SCHENECTADY – Mayor Gary R. McCarthy today kicked off the demolition of 720 Crane Street, a blighted structure. The new lot will be part of an expanded Orchard Park in the Mt. Pleasant neighborhood of Schenectady. This is the last of five demolitions, carried out in partnership with the Capital Region Land Bank, which will allow for a redesigned and newly expanded park. Previously, only two entrances, a narrow walking path and an alley, existed for the park. Through a New York State Parks grant of $354,735, the City will fund a redesign with better access to the park, additional playground equipment, and improved lighting for public safety.
“Improving access to Orchard Park is another step in our continuing effort to improve quality of life in the City,” Mayor Gary McCarthy said. “We are currently investing over $3.5 million into the City’s park system with new playgrounds, expanded green space, and other new improvements. This effort will help Schenectady continue to be a great place to live, work, and raise a family.”
Richard Ruzzo, Land Bank Chairman and a member of the Schenectady County Legislature said, “We are pleased to continue working in partnership with Mayor McCarthy and the City of Schenectady on important neighborhood boosting projects. The expansion of Orchard Park is a significant project in our Mont Pleasant efforts to fight blight and bring new investment to this Schenectady neighborhood.
The City will be developing a work plan this fall including the establishment of a steering committee and conducting neighborhood workshops to develop the final park design. Completion of the planning process is expected by early spring of 2018, with construction immediately following. Full project completion is anticipated to be by the end of 2018.
Schenectady has made significant investments in its neighborhoods in the past six years. In Mont Pleasant alone, Schenectady has made three major playground upgrades including in 10th & Webster Park, Quackenbush Park, and Wallingford Park. Schenectady County is investing in an upgraded Mont Pleasant Library. The City has paved over 6.2 miles of road, over forty-eight housing renovation projects have been completed totaling over $1 million in City rehab investment through CDBG and other grants, more than a dozen demolitions have been performed in the neighborhood in the last three years. These efforts paved the way for the City to sell, through its H.O.M.E.S. program, over 27 homes in the neighborhood with conditions that include code compliance and encourage owner occupancy. Additionally, through a grant from Assemblymember Angelo Santabarbara, the City will be investing over $1 million in new smart lighting in the neighborhood with public WiFi and an improved camera network to deter crime.