Officials Break Ground on Improvements

to Schenectady's Central Park's

Music Haven Stage and "A" Diamond

 

Schenectady’s Crown Jewel to Sparkle Even Brighter

 

September 6, 2017

 

Planned improvements to the “A” Diamond (a public baseball diamond which has not been used for several years) and The Agnes Macdonald Music Haven Stage in Schenectady’s Central Park are underway, following an official groundbreaking held on-site at 11:00AM this morning. Mayor Gary McCarthy and other City officials were joined by NYS Assembly Members Phil Steck and Angelo Santabarbara, NYS Senator James Tedisco, Capital Region Chamber president, Mark Eagan, Music Haven Producing Artistic Director, Mona Golub, park neighbors and project supporters.

 

Bolstered by NYS Assembly State and Municipal (SAM) Facilities reimbursement grants awarded in 2014 and 2015, along with support from the City of Schenectady and private donations, construction will begin this fall and be completed in the spring of 2018.

 

The improvements to Music Haven include the installation of 460 permanent, stadium-quality front of house seats atop an evenly laid cement surface; an expanded and terraced hill offering improved seating to those who prefer lawn chairs and blankets; and a security gate across the face of the stage to protect the inner sanctum when not in use.

 

The improvements to the “A” Diamond include the replacement of the existing grass turf field with synthetic field turf and a removable pitching mound. The synthetic field will greatly increase the City’s utilization of the “A” Diamond while reducing its maintenance costs. Additionally, all surrounding fencing and the backstop will be replaced.

 

The City contracted the engineering firm of Clough Harbour & Associates and LAndArt Studio to design the improvements and Maloy Construction to implement them.

 

"With the help of the private sector and the vision of local government, Schenectady has been moving forward, despite having started from a difficult position,” said Assembly Member Phil Steck, who worked to mobilize the grants. “It is important for the State to contribute by assuring that our civic infrastructure is modernized.  That is what the Assembly is doing with its contribution of $1.5 million to the Central Park improvement project," he added.

 

“Both the State and local leadership recognize the value of projects such as these relative to increasing quality of life and building community,” said Mayor Gary McCarthy. “As such, we relish the opportunity to bring the “A” Diamond back to life for youth and adult games and tournaments and to enhance Music Haven, the City’s premier outdoor concert venue, which has proven itself to be a destination for music aficionados from across the region.”

 

“It’ll be wonderful to see this project come to life,” said Mona Golub, longtime volunteer producing artistic director of the Music Haven Concert Series. “Music Haven is already a fabulous venue with exceptional acoustics, built-in dressing rooms, restrooms and a load-in door, surrounded by ample parking in the heart of a beautiful park. It’s my hope that these improvements will entice other presenters to bring quality entertainment to Central Park.”

 

A $25,000 challenge grant announced in August encourages the dedication of 100 stadium quality seats, the $250 cost of each which will be matched by Neil & Jane Golub. Detailed information is available by clicking on House & Hill Campaign at www.musichavenstage.org and at Schenectady City Hall, 105 Jay St. A public dedication ceremony, celebrating the project’s completion and the engraving of all dedications made by April 15, 2018 is being planned for next spring.

 

 

 

Wright Family Foundation

Extends $20K Matching Grant

to Music Haven's "House and Hill" Campaign

To Encourage The Dedication of Seats

 

November 16, 2016

 

(SCHENECTADY, NY)  The Wright Family Foundation is extending a post season standing ovation to Music Haven’s community-building efforts in the form of a $20,000 matching grant. The locally-based family foundation would like its gift to encourage the dedication of new seats at the popular summer venue -- in response to the “House and Hill” campaign -- which was launched publicly in July 2016.

 

The House & Hill campaign supplements a State Municipal Facilities Program Grant through the NYS Assembly designed to improve the comfort and security of the venue with 400 permanent, stadium-quality front of house seats atop a new, evenly paved surface; a terraced hill offering improved seating to those who prefer lawn chairs and blankets; a security gate to maintain the integrity of the performance space when not in use; and a permanent front-of-house audio booth.

 

"The Wright Family Foundation understands the importance of community and gathering spaces that are open to everyone.  Music Haven is a very special place that combines top notch music with a beautiful nature setting in Central Park.  We are pleased to support the House and Hill campaign to make it an even more inviting place to get together with friends and family. ” said Heather Ward, Chairman of the Wright Family Foundation."

