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Melissa Penfield Park

About the Park

Melissa Penfield Park is one of the City's most visited parks. Due to its proximity to Bailey Avenue Elementary School and location within a large residential neighborhood, Melissa Penfield Park is a particularly popular destination for families. The wide variety of amenities available at the Park - such as sporting fields/courts, play areas, a dog park, and picnicking areas - invite a wide variety of user types and encourage visitors to stay a while.

Address

139 Boynton Ave

Park Amenities

Dog Park
Baseball/Softball Fields
Football/Soccer Field
Basketball/Handball Court
Skate Park
Picnic Areas
Picnic Tables
Benches
Grills
Community Garden
Playground
Restrooms
Parking
Trails

Phases

Phases overview

Phase 1: Project Launch

Project Launch

Phase 2: Public Outreach

Public Outreach

Phase 3: Analyze Feedback and Draft Masterplan

Analyze Feedback and Draft Masterplan

Phase 4: Finalize Plan and First Round of Community Feedback

Finalize Plan and First Round of Community Feedback

Phase 5: Second Round of Community Feedback

Second Round of Community Feedback

Phase 6: First Round Design and Bid

First Round Design and Bid

Phase 7: First Round of Construction

First Round of Construction

Second Round of Community Feedback

March 24, 2023 4:00 AM - April 22, 2023 4:00 AM

The City is seeking your input on the final plan for Melissa Penfield Park. Click on the document below to review the plan and leave us a comment!

Melissa+Penfield+Concept+Plan+Package.pdf

(6.3 MB)

22 issues

Simone Shay3 years ago I am so happy to see Penfield Park getting an upgrade. This proposal has so much to offer. As a parent and dog owner, I’m ecstatic about the dog park and the playground upgrades. In the summer (and honestly most seasons as long as the weather is not too harsh), at almost any point there are children utilizing that playground. When it’s busy there it can almost get to the point of being overcrowded. There are so many children who live around here and go to the Bailey/Oak schools that are within walking distance. I also love the path renovations. We see people of all ages and fitness levels utilizing that path, so this is wonderful. In the city, many people rent and do not have the luxury or the means to fence in or provide a backyard for their dogs. Unfortunately, buying a home just isn’t feasible anymore. Even multiple income households are unable in this current climate. The dog park is what we use in lieu of a backyard in the city. Many of us dog owners walk our dogs several times a day, but the livelihood of these pets is really increased by the ability to let them play, socialize, and interact with other dogs unleashed in a dog park. We walk our dog a minimum of 3-5 times a day and venture to the dog park daily. More often than not it is very wet and muddy, much like the children’s playground as well. I love the idea of moving it around those trees for a little shade for the dogs as well. That area is also pretty low, but if there was some kind of drainage or plan for that. (That’s out of my wheelhouse, but I imagine there are ways to manage areas like that)I did also see a comment about dogs fighting and barking until 10pm. I’ve lived here my whole life and I’ve never encountered that and I interact with many dog owners and parents in this area. But everyone has the right to voice their opinion even if it’s unfounded. It’s frustrating as a responsible dog owner to see such negativity. I just hope that doesn’t come at the expense of many of us who are responsible and don’t allow or watch our dogs fight. We would truly appreciate this. And if the answer is the dog park going elsewhere that’s absolutely fine too, really we are just happy to be getting some kind of improvement.My final thought is mirroring another comment I read here. It is where does the City stand on reinstating a Parks and Recreation department to ensure maintenance of these new parks? This is such an amazing park and these renovations will be so benefical to so many. We would all love to see it maintained so it will last for many years to come. Thank you for opening this up to the public. Every time this has been mentioned in conversation it’s been met with excitement and gratitude. What a wonderful thing for our community.

