Mayor Ellen McNulty-Ryan, Assemblymember John McDonald, Director of Recreation Maggie Alix, local officials and anxious Green Island residents both young and old officially opened the new playground located in the Paine Street Park at a ceremony held this morning.
The new playground was built using a $125,000 Legislative Initiative Grant made possible by Assemblyman John McDonald and replaces another that was in existence in the park since 1993.
Assemblymember John T. McDonald III said, “I am proud to support and to have provided the legislative grant for the new Paine Street Park playground. Investing in our playgrounds and parks is an investment in our children and families, providing a place to play, enjoy the outdoors, and engage with one another. This new playground is for all users and features ADA accessibility and meets safety standards ensuring that the public is protected. Thank you to the Village of Green Island and Mayor Ellen McNulty-Ryan for all of your efforts on this project.”
Mayor McNulty-Ryan also acknowledged the efforts of Parks and Recreation Director Maggie Alix for her efforts as grant administrator and project manager. McNulty-Ryan stated, “Maggie Alix has worked diligently on this project for a few years and made what started as a dream now become reality. Thank you to her and John McDonald for their leadership on this great community project.”
Maggie Alix added, “I am extremely grateful to Assemblymember John McDonald and Village Officials for providing the opportunity to create a new playground in Green Island. The Paine Street Park is a safe and fun place for children. I am looking forward to watching the children play, spread laughter and most of all create memories.”
Construction History of the Paine Street Park
1939: A committee was formed to inquire about the purchase of property for a new park. The two block area (as it sits now) was purchased by the Village from Mr. S. DeStefano. Houses were torn down and the park was built with playground equipment, wading pool, restrooms, tennis and basketball courts.
1975: Extensive improvements with new modern equipment and a fence around just the playground area were made. The remainder of the park remained without fencing.
1993: A $250,000 makeover with fencing around the entire park; resurfacing and restriping of basketball courts, new basketball hoops and one additional court added, giving us three; ice rink (north of basketball courts) and wading pool; new “stadium type” lighting with underground wiring on courts and rink and enhanced lighting throughout park; installed large, new playground equipment; installed new benches and added picnic tables throughout the park.
2008: A 20’W X 40’L X 10’H pavilion was constructed in the former ice rink area of the park with picnic tables added underneath. The $30,100 project was partially funded with a $25,000 grant from Albany County with the Village share being the remainder.
2013: With a very generous $200,000 donation from Green Island resident lottery winners John and Lynda Kutey, in honor of their parents Edmund and Gertrude Ostrowski and Joseph and Mercedes Kutey, a new, modern Spray Park was built to replace the old wading pool that needed serious repairs and was many years outdated. Jim Besha, Sr. and his company, Albany Engineering, donated the design engineering for the project which was dedicated on July 1, 2013.
2018: A modern and compliant playground was purchased and constructed with $125,000 in Legislative Initiative Grant funding sponsored by New York State Assemblymember John McDonald. The new playground was officially opened on August 17, 2018.
Construction history of the Paine Street Park from the 1976 Green Island Bicentennial Book (Present day 1993 through 2018 material based on recollection and records).