190510 Liberty Park 1
James Neiss/staff photographer
Niagara Falls, NY - Robert Buzzelli, engineering dpt., Mayor Paul A. Dyster, Councilman Bill Kennedy and Seth Piccirillo, community development, cut the ribbon on the city’s latest newly renovated playground, Liberty (Big Lou Sirianni) Park, featuring workout stations and routines accessible via smartphones. The project was planned and voted for by residents through the Participatory Budgeting (PB360) Process. The entire $200,000 park improvement project was funded by the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development’s Community Development Block Grant Program.
Press Release:
For Immediate Release: May 10, 2019
Mayor Dyster, City Officials Cut Ribbon on
Liberty Park
Niagara Falls, N.Y. - Mayor Paul A. Dyster, members of the Niagara Falls City Council and community leaders gathered today to cut the ribbon on the city’s latest newly renovated playground, Liberty (Big Lou Sirianni) Park. The project was planned and voted for by residents through the Participatory Budgeting (PB360) Process. The entire $200,000 park improvement project was funded by the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development’s Community Development Block Grant Program.
“Federal funding through the Community Development Block Grant program provides critical resources to support community-driven projects benefiting local neighborhoods,” said Congressman Brian Higgins. “In recent years this program has been at risk of complete elimination under this Administration. Time and again we have fought alongside our colleagues in Congress to restore Block Grant funding, making projects that improve life quality and enhance our neighborhoods, like Liberty Park, or others that focus on economic development possible in Niagara Falls.”
Mayor Dyster said, “Thanks to Congressman Higgins, our partners in federal government and the residents of the City of Niagara Falls, Liberty Park is now a place in which visitors of all ages can participate in programming and physical fitness opportunities. We look forward to continued investment and resident input into our neighborhoods with our partners for many years to come.”
“This is another win for our city, specifically a win for our youth. Any time we can rejuvenate and breathe life back into something for children to enjoy themselves, it is effort and resources well-spent,” said Bill Kennedy, Niagara Falls City Councilman. “I enjoyed many days in Liberty Park having lived on 15th Street while bringing Trusello’s or Viola’s over to the park as a kid.”
The City of Niagara Falls is only the second U.S. city to use participatory budgeting to guide HUD spending. The formerly neglected playground located at the intersection of Forest Avenue and 19th Street has been transformed into a full, state-of-the-art fitness park for all ages. It will also serve as the site of new Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Math (STEAM) workshops, free fitness classes and family movie nights thanks to support from the New York State Health Foundation.
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