Lowes employees lend a helping hand at Camillus Park
By Jason Gabak
Editor
According to Eric Bacon, director of parks and recreation for the town of Camillus and Mary Flynn, executive director of the Friends of Camillus Park, it has been encouraging to see the rebirth of sorts Camillus Park has gone through in recent years.
“This was a park that didn’t get much use except for the pool,” Flynn said.
Flynn explained the pool was demolished and filled in, but last summer National Grid employees lent their time clearing a pathway in the park and this past spring a new splash pad was installed in the parking making it a true destination to beat the summer heat.
“It has been great to see,” Flynn said. “So many people have been using the park, especially the splash pad, kids love that. It is great to see people using this park.”
Bacons has also been impressed by the recent transformation and revitalization that has been taking place at the park.
“I am very pleased with the development of the park,” Bacon said. “We have taken a park that basically wasn’t being used after the pool closed and revitalized it into a fun community place that people are once again enjoying. I always believe that “success breeds success” and the Camillus Park project is no different. Groups/individuals such as the Camillus Town Board, Senator DeFrancisco, The Friends of Camillus Park, National Grid, The Camillus-Solvay-Geddes Rotary Club and most recently Lowe’s have all put heart and soul into the park.”
Most recently employees of the Camillus Lowe’s joined the ranks of those lending their support to the rebirth of the park.
Bacon said he was contacted in May about the possibility of Lowe’s and its employees taking on a project at the park.
He suggested something around the splash pad as a prime location to do some work.
“I suggested our splash pad and explained all the revitalization that was taking place in the park,” Bacon said. “When Lowe’s visited the splash pad for the first time, you could see the excitement in their eyes. Quickly we developed the idea for the benches and landscaping and they took it from there. Many of the workers with Lowe’s actually lived in Camillus and took tremendous pride in the project. The project truly had a sense of community and is something park visitors will enjoy for years to come.”
The employees spent some time installing eight benches that are located around the splash pad area.
Some of these benches are located where the former pool was.
“When it was demolished it was filled in with asphalt and concrete,” Flynn said. “They had a taxing time installing some of the benches but they made it work.”
At the same time as the benches were installed Flynn said another group of volunteers were busy with landscaping planting perennials around the park.
Bacon said he believes this adds to the park and provides benefits to the entire community.
“I was particularly excited about the benches,” Bacon said. “Purely from a practical standpoint, the benches give families a place to sit and enjoy the splash pad. In addition to the practicality, it also provides an opportunity for social interaction between park visitors. It is great to visit the park to see children playing and people in general enjoying themselves. The benches are just another means to foster this fun environment.”
Bacon said there are already plans for more work next summer.
Through grants secured by Senator John DeFrancisco and Assemblyman Gary Finch there are plans for a new, larger playground.
“Once this is completed, it is my hope the community support will continue and we will be able to find funding to complete the Camillus Park Master Plan by building a new enclosed pavilion in the general vicinity of where the current open air shelter is located and to re-pave the existing parking lot,” Bacon said. “Our community is resilient and I am confident that with patience, persistence and some hard work we will get this done as well.”