 

“This boost to our House and Hill campaign comes at the most wonderful time of the year for those seeking to give truly unique gifts for the holidays,” said Mona Golub, longtime volunteer producing artistic director of the Music Haven Concert Series. ”We are so grateful to The Wright Family Foundation for leveraging their gift to encourage the dedication of new stadium-quality seats by others, as the result will elevate the Music Haven experience for all.”

 

“Music Haven’s rich history of welcoming community from around the region and artists from around the world makes our Central Park a unique and treasured destination for many,” said Mayor Gary McCarthy. “This matching grant is a wonderful tribute to the volunteers who lead Music Haven’s charge, and provides incentive to those enriched by its offerings who want to permanently honor or memorialize a special person or occasion.”

 

A rendering of the improvements, designed by Mary Moore Wallinger of LAndArt Studio, and an online system for dedicating seats, bricks and blocks, is available at www.musichavenstage.org. Printed copies of the House & Hill brochure are available at Schenectady’s City Hall.

 

Questions may be directed through the website or by calling Betsy Sandberg, volunteer coordinator, at (518) 280-5635.

 

All dedications made by May 1, 2017 will be acknowledged and celebrated at a public ceremony at Music Haven during the 2017 summer season.

 

 

 

Music Haven Concert Series Launches

“House and Hill” Campaign

to Improve the Comfort and Security of the Popular Summer Venue

 

July 13, 2016

 

(SCHENECTADY, NY)  Built in 1999 with widespread public and private sector support, the Agnes Macdonald Music Haven Stage has hosted hundreds of concerts and community gatherings and oft been named "Best Outdoor Concert Venue." Now, a 2015 State Municipal Facilities Program Grant through the NYS Assembly and continued support from the City of Schenectady have provided the impetus for a plan to improve the comfort and security of the venue.

 

"I am thrilled to make discretionary capital funding available to Music Haven and all of Central Park in Schenectady.  This park is one of the gems of the Capital Region.  We are hoping to announce additional funding for Central Park in the near future. My thanks to Mona Golub and her entire family for all they do to support civic life in Schenectady.  They are one of the reasons it is so enjoyable to be part of all the progress going on in the City," said Assembly Member Phil Steck, who helped to secure the grant.

 

The plan includes the installation of 400 permanent, stadium-quality front of house seats atop a new, evenly paved surface; a terraced hill offering improved seating to those who prefer lawn chairs and blankets; a security gate across the face of the stage; and a permanent hutch to audio booth.

 

“We designed the ‘House and Hill’ campaign to supplement the grant and help ensure completion of the improvements,” said Mona Golub, longtime volunteer producing artistic director of the Music Haven Concert Series, who chaired the task force to build the stage back in 1998-1999. “We’re offering park enthusiasts, community supporters and Music Haven patrons the opportunity to help sustain the venue that lights up the heart of the park by dedicating a seat, brick or block in honor or memory of someone or something special.”

 

The differing dedication opportunities and their costs are:

A Brick in the Eastern “Wall of Support” - $125

A brass plaque on the backrest of a Permanent Seat in the House - $250

A Brick on the Façade of the Stage - $1,000

A Block on the Façade of the Stage - $5,000

A Double Block on the Façade of the Stage - $10,000

 

N.B. Dedication of the new permanent seating crowns and refreshes a re-launch of the original campaign to dedicate bricks in the Wall of Support and bricks and blocks on the façade of the stage. Approximately 300 bricks in the Wall of Support and several dozen bricks and blocks on the façade of the stage present personalization opportunities.

 

A rendering of the improvements, designed by Mary Moore Wallinger, RLA, ASLA, Principal of LAndArt Studio, and printed information detailing how to personalize a seat, brick or block, will be available at all remaining Sunday evening Music Haven concerts through August 14, through the series’ website (www.musichavenstage.org) and at Mayor Gary McCarthy’s office in Schenectady’s City Hall, 105 Jay St.

 

“Music Haven is more than bricks and mortar, it is a focal point of culture and the arts in our community. Its rich history as a central venue for the arts is only overshadowed by the dedication of its many supporters and volunteers who continue to bring quality programming and significant community events to our Central Park,” said Mayor Gary McCarthy.   “I ask the many members of the public who are enriched by the site’s contributions to our community to join us in enhancing Music Haven so it can continue to grow and introduce new generations to arts and culture from around the world.”

 

The names of all who dedicate seats, bricks or blocks between now and the end of the Music Haven Concert Series season (August 14), will be displayed on a placard next to the rendering at all of the remaining concerts. After the new seating is installed, and the brass plaques on each seat have been affixed, a public dedication celebration will be held (in early summer 2017).