The Oneida Daily Dispatch (Oneida, NY)
COMMUNITY PARK
Volunteers help build recreation area for village
“It’s been envisioned for years in some formor another by the village of Wampsville.”
— Madison County Planning
Department Planner Sarah
Krisch
WAMPSVILLE, N.Y. » It’s been planned for the past two years, wanted for the last 20, and finally, phase one of the Wampsville Community Park is complete.
WampsvilleMayor John Clute said around 18 years ago, he wanted to take his daughter to the park and found himself driving out to other communities.
“Whenmy wife and I had our daughter, there was no park in the village. We were going to the neighboring parks,” Clute said.
Clute pitched the idea of a park to Board of Supervisors Chairman John Becker a few years back and started planning.
“It’s been envisioned for years in some form or another by the village of Wampsville,” said Madison County Planning Department Planner Sarah Krisch. “The Madison County Planning Department has been working actively on this for the last two years, fromdesigning it, to picking out equipment, fundraising, grant writing and more.”
The first phase of construc-
tion included the installation of the sidewalk and playground equipment. Clute said once phase one is finished, work will begin on landscaping. He predicted the park to be finished by next week if everything goes smoothly.
The park is being funded by grants, donations from local businesses and community contributions between the village of Wampsville, the town of Lenox and Madison County, which each donated time, funds or services for the park. The Wampsville Community Park Committee received donations from local businesses including Die Molding, Nye Toyota, Community Car Wash, Lowe’s and Madison Bistro. Concrete Slipform Inc. donated services for sidewalk installation and the CNY Community Foundation provided a $10,000 grant toward the project.
“Everybody here cares about the community, wants to come together and give something back,” Clute said.
Almost 40 people were out in force to help on Saturday, from the Wampsville Volunteer Fire Company, Madison County’s own work crew, the Madison County Sheriff’s Office and more.
Wampsvi l le Village Trustee Lori Brockway said businesses from all over the area helped the park in some way or another.
Brockway said Die Molding held a 50/50 raffle and matched whatever money the raffle made as a donation. Community Car Wash had two weekends where all proceeds were donated to the park. Eight workers fromLowe’s arrived to help with material the store donated. Victor Ramirez of Madison Bistro donated food and all the tips made over a weekend.
Among the donations members of the community madewas a sign handcrafted by a local Eagle Scout and his friends.
JacobMack, 17, just graduated from Oneida High School and was inspired by another Scout when choosing his Eagle Scout project.
“Another Scout from my troop, Troop 23, built a sign in front of the village hall in Wampsville for his project. I talked with Mayor Clute about potential projects around a year back and suggested building a sign and seating,” Mack said. “We talked over the year, did some drawings and this past May, we started work on the sign. Seven or eight people from my troop and some of my friends did an average about four hours of work a day for a month.”
Mack lives right across the street from the Wampsville Community Park and had a forklift come to move the completed sign. He admitted he was terrified as the sign was moved from his driveway to the park. After having put so much time into it, he would have been crushed if it fell off, he said.
“It feels amazing to finally have it installed. I’m going to see it every day,” Mack said. “It was well worth it.”
Mack said the sign cost $1,400 for the materials. He has been recouping the costs through a can and bottle drive and so far, has raised $400. Anyone who wants to donate cans and bottles to help can drop them off at 126 N. Court St. in Wampsville.
Among other volunteers were Ellen Bowe and her son Connor from Wampsville. Bowe works at the Social Services in Workforce Development and sees the park as a way to help young children get out more.
“I think there’s a lot of younger kids that we need to get them off their electronic devices and get them interacting with one another,” Bowe said.
Connor helped his mother carry in equipment for installation and looked forward to using the park.
“I want to help so I can play on the park,” Connor said. “There needs to place that everyone can play.”
Individuals who still wish to support the park by purchasing a personalized paver can contact the Wampsville Village Hall at 315-363-5810 before Aug. 15. Pavers are $35 for one or three for $100.