All Scape, Parks and Recreation and Councilman Donald Patrick Jr. work together to revamp Patrick Park with the majority funding from neighborhood donations.
FULTON, NY – Patrick Park on Frawley Drive in Fulton is beginning the steps to a much needed revamp.
With the guidance of Parks and Recreation Superintendent, Barry Ostrander and employees, the park is in the beginning stages of installing state certified safety material for landing zones to then be able to hang swings.
New state certifications have required new safety materials to be installed under landing zones with strict requirements that vary based on material chosen and height of the structures, because of this the city has been delayed in putting up swings at all city parks although it is a top priority.
Donald Patrick Jr., councilman of the third ward in which the park is located has taken a personal, proactive approach to raising funds to complete the project.
After Patrick approached many local businesses such as Sunoco and GHD Engineering and many neighbors from within the ward to make donations for the park’s benefit, he has been able to raise roughly $3,000.
Another local business from within the ward, All Scapes Landscaping company has agreed to do the preliminary work including excavating the necessary areas to the required depth to prepare the site for pea stone to be laid based on state regulations.
“I just wanted to show that we have a lot of companies that care in this community and residents that care as well,” he continued, referencing the many donations he has received to help fund the park.
All Scapes and the Parks and Recreation employees will continue to install the necessary landing zone material to the park before installing the swings, a new slide and one piece of playground equipment transported from Rowlee Beach Park and eventually Patrick hopes to secure even more playground equipment.
“This is the same park I grew up playing at and there are more kids coming back in the area, they should get to enjoy it the same as I did,” said Patrick.
He is hopeful and confident that the work will be completed as early as next week so the park will be ready for the AmeriCorps Summer Fun in Fulton’s Parks program to begin, a program in which kids in grades pre-school to sixth will be able to participate in healthy, physical activity throughout the summer at designated city parks.
“These were some of my biggest concerns when I decided to run,” said Patrick. “It’s about our kids, and they need these parks this summer.”
Ostrander says there are only three remaining parks in the city that need swings up, those are Hulett Park which has recently began being dug out as well, John Lincoln Park and Oswego Falls Park.
missing or outdated ad config
Great job Don. With more councilman like you this city will be back on it’s feet in no time. I loved going to Patrick Park everyday when I was a kid.
The city parks were a big part of mine and my children’s summers. We had park attendants that did many activities with the kids. At the end of summer was the competition of all the parks in the city. My stepdad did a cook out for the kids at Oswego Falls park at the end of the year. What fun we had.