News
September 6, 2017Officials Break Ground on Improvements to Central Park’s Music Haven Stage and “A” Diamond
Planned improvements to the “A” Diamond (a public baseball diamond which has not been used for several years) and The Agnes Macdonald Music Haven Stage in Schenectady’s Central Park are underway, following an official groundbreaking held on-site at 11:00AM this morning. Mayor Gary McCarthy and other City officials were joined by NYS Assembly Members Phil Steck and Angelo Santabarbara, NYS Senator James Tedisco, Capital Region Chamber president, Mark Eagan, Music Haven Producing Artistic Director, Mona Golub, park neighbors and project supporters.
Bolstered by NYS Assembly State and Municipal (SAM) Facilities reimbursement grants awarded in 2014 and 2015, along with support from the City of Schenectady and private donations, construction will begin this fall and be completed in the spring of 2018.
The improvements to Music Haven include the installation of 460 permanent, stadium-quality front of house seats atop an evenly laid cement surface; an expanded and terraced hill offering improved seating to those who prefer lawn chairs and blankets; and a security gate across the face of the stage to protect the inner sanctum when not in use.
The improvements to the “A” Diamond include the replacement of the existing grass turf field with synthetic field turf and a removable pitching mound. The synthetic field will greatly increase the City’s utilization of the “A” Diamond while reducing its maintenance costs. Additionally, all surrounding fencing and the backstop will be replaced.
The City contracted the engineering firm of Clough Harbour & Associates and LAndArt Studio to design the improvements and Maloy Construction to implement them.
“With the help of the private sector and the vision of local government, Schenectady has been moving forward, despite having started from a difficult position,” said Assembly Member Phil Steck, who worked to mobilize the grants. “It is important for the State to contribute by assuring that our civic infrastructure is modernized. That is what the Assembly is doing with its contribution of $1.5 million to the Central Park improvement project,” he added.
“Both the State and local leadership recognize the value of projects such as these relative to increasing quality of life and building community,” said Mayor Gary McCarthy. “As such, we relish the opportunity to bring the “A” Diamond back to life for youth and adult games and tournaments and to enhance Music Haven, the City’s premier outdoor concert venue, which has proven itself to be a destination for music aficionados from across the region.”
“It’ll be wonderful to see this project come to life,” said Mona Golub, longtime volunteer producing artistic director of the Music Haven Concert Series. “Music Haven is already a fabulous venue with exceptional acoustics, built-in dressing rooms, restrooms and a load-in door, surrounded by ample parking in the heart of a beautiful park. It’s my hope that these improvements will entice other presenters to bring quality entertainment to Central Park.”
A $25,000 challenge grant announced in August encourages the dedication of 100 stadium quality seats, the $250 cost of each which will be matched by Neil & Jane Golub. Detailed information is available by clicking on House & Hill Campaign at www.musichavenstage.org and at Schenectady City Hall, 105 Jay St. A public dedication ceremony, celebrating the project’s completion and the engraving of all dedications made by April 15, 2018 is being planned for next spring.
