Today there is a green space with a number of trees, benches and a walking path at the top of Maple and State streets. Twenty years ago, it was an eyesore, with cracked blacktop and three-foot weeds growing out of the cracks, along with vandalism. That all changed beginning in 1992, due in part to an idea for an Eagle Scout project.
That site was a once a playground across the street from the Oneonta Normal School, later to become the State University College at Oneonta, used at first by the students of the school, as well as the Percy I. Bugbee training school. When the Old Main building was torn down in 1977, where the Old Main Apartments are found today, the playground was little-used.
At some point, the state sold the playground lot to the city for $1. In 1988, there had been plans in the works to transform the paved-over area into what we call a green space today. There had been an anonymous donor ready to help make the transition, but that resident moved away before work began.
In late September 1991, Alpha Phi Omega, a co-ed fraternity at the State University College at Oneonta cleaned up the playground as a service project. It was a temporary fix for the old playground, and although neighbors continued talking about improvements, the funding wasn't available to make the area a pleasant sight.
That was until Brian Arenella, then a 15-year-old Oneonta High School student, had an idea. Arenella had been reading about the plight of the improvement project in The Daily Star, so on his birthday, July 11, 1992, he came up with the idea to take on the project as an Eagle Scout. Arenella was with Troop 91, based at Greater Plains Elementary School.
"I just figured it would be a good experience," Arenella told The Daily Star on Nov. 14, 1992. He hoped to gain experience in planning, leadership and other skills such as landscape architecture, which he had sights on as a possible future career.
Not much could be done with winter setting in, so the planning began by Arenella and a number of other neighborhood residents.
The real work got under way Monday, April 26, 1993, with a ceremonial tree planting for Arbor Day. Mayor David Brenner also accepted a "Tree City U.S.A." flag for the city's tree-planting efforts going on at the time.
Then in the afternoon, Arenella and several members of Troop 91 started the real dirty work of the project.
"I didn't realize what a huge project this was," Arenella said that day. "At first I thought it would be a couple of weekends' work."
Arenella's part of the work was completed by mid-August, with the installation of the park benches and several shrubs. The neighborhood group that had worked with Arenella put the finishing touches on the grounds. The centerpiece of the park was a donated red oak. Much of the project was completed by monetary donations, local foundations and city funds.
Arenella eventually earned Eagle Scout status for the project. He had said back in April 1993 that he was glad he chose this project.
"I had thrown around some other project ideas in my head, but this one's the best because it's lasting. It'll be a permanent thing for the community. They won't have to look at that black asphalt anymore. Now they'll have someplace they can go relax and enjoy."
This weekend: America was told to wake up in August 1942.
City Historian Mark Simonson's column appears twice weekly. On Saturdays, his column focuses on the area during the Depression and before. His Monday columns address local history after the Depression. If you have feedback or ideas about the column, write to him at The Daily Star, or email him at simmark@stny.rr.com. His website is www.oneontahistorian.com. His columns can be found at www.thedailystar.com/marksimonson.
Columns
Deteriorated Maple Street playground became green space in early 1990s
- Big Chuck D'Imperio
-
-
Safety Patrol D.C. visits never get old
I asked Cam Morris, head of Eastern Travel/Oneonta Bus Lines, how many years her company has been handling the Safety Patrol trip to Washington, D.C.
Continued ... - My pal Brucie, savior of Sidney's hospital
- Catching a whiff of 'Vermont Vapor'
- Selections from the virtual mailbag
- Recalling days of 'Doughnut King'
-
Safety Patrol D.C. visits never get old
- Cary Brunswick
-
-
We've become our own worst enemies
The past month has been marked by a seeming unprecedented number of man-made tragedies, as distinct from those caused by violent outbursts of the natural world, such as earthquakes, hurricanes and tsunamis.
Continued ... - Plenty of blame to go around for Bangladesh horror
- Obama is going against his word on Social Security
- Reflecting on a Florida trip
- Those magnificent spies in their flying machines
-
We've become our own worst enemies
- Chuck Pinkey
- Guest Column
-
-
Records seizure is an insult to free press
Distrust of government secrecy has been elevated to an exceptional level with the disclosure the Justice Department covertly examined two months of Associated Press phone records to determine who leaked details to the AP about a foiled terrorist plot.
Continued ... - The evangelical view of same-sex marriage
- Manor's fate will be Otsego board's legacy
- A closer look at our economy - Part II
- Use fracking to fill budget gaps
-
Records seizure is an insult to free press
- Lisa Miller
-
-
A view from above
Fire towers in the Catskill Mountains have always been destination points, built to capture some of the region’s best views. These sentinel stations served an important role for the earliest possible sightings of forest fires in the remote mountain ranges. But the fire towers and those who manned them fulfilled a multitude of other roles as well.
Continued ... - Being a parent is a constant learning process
- Healthy doesn't have to mean expensive
- A family era ends with close of Potter series
- Independent stores make up for loss of Borders
-
- Mark Simonson
-
-
General Clinton Canoe Regatta got a new home in 1972
Ever since 1963, when Charles Hinkley and a group of Tri-Town businessmen came up with the idea for what we know today as the General Clinton Canoe Regatta, people lined the shores of the Susquehanna to watch the canoeists as they made their 70-mile trek from Cooperstown to Bainbridge.
Continued ... - Sunday movies in Oneonta finally shown in 1934
- Politics, fitness and landmarks dominated local news in May 1968
- Local people sought income in many ways in 1933
- Local windstorm in 1983 caused tense moments
-
- Rick Brockway
-
-
Kids have sparkle in their eyes
When I was in my teens, old Bill Naatz told me about a stream north of Lake George where a man had panned out enough gold to make his wife a wedding band. It was all rumors, but to his grandson and myself, it sounded like the makings of a great adventure.
- People make the outdoors even better
- Turkey season has ups and downs
- Spring air isn't always the freshest
- Adriondacks keep growing and growing
-
Kids have sparkle in their eyes
- Sam Pollak
- William Masters
-
-
Schreibman tops Chris Gibson on women's issues
As the time to vote draws near, we need to remember how money can run politics more than we can. Raising funds is a prominent (if not the dominant) task of getting elected. Raising issues is also crucial, but those efforts are subject to distortion and fear-mongering.
- Republicans feelentitled to allthey can garner An entitlement is a legal benefit available from the government to individuals who are within a defined category of recipients, such as needing insurance for unemployment or health services.
-
Romney focuses on self; Obama emphasizes unity
Mitt Romney criticizes President Obama for saying a person's success is rooted in his community, and is not all his alone. Romney belittles this with his belief in individual initiative. He is better at the put-down than the push-up.
-
Romney shows little regard for common man
The Republicans in Congress have voted over and over, 33 times, redundantly and uselessly, to rescind what they call Obamacare.
-
Scouts' gay ban creates problem where none exists
The Boy Scouts of America's "emphatic reaffirmation" of its vow to exclude any and all homosexuals from its hallowed ranks is ill-considered and pathetic, especially in view of its having reviewed the matter for two years.
-
Schreibman tops Chris Gibson on women's issues
