UTICA, N.Y. — The Downtown Revitalization Initiative (DRI) project to create a public park on underutilized land at Munson, located in the Oneida Square neighborhood, is officially complete.
Secretary of State Walter T. Mosley was in Utica on Wednesday, June 18 to commemorate the project, which will provide a public space for arts and culture programming in conjunction with Munson’s museum and art school.
“Public spaces like Munson Park are often the centerpiece of successful downtown revitalization, generating social, cultural, and arts opportunities that are open to people of all ages, backgrounds, and incomes,” Mosley said in a release issued following the event. “This park represents the city’s remarkable commitment to diversity and inclusion through their Downtown Revitalization Initiative award and well beyond.”
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Built on 49,000 square feet of land owned by Munson, the park features new landscaping, lighting, walkways, sculptures, and seating. It will use the museum’s signature “floating” staircase as amphitheater seating for public events. The park will also feature new programming such as festivals, block parties, light shows, art demonstrations and installations, pop-up events, and free public performances in cooperation with local partners.
“The Munson Genesee Street project transformed a barren and concrete-heavy landscape to a welcoming, park-like setting with trees, gardens, and community spaces,” Munson President/CEO Anna D’Ambrosio said. “It will create an accessible front entrance to the Museum of Art, a beautiful setting for events, and will recapture the essential neighborhood environment lost over the last few decades.”
The hope is that Munson Park will serve as a catalyst to drive people to explore downtown Utica, which will help support local businesses, Mohawk Valley Regional Economic Development Council Co-Chairs Larry Gilroy and Marion Terenzio said.
“Munson Park is a shining example of what can be achieved when state and local partners come together with a shared vision for community revitalization,” Oneida County Executive Anthony J. Picente Jr. said. “This beautiful new public space not only enhances the Oneida Square neighborhood, but also creates new opportunities for cultural expression, public gatherings, and economic activity. It is another important step in Utica’s continued transformation and will benefit all of Oneida County.”
Utica was a round four DRI winner in 2019. In addition to Munson Park, other projects funded by the Utica DRI include enhancing The Center, which offers culturally and linguistically appropriate training and employment services; renovating the Macartovin commercial space to attract businesses to the city’s commercial corridor; supporting the activation of the DeSales Center providing elevator access to its upper floors; rehabilitating the Veterans’ Fitness and Wellness Center; redeveloping the Oneida National Bank building to establish a commercial kitchen and food incubator; creating Artspace Utica, a mixed-used live/work artist housing unit; and rehabilitating the Utica Public Library Genesee Street corridor.
Launched in 2016, the Downtown Revitalization Initiative has awarded $900 million to 91 communities across eight funding rounds.
