Ogdensburg gets $799,569 grant for Charles W. Kelly Memorial Park
Ogdensburg was awarded $799,569 through New York’s NY PLAYS program for improvements at Charles W. Kelly Memorial Park, while the city’s Historic Preservation Commission has raised concerns about possible unmarked graves at the site.
By the ClickNNY North Country Desk
Ogdensburg has been awarded $799,569 through the state NY PLAYS program for improvements at Charles W. Kelly Memorial Park. The proposed work includes upgrades to the Hamilton Street Playground, sports courts and community space. The project was previously estimated at $939,461, and the program can cover up to 80% of eligible costs, with the city responsible for the remainder.
The Ogdensburg Historic Preservation Commission has asked the city to investigate the park’s history before construction that could disturb the ground. In an Aug. 21 letter to the City Council, the commission said the site was used as a cemetery by local Presbyterian and Episcopal churches from 1820 to 1863, and that some remains may still be there. The commission requested ground-penetrating radar to help identify possible burial areas before work begins. The grant is part of $67.5 million announced for 89 playground projects across New York.
This story was written from a community submission and reviewed by a ClickNNY editor before publication.
More from ClickNNY
Guides and features from across the North Country.
ClickNNY Guide · Fort Drum
Your first North Country winter: a survival guide for Fort Drum soldiers from the South
Never driven on snow, owned a snow blower or felt a February morning at Fort Drum? Here's what to wear, what to keep in your car and how to get through your first lake-effect winter.
ClickNNY Guide · Winter
Are we ready for another North Country winter?
From heating bills and snow tires to lake-effect storms and the first big snowfall, Northern New York is getting ready for another winter. But how prepared are we really?
ClickNNY Guide
Driving on wet leaves in the North Country: what to know this fall
Wet leaves, farm equipment, school buses, low sunlight, frost and deer can create seasonal driving hazards in Northern New York, according to safety guidance from AAA Northeast, AARP, New York agencies and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.