What's Happening?
Improving Schenectady, one park at a time
Two years, five community partners, hundreds of volunteer hours and a $62,000 Thriving Neighborhoods Challenge grant from The Schenectady Foundation combined to transform a once-rundown city park into a safe, vibrant and welcoming gathering spot.
On Nov. 14, the community celebrated the months of hard work by volunteers, neighborhood residents and a team of local artists who painted an inspiring, one-of-a-kind mural on the park’s newly-resurfaced basketball court. The mural, designed by Kymberli Gaillard and installed with the help of Raé Frasier, is the first basketball court mural in the Capital Region. The event received widespread news coverage, increasing awareness of the Thriving Neighborhoods Challenge program, which awards funding to grassroots projects that improve the quality of life within the city. 
The transformation started with Tyrell Outlaw, a Schenectady father who lives near the park, who wanted a safer and more welcoming place for neighborhood children to play. These cleanups and volunteer events also became a valuable opportunity for community groups to work together after months of isolation from the COVID-19 pandemic. At right, Kymberli Gaillard helped a volunter put her seal of approval on posts for the new entry to the park during the November, 2021 unveiling.
The SEAT Center, one of several partners in the park's transformation, found this project dovetailed with their mission to “provide transformative educational and workforce experiences that create a sense of purpose and hope in our communities.” Many of the new park components were installed by members of their YouthBuild Program, which combines Adult Basic Education (Mathematics, Critical Thinking Skills, Technology & Literacy) alongside Workforce Preparation and Workforce Development.
“Tyrell is a graduate of the SEAT Center and we are so proud of his ongoing commitment to serving his community,” said Jennifer Lawrence, the executive director of the SEAT Center.
"It's a long way from the idea to actually getting things done," said Robert Carreau, executive director of The Schenectady Foundation. "It takes a a lot of fortitude and effort."
Also helping with the project were volunteers from the neighborhood, Schenectady City School District, Union College and the Schenectady ARC Discovery Academy. The City of Schenectady is supporting the project with new playground mulch and new sidewalks on Windsor Terrace to be installed next spring.
