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Mayor Billy Barlow has announced as part of his 2020 State of the City Address his plan to renovate the street hockey rink at Shapiro Park this summer and to dedicate the rink to Jack R. Bobbett, an 11-year-old Oswego boy who tragically passed away last summer.
Bobbett was a standout youth hockey player in Oswego’s Minor Hockey Association program known as an outgoing and hardworking teammate.
Shapiro Park is located on Oswego’s west side containing a basketball court, playground, pickle ball courts and a street hockey rink. The street hockey rink has fallen into disrepair for several years with little usage. In 2017, Mayor Barlow converted the aging tennis courts into new pickle ball courts, breathing new life into the park. Barlow announced the city will repave the rink, purchase new rink equipment, will theme the rink with Oswego Minor Hockey colors and logos, re-naming and dedicating the rink after Jack Bobbett.
“Renovating the street hockey rink at Shapiro Park is one more investment the City of Oswego will make to improve our community and bring our parks and playgrounds back to life after years of neglect. I’m proud to continue reviving Shapiro Park and, along with the creation of the pickle ball courts, believe a new and improved street hockey rink will help bring more people to this particular park,” said Mayor Billy Barlow. “We’ll also dedicate and re-name the park after Jack R. Bobbett. Jack was known throughout the Oswego community as a kind and compassionate boy who loved hockey and cherished his friends and family. We wish to appropriately honor and remember Jack in a way that will bring smiles and happiness to children for many years to come by bringing the rink back to life and giving Oswego youth a place to play street hockey during the warmer months,” Barlow said.
Jack’s Mother, Maureen Bobbett said, "Jack brought so much joy to so many people in his short time here. He had a huge heart and lived every moment of his life to the fullest. The past seven months have been extremely difficult for our family but the Oswego community has come together to show us so much love and support and we are truly grateful. The dedication of the street hockey rink at Shapiro Park has deeply touched our hearts. It gives children a place to gather and play a sport Jack loved and that will ensure the memory of a wonderful boy continues to live on in this community."
Barlow said the rink will be outfitted with signage honoring Jack along with incorporating Jack’s initials, jersey number and hockey logo into the painting and striping of the rink. There will be an official dedication ceremony this summer when the renovations and improvements are complete. The improvements are expected to cost around $15,000 and should be completed in July.
