Write a commentThe following is a letter of gratitude to all of the committed individuals who volunteered their time to assist in the renovation of Oswego's Franklin Square (West) Park Saturday, Oct. 5, from Steven Phillips, Oswego Renaissance Association project coordinator
You often hear complaints about the youth of today; they love luxury, are ill-mannered, ignores authority, have a poor work ethic, lack motivation and have no respect for others ... Well, the youth of today, Oct. 5, 2013, who volunteered and showed up to give the playground in Franklin Square/West End Park a facelift, more than 80 strong, were NONE of the above...as a matter of fact they were just the opposite. They got down and got dirty, were so well mannered I didn't hear a cuss word all day long, followed instructions, worked hard and when they finished one duty, would ask what next they could do.
The Oswego Renaissance Association recently organized a "Playground Clean-Up" in which the city of Oswego did some repairs and supplied the stain and some tools for the large wooden Playground located on West Third Street between West Seneca and West Cayuga streets.
This playground is used by hundreds of children each week. Local neighbors also volunteered and donated bottled water and snacks for the workers, but the vast majority of the volunteers came from SUNY Oswego. SUNY Oswego students individually, in small groups and entire fraternities and sororities showed up to work. By the end of the day, 96 people had volunteered their time and talents. They re-stained the wood, weeded the walk ways and even removed a trailer full of sod that had overgrown the children's swing area ... and all of this without a single complaint or problem.
I cannot begin to thank all the SUNY Oswego volunteers for an OUTSTANDING JOB! Special thanks to Department of Public Works Commissioner Mike Smith and DPW employee Jim who donated their time and talents and worked alongside the students all day long; and to 1st Ward Counselor Fran Enwright and his wife, Diane, who also worked all day side-by-side with the students.
The event was a huge success and the playground looks re-newed and ready to handle hundreds more children every week for years to come.
Thanks again to the volunteers ... I couldn't have asked for a better group to work with.
Steven Phillips
ORA Project Coordinator
