Explore Gloversville’s Parks This Summer
Summer is here and a time to explore Gloversville’s parks and greenspaces. Many have activities planned but all have great assets where people can relax, play and enjoy the great outdoors.
Castiglione Park on North Main Street is home to Gloversville Food Truck Fridays where people can purchase lunch from vendors, listen to music and enjoy the greenspace and downtown. Food trucks will be available on June 28 at 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., July 12 from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. and 4 p.m. to 8 p.m., July 26 from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., Aug. 9 from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., Aug. 23 from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. and 4 p.m. to 8 p.m.
On June 28, in addition to enjoying food trucks and lunch in the park, come visit Gloversville High School graduate and “Celebrity Vocal Coach to The Stars” Eric Vetro as he returns to his hometown for his 50-year high school class reunion. A city proclamation will be presented to Vetro at noon. A showing of the movie “American Graffiti” will be held at 2 p.m., with a special video message from actor and director Ron Howard being played prior to the movie to the Gloversville High School Class of 1974 as the 50-year class reunion is being celebrated. These activities will be held at The Glove Theatre, 42 N. Main St. Hot rods were prominent in the movie so they will be prominent on Main Street on that Friday. On July 12, in addition to enjoying dinner from the food trucks, enjoy a show at The Glove Theatre as area youth perform in “Disney’s The Lion King Kids.”
Scheduled for July 27 is the Gloversville Recreation Commission’s first outdoor movie for summer 2024 at Myers Park, located behind Park Terrace Elementary School on Myers Parkway. Starting at 8:30 p.m., the free showing of “Elemental” will be held and audiences are encouraged to come early to get a good viewing area. Bring blankets and chairs, and concessions are available before and during the show.
Trail Station Park, West Fulton Street, is home to the annual Rail Fest event (this year on Aug. 10) and hosts the Gloversville Civic Band for their weekly summer performances, which typically start in July. A recent expansion brought a splash pad where youth can cool off during hot days. The expansion nearly doubled the size of the park with landscaping over a large area that was formerly a parking lot and was done with a $365,000 grant from the Office of Parks, Recreation, and Historic Preservation (OPRHP). The next phase of the project, funded through the $10 million Downtown Revitalization Initiative (DRI) grant, will include a new 80’ x 20’ building to house restrooms, a kitchen area, and space for special events. Construction on the building should begin in late June/early July and the DRI funding is $495,000.
Spring Street and Washington Street parks have playground equipment. In a walkway area from Washington Street to Elk Street Park are picnic tables and a place to grill. Elk Street Park is home to a basketball court. Veterans Park is a beautiful place to honor our military by reflecting on their sacrifices at the memorial. Nearby is the Kingsboro Cemetery where soldiers from the American Revolution and the War of 1812 are buried. Fulton County Museum that is great for exploring. Wolfarth’s Pond is great for fishing and the Gloversville Recreation Commission hosts its annual fishing derby there in the spring. A list of parks, including beautiful Melchoir, can be found at the city’s website and a brochure can be downloaded by clicking here.
Two new parks are being created this year through the DRI. St. Thomas Square will be located at 2-8 Elm St. that was home to an underutilized parking lot. By breathing new life into this property, this new attractive spot will create a strong connection in the downtown area. In addition to the $1.1 million DRI funding, this project was awarded a $250,000 Urban Center/Commercial District Revitalization National Grid grant. It also received a $250,000 donation from the William H. St. Thomas Family Foundation and a memorial to the St. Thomas Factory workers will be erected in the park.
The vacant parcel on South Main Street next to the Heacock Building was the site of the Littauer Building that became dilapidated over the decades. After being deemed too unsafe to save, the building was demolished. This spot will be transformed into an urban plaza for public concerts and performances, outdoor movie nights, and more. A stage will be erected in the back of the park for the concerts and similar entertainment. Green infrastructure will be incorporated to allow storm water infiltration. This project is receiving $435,000 in DRI funding. Working in tandem with the St. Thomas Square project, construction will occur on both parks this summer with completion at the end of 2024 and plantings and greenery settled by spring 2025.
Stay. Play. Explore. Live.
Discover Downtown Gloversville
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