Celoron NY
A wish over a decade long is taking another step forward. Eleven years ago, the people of Celoron named a new playground as one of their priorities to revitalize downtown. This week the village is submitting an application for a New York State Consolidated Funding Grant to replace the 28-year-old playground with a new playground that is handicap accessible, serving children from ages two to 12.
Earlier this month, the Board of Trustees accepted a donation of $500 from Celoron West Elliott Seniors toward construction of a new playground in Lucille Ball Memorial Park. In making the presentation, Mary Keeney, president, said Seniors appreciate the Village providing their meeting place at Celoron Community Center
The grant requires a 25 percent contribution from the village, which can be in-kind services provided by the Village, private donations and/or budget allocations from the General Operating Fund. “That has not been determined yet,” says Shirley A. Sanfilippo, village clerk who is preparing the grant application. Grant awards are typically announced around late December, according to Celoron mayor Scott Schrecengost.
If the grant is awarded, proposals will be solicited from vendors and a public meeting will be held to look at the proposals received and seek input on which type is preferred, says Sanfilippo. “Ultimately, the decision will be made by the Board of Trustees, who are responsible for the fiscal commitments of the Village of Celoron.”
A draft proposal for the park has been prepared by Buffalo-based Parkitects. It would have separate areas for children 2-5 and for 5-12. “It is still in the planning stage,” says Sanfilippo. At public meeting for input July 5, “people were supportive of the playground proposal and encouraged the Village to move forward with the grant application.”
The seven-acre Lucille Ball Memorial Park also features 2,000-foot public access frontage on Chautauqua Lake, boat launch, lighthouse, bank shell, pavilion, picnic area, boardwalk, basketball court, and a community center.