SHERBURNE – A project recently began in the Village of Sherburne to improve the facilities at Paddleford Park. As part of the project, the park, which is located on Chapel Street in Sherburne, will receive upgrades to better handle the events that take place at the park.
“The project is being done to accommodate activities that are already taking place at the park,” Village Mayor William Acee said.
Currently, Paddleford Park offers a community pool, playground equipment, pavilions, lighted baseball fields and the youth recreation program.
This year, and for several years in the past, Paddleford Park was the site of the village’s Independence Day celebration, little league play-offs and summer recreation program. Because so many activities take place at the park, Acee said the improvements were needed.
The project could include building new playground equipment, revamping the electrical system, improving the baseball fields, improving the side walks and walking trail and rehabilitating the parking lot with new black top and a better drainage system.
“The project will enhance the look of the park. It will make the park have a bigger, better playground and it will just be a better organized park,” Acee said.
Through a cooperative agreement, the operations and maintenance of the park are shared by the Village of Sherburne, the Town of Sherburne and the Sherburne-Earlville School District. Administrative and reporting responsobilities lie with the Village of Sherburne. The park project is being done in stages. The first stage of the project, the portion pertaining to the little league fields, has been completed. The next phase to begin will be the playground equipment.
The project is being paid for from the Finch Fund, a fund set up by the late Howard Finch of Sherburne. The total cost for the project has not yet been determined.

e-mail: jlewis@evesun.com