educational displays, three kettlehole lakes, and now a playground.
“This is a great example of a community coming together,†said Legislature Chairman Barry Leemann. “The playground is a great addition to this area of the county.â€Â
In attendance for the ribbon cutting were Assemblyman David Townsend, 115th Assembly District; Oswego County Legislature Chairman Barry Leemann, Amboy; County Administrator Phil Church, Oswego City-County Youth Bureau Director Kathleen Fenlon, Senior Youth Services Specialist Jim Farfaglia, Oswego County Conservation Corps Director Ron Lagoe and members of AmeriCorps and Youth Works.
Funding for the playground equipment came from a legislative grant obtained by the Youth Bureau through Assemblyman Townsend. The Oswego County Highway and Buildings and Grounds departments helped with the site preparation. The Summer Youth Employment Program, sponsored by the County Department of Social Services and Division of Employment and Training, assigned a crew of Oswego County Conservation Corps youth to do trail work at Camp Zerbe and help the caretaker, Jon Hiller, install the playground.
“Oswego County is grateful to Assemblyman Townsend for providing a legislative grant that enabled us to purchase playground equipment,†said Fenlon. “We are very excited. The playground will be used by local families, as well as the many out-of-town visitors that come to Zerbe throughout the year.â€Â
“We tried to keep the playground as simple in style and color as possible, so as not to detract from the natural beauty of Camp Zerbe,†said Farfaglia. “The addition of the playground will add so much to the Camp Zerbe facility. Many youth groups and families use the park for special events and will enjoy the playground for leisure time activities.â€Â
For more information about Camp Zerbe, visit the Oswego County Web site at http://oswegocounty.com/youth/CZerbe/Zerbe.html, contact the Oswego City-County Youth Bureau at 315-349-3451 or e-mail Jim Farfaglia at [email protected].
