Assemblymember Rivera and Supervisor Hoak Announce $400,000 in Funding for Osborne Park in Hamburg

Funding will modernize playground, as well as create a pavilion and a designated dog park

Hamburg, NY – Assemblymember Jon D. Rivera and Hamburg Town Supervisor Randy Hoak announced today a total investment of $400,000 toward Osborne Park in the Town of Hamburg – a significant funding commitment that will transform the park into a thriving communal gathering space for the Blasdell community.

Assemblymember Jon Rivera secured $300,000 in state capital funding for the project, while Hamburg Supervisor Randy Hoak and the Hamburg Town Board will commit $100,000 in funds from the American Rescue Plan Act.

The funding will allow for a reconfiguring of the park space in order to improve accessibility and inclusivity, and it will modernize the park’s playground with new equipment, create a picnic pavilion and allot space for a dog park.

The $400,000 investment from local leadership marks the latest milestone in a stated commitment to improving the quality of life for residents in the Hamburg and Blasdell communities.

As the Osborne Park area has seen an increase in young families buying homes in the neighborhood, and as Blasdell residents have mostly utilized the current space, Rivera and Hoak realized the importance of additional infrastructure to meet the area’s growing need for a safe, fun place for Southtowns residents to enjoy.

The Town of Hamburg have held community meetings on the project throughout the past year, gathering input from residents and taking suggestions as to the kinds of amenities that the neighborhood want to see most.

New, state-of-the-art playground equipment will provide the neighborhood’s growing youth population a space where they can get together and be stimulated after school. The current playground at Osborne Park measures at roughly 4,500 square feet, with the main play area being 3,675 square feet. When the upgrades are completed, the playground will encompass a 6.785 square-foot area.

A new pavilion within the park will be constructed to serve as a gathering place for community events and picnics, providing shelter and a convenient location for neighborhood celebrations. Additionally, a dedicated dog park within the space will provide a safe and designated area for pets to socialize and exercise.

Assemblymember Jon D. Rivera said, “My vision for Osborne Park is for this space to grow into a place where this developing community can gather and play with one another. I’m proud to play a part in moving this vision forward thanks to the collaborative efforts of the Hamburg and Blasdell communities, and the support of residents. My wife is from Blasdell and I frequently bring my daughter to parks here. I am beyond excited to be a part of the growth of this community and I know the benefits of this project will be felt by future generations of Blasdell residents, as we create a more vibrant and connected community.”

Town of Hamburg Supervisor Randy Hoak said, “Hamburg’s parks and open spaces are long overdue for an upgrade. Assemblymember Rivera’s assistance will help us stretch our local dollars to bring safe and attractive amenities to our community. We are especially proud of the residents of the Osborne Park neighborhood for speaking up and working with the Town Board to bring these improvements their park.”

Hamburg Town Councilmember Karen Hoak said, “The collaboration between Town leadership and the Osborne Park community has brought an ideal vision to revitalize this green space for all generations to enjoy. I'm excited to see this project come to fruition with the additional support provided by Assemblymember Rivera, and I thank all of our community partners who made this happen.”

Ahren Vogl of the Osborne Playground Restoration group, said, “When we started the Osborne Playground Restoration project, we weren’t sure what the outcome would be. Now that funding has been secured and plans have been finalized, the visions are becoming reality. There is so much potential at Osborne Park and we're excited to continue development for a space that everyone can enjoy. The members of the community have come together to provide input and are grateful to the Town of Hamburg and Assemblymember Rivera for listening and taking action in support of our efforts. None of this would have been possible without the initiative of longtime community member, Doreen Meade, and her desire to provide the community with a space where generations to come can create the same memories that make up her childhood.”