Debbie Burns3 years ago Overall I think this proposal is spot on for getting more use out of this amazing park that we have! Living just a few blocks away with kids who attend the elementary school, we visit the park almost daily in the warmer months, end even in the winter months on a mild day.The splash pad has been a dream of mine in that exact location for 7 years! The one in Betty Little Arts park attracts many families which shows the need for this in a safer location for families and young children.The extension of the paved walking path is wonderful as I see elder community members navigating the current paths daily as well as many on bikes, scooters and with strollers. Are the current paths that are deteriorating going to be repaved when these updates are made? A number of sections pose a safety concern with cracked and damaged pavement.Thank you for removing the small playground by the road and making a larger/multiple option play structure on the other side. It's often challenging for toddlers to play among bigger kids without getting run over and with there only being on structure to play on, this was a challenge.Please consider removing the crab apple tree next to the playground! This sheds seasonally and leaves hundreds of crab apples along the playground floor, posing a safety concern for guests.Thank you for putting a fence/barrier along the parking lot to the playground structure. While I don't have experience with my own kids being runners in these locations, I've spoken to many parents and grandparents that won't take their kids to this playground because of the proximity to the roadways and the risk that puts their children in. Please consider fencing this in completely to ensure safety (which can also ease stress of caregivers).Are there going to be traditional swings at the park still? I love the addition of inclusive swings but to have those as the only options, that would take away of their inclusivity. The current swings of one bucket swing for babies, and belt swings for bigger kids often isn't enough on busy days. I'd recommend (again, based on experience of many hours at this park), two baby bucket swings and four regular, belt swings.Is proper drainage going to be addressed with the upgrade of the park? The whole playground area is in a low spot and under the swings especially retains a lot of water, even after a mild rain, making them unusable unless kids show up with rain boots on. I'd love to see the football stadium have the chain and padlock removed so that it can be used by guests. I'm sure the concern is with having people use it for their dogs but I hope guests could respect signage for proper usage of the area for all, especially with an upgraded dog park space.Upgrading the bathrooms with rentable space is amazing! Many would love to have an option for birthday parties and this would be perfect for that. Perhaps instead of a bandshell, what about a large outdoor pavilion that can also be rented for party use, similar to the one at Point Au Roche Beach? The addition of a full sized basketball court is much needed! So excited about that.I'd also love to see the chain and padlock removed from the skate park entrance that is closest to the playground. Replacing that with a simple latch seems like a much safer solution for kids who go back and forth between the two. I had a safety incident with my toddler who was able to crawl under the fence and take off running to the playground/parking lot while I was stuck having to go all the way around the fence to try to catch him. Lastly, as I'm sure many residents are concerned, where does the City stand on reinstating a Parks and Recreation department to ensure maintenance of these new parks? We've seen how quickly the parks have declined with the loss of this department and would hate to see history repeat itself, especially after making such a vast improvementThank you for making this available for public comment and input! Truly the right step forward for our city.

Gregory Huth3 years ago This is a great opportunity to introduce native flowering plants and trees to our parks that will cut down on pollution and provide food and habitat to local birds, insects and other wildlife, especially bees and butterflies. Trees can be purchased at low or no cost from the Arbor Day Foundation, and the Cornell University Cooperative Extension service can offer expert, enthusiastic advice. Also, it's a good time to evaluate the ecological impact of maintenance practices such as weed killers and insecticides that harm the local ecology. We have fewer bees, bugs and birds than we once did, and we seem to be rapidly heading towards Rachel Carson's Silent Spring. This is an opportunity for Plattsburgh to do its part in reversing this trend.

Mike Kelly3 years ago The proposed dog park is directly behind the only residence on the east side of Woodland Drive. The owner of this home states that dogs are in the current dog park from 5 AM until 10 PM. The residents can hear barking and witness dogs fighting all day long. They contacted me to respectfully request that the dog park be moved to a more interior section of the park away from residences. This does not seem like an unreasonable request.

Kerri-anne Frenya3 years ago Thank you for the overview of the city park plans. We appreciate all of the hard work that has gone into this. Also, very pleased with them. Just one question I have is what will the inclusive and expanded playground surface be made of? I am not a fan of wood chips and deteriorating exposed wood. Also, the amount of rain we get makes it muddy. Also, it is not cushioning for falls. Will it be a solid rubberized surface material or turf we see at all parks in other states? It seems to be low maintenance, clean and cushions falls. Also, what would be the surface of the splash pad to prevent slips and falls? Thank you and keep up the great work!

