(BROOME COUNTY, NY) – Renovations are officially underway at Grippen Park, marked by a groundbreaking ceremony attended by Broome County Executive Jason Garnar, Assemblywoman Donna Lupardo, members of the Broome County Legislature, and other elected officials.
Located at 607 South Grippen Ave in Endicott, the project encompasses a comprehensive renovation of the building. Upon completion, the facility will feature newly renovated restrooms, concessions, a new indoor track, and 5 new pickleball courts for the spring and summer seasons, alongside a new recreational ice rink for winter use. Additional community amenities will include a new wiffle ball stadium, new flag football field, new basketball court, new rebounding wall, and a new accessible playground. The parking lot will also be redesigned and paved.
The enhancements position Grippen Park as a central hub for the community, offering year-round programming, sports leagues, and expanding events such as the Broome Bands Together summer concert series and Movies-in-the-Park programming. Festivals, holiday celebrations, family fun days, and craft or hobby shows are also envisioned to utilize the new and improved facilities.
Flood resilience measures have been incorporated into the design of the park facility, prompted by the damage inflicted during the flood of 2011. Any susceptible items will be elevated above flood levels to mitigate potential damage.
The total project cost is $4.3 million. Assemblywoman Donna Lupardo has secured $500,000 in funding towards renovations.
In addition to the building upgrades and added amenities, Broome County has secured over $2.6 million in grant funding from the New York State Department of State Local Waterfront Revitalization Program (LWRP) for the Grippen Park and Chugnut Trail extension project. This initiative aligns with ongoing efforts to enhance waterfront access and connectivity, with plans to expand public access along the Susquehanna River in the Village of Endicott. The LWRP grant will support the creation of a trail connection to Grippen Park along the county’s waterfront, as well as a link to the nearby Round Top Park. This project is made possible with funding provided by the New York State Department of State under Title 11 of the Environmental Protection Fund.
Renovations are anticipated to be completed in the next 6 months.
Broome County Executive Jason Garnar said, “This is a great day for Western Endicott and for Broome County as we begin this exciting project that will completely transform Grippen Park into one the best parks in the Southern Tier. By creating new outdoor amenities such as pickleball, ice skating, basketball, wiffleball, and flag football, Grippen Park will offer something for everyone in our community.”
Brenda Gowe, Director of Parks, Recreation & Youth Services said, “Parks provide environmental, aesthetic, and recreational benefits to local taxpayers. The result of completing the Grippen Park Renovation project will enhance and increase the number of active uses and improve the condition of the facilities at Grippen Park. The renovation will also enhance real property values, create a more attractive community gathering space, and provide community services for all, but especially families and retirees. We are so excited to provide a vibrant, exciting, and welcoming facility for the residents of the surrounding neighborhood and the citizens of Broome County.”
Assemblywoman Donna Lupardo said, “It’s great to see the Grippen Park renovation getting underway. A lot of planning has gone into reimagining Grippen Park as a hub of year-round community activity, after years of decline. The public will be very excited to learn about the indoor track, pickle ball courts, ice rink, basketball court and more; I know that I am. I’m happy to have supported the project with a $500K Assembly grant and would like to thank the County Executive and the Legislature for their hard work and dedication.”
“Broome County continues to make significant investments in our parks and infrastructure,” said Broome County Legislature Chairman & 5th District Legislator Dan J. Reynolds. “We are taking a blighted structure and transforming it into a major destination that everyone in this neighborhood will be proud of.”
“As someone who was born and raised a few blocks aways from Grippen Park, I know how much this means to our community,” said 6th District Broome County Legislator Greg Baldwin. “I had some of the best memories of my life while growing up here, and I’m excited to see this renovation restore new life into the park. With the new amenities, there will be even more opportunities for the next generation of families to gather and make lasting memories.”
“Parks, playgrounds and trails are a great way to connect people to nature, waterfronts and each other, yielding both physical and mental health benefits,” said Secretary of State Robert J. Rodriguez. “The Department of State’s $2.6 million contribution for the trails and playground through our Local Waterfront Revitalization Program, funded through the Environmental Protection Fund (EPF) complements an array of investments in this multi-faceted project that will enhance economic development, quality of life and public health for generations to come.”
