Splash pad, playground upgrades, new courts: What's next for Hornell's James Street Park

Chris Potter, The Evening Tribune
·4 min read

HORNELL — Big changes are coming to a signature community asset in the city of Hornell.

Tuesday night the city formally accepted a $427,500 grant from the New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation to make significant upgrades to Veterans Memorial Park at James Street.

The big-ticket items in the works include a splash pad at the pool, new tennis and basketball courts, and upgrades to the playgrounds. With a local match of $142,000, more than half a million dollars will be invested in the park.

“This grant will go a long way towards some really needed improvements at James Street,” said Mayor John Buckley. “It’s a beautiful park, a beautiful space, but like a lot of things it starts to show its age over time. This is a nice shot in the arm for James Street Park.”

Splash pads complement pools, playfully shooting up water. The pads are designed for young visitors to the pool who may not be ready to take a dip in deeper waters.

The Hornell Area Family YMCA took over management of the city pool at Veterans Park last summer. CEO Kristoph Kocan expects the splash zone to be a big hit with the community.

“I think it’s a great move. We have seen with a lot of the new Y’s in this area and across the country that are springing up, when they do their pools they’re putting in mini splash zones in the family pool areas,” said Kocan. “A Y in Rochester just did one two years ago and they said it’s probably their most popular feature with the families and kids.”

The City of Hornell has banned smoking, vaping, cannabis use and all other tobacco use in municipal parks, including Veterans Memorial Park at James Street.
The City of Hornell has banned smoking, vaping, cannabis use and all other tobacco use in municipal parks, including Veterans Memorial Park at James Street.

The splash pad is intended to replace the baby pool, which was closed for much of 2021 due to a mechanical failure. The pad is expected to be more efficient for the city to operate and more enjoyable for local youth.

The YMCA utilizes the pool and the park through its childcare program. Veterans Park is also hugely popular with young residents served by Hornell Area Concern for Youth. Whether it’s taking advantage of the pool, the park, the pavilions or the ball courts, James Street is a constant destination for Hornell youth.

“It’s a wonderful park. I’m sure that stuff is expensive, but it would be worth it,” said Susan Hooker, Executive Director of Hornell Area Concern for Youth. “It’s very accessible to the community. Kids can either ride their bike or walk. It’s a great place for families.”

Courts: What's next in William Larson Jr. trial of Allegany County teen accused of killing parents

For subscribers: What to expect from 'whirlwind' Hornell, Wellsville real estate markets in 2022

Jobs: Timelines, construction work, hiring: What to know about Amazon coming to Bath in 2022

New tennis, basketball courts

The improvements won’t stop at the pool. Also on the to-do list are new basketball and tennis courts at Veterans Park — with a twist. The new tennis surface may also accommodate pickleball players.

The city previously earmarked $150,000 for new tennis courts, fencing and lighting. The COVID-19 pandemic spiked the project in 2020 and the lone bid in 2021 came in well over budget, so the city decided to solicit additional bids in 2022. The courts were installed in 1984 when Hornell was a tennis hotbed.

“I’m hoping that the new courts will get that interest in town sparked again,” said Jim Tobin, Hornell’s longtime varsity tennis coach. “I really think it would. There used to be such a big following of tennis in Hornell. It has dwindled a little bit lately, but I’m hoping this will do the trick and get younger kids out there playing and get the people who used to play a lot back to playing, including myself.”

The basketball courts are also in need of a refresh.

“When they were installed in their current inception, it was kind of a quasi ice rink/basketball courts, and the ice rink never really worked out,” noted Buckley. “You have to have cold weather for a prolonged period and it really just never came to fruition. The basketball courts really need a facelift.”

The City of Hornell's public pool at the James Street Veteran’s Memorial Park is now operating under the guidance of the YMCA in the summer with expanded swimming programs.
The City of Hornell's public pool at the James Street Veteran’s Memorial Park is now operating under the guidance of the YMCA in the summer with expanded swimming programs.

Dreaming big with current, future additions to park

Major upgrades to Veterans Memorial Park at James Street have been on the city’s radar for the last several years. The city began the improvement process in 2021 by resurfacing the two main parking lots, and a new parking lot will be installed behind the swimming pool this spring and summer. A new roof atop the poolhouse was installed in 2021 as well.

The city’s grant application included a revamp of the playgrounds, with some new equipment possibly on the way in 2022. The exact breakdown of projects will depend on the bidding process and the price tag of each improvement campaign.

While successful in hitting a home run for the James Street Park grant funding, the city struck out on a similar application to improve Michael C. Fucci Memorial Park at Shawmut. Local leaders had hoped to expand the skate park, among other improvements at Shawmut, but those additions are now on hold.

Chris Potter can be reached at cpotter@gannett.com or on Twitter @ChrisPotter413. To get unlimited access to the latest news, please subscribe or activate your digital account today.

This article originally appeared on The Evening Tribune: James Street Park in Hornell getting splash pad, new courts