Julia Devine3 years ago I'm so happy that Penfield Park will be getting an upgrade. I have four kids and we live up the street so this is fantastic.Thank you for making a full size basketball court. I suggest you make two. We have a lot of kids in the area and two would really help out. We need more outdoor basketball courts.I've never been a fan of splash pads. I think they're good in theory but then they degrade fast. We are only truly warm for two months out of the year and the splash pad space could be used differently. It's trendy I know but I don't think it makes sense for our climate. I'd love to see a climbing net for the playground or another space and a slackline pulley. Yay to pickle ball courts and enhanced walking path. More pollinator gardens. If the musical instruments are going away, please replace with new ones.Also, I don't think we need a band shell. They usually remain empty and unused and would just attract a teenage or other kind of hangout. Not necessary. Again good in theory, but please no. I'd love it if the City would also invest in its baseball field. There's lots of opportunity there and I don't see why it's been neglected.

Alain Bernier3 years ago

Kristen Gommel3 years ago

Krystle Noel-Baker3 years ago

Christine B3 years ago

Rachel Livermore3 years ago

Margaret Tolosky3 years ago I have grown up and lived in the city for many years. I have raised my children in the city. As a kid we filled our days at the park during the summer as well as the winter. In the winter the park had a beautiful outdoor ice rink with lights and a warming hut. In the summer all the parks were manned with an activities director. (usually a high school/college person seeking summer work) They planned games, arts and crafts and other fun activities for all children that came to the parks. The middle school pool was used for open swim and swim lessons. The tennis courts were used to provide tennis lessons and the Stafford gym provided free gymnastics lessons. The city also transported kids to the city beach on certain days from the parks. The city of Plattsburgh department of public works maintained the parks and they were always well taken care of. We have lost all of that.When thinking about improvements to the parks, please think about who will maintain the parks and if we can get back to providing any planned activities.I visit the dog park daily and am saddened to see the fences leaning, gaps under the fence and doors not closing. One dog fenced in area has been totally abandoned and left to sit unused and not maintained as the brush is allowed to grow up. (What a waist) Another was just added next to it instead of maintaining or fixing the other. The dog park by the city beach should be looked at for design. It offers one fenced in area labeled for small dogs and the other big side for big dogs.I think if we could add an all inclusive one time a day outdoor fitness class for all during the summer and early fall months that would be great. Maybe the YMCA would teach a class in the park since they are running the city gym now. How fun it would be to see seniors and juniors alike taking a class together.Thank you all for the work you are doing to enhance our parks.

Idaly Holland3 years ago

Jake Martineau3 years ago Plattsburgh desperately needs a new skatepark. It’s disappointing to see improvements with everything else within the park while the skatepark is overlooked. The current facility is extremely outdated and offers features that are very difficult for those that are entry level. Not only can this be discouraging but it can be dangerous as well with people trying things well out of their skill levels. A new skatepark would be beneficial for our community in many ways by providing individuals with a safe space to go practice a healthy activity as well as bringing people together through a common interest. I truly think this is something these points and the many others that could be made should be taken into consideration when thinking about our parks and the benefits they provide for the people who use them.

Ruth Marshall3 years ago

Ruth Marshall3 years ago

john mehan3 years ago

Margaret Balko3 years ago

Chris Ransom3 years ago

Malana Tamer3 years ago

Mary Lou Leavitt3 years ago What is the city planning to spend money on now at Penfield Park, for the dogs? I was just there on Sunday, April 9th with family visiting with a dog. There is already one abandoned dog park, complete with chain link fencing, which, to my way of thinking, is a waste of money. If anything,perhaps fence off part of the existing park for smaller or older dogs. In my experience, taking my own older rescue Lab there, younger dog owners were using the park to let their dogs run loose while they huddled on their phones, ignoring their dogs and behaviours. I generally chose to just leave, to avoid my dog getting run over by under-exercised dogs without any ''manners''.I will be very interested in seeing what develops, but please use good wisdom in spending taxpayer money in all the parks. Let's all try to keep up what we have, before we start spending lavishly.Thank you,Mary Lou Leavitt, Plattsburgh.

Chaz Lasca3 years ago The North Country Handball Club was formed last year with the goal of reviving and expanding interest in the sport of Handball for people of all ages and abilities. Handball provides an exceptional aerobic workout without excessive wear and tear on the body; plus (as with basketball and soccer), it is a beautifully pure and simple game, with extremely little monetary outlay required for equipment, etc. We look forward to being a part of the Plan for Penfield Park! For information, please email: northcountryhandball@gmail.com

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Parks Come Alive!
Event date: July 7th, 2022 from 8:30 PM to 11:30 PM.
Melissa Penfield Park
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