Osborne Park Plans
Osborne Park Photos
Osborne Park is located just east of downtown Auburn along Osborne Street and adjacent to the Grover Street Neighborhood.  The park was originally the site of a City schoolhouse in the late 1800s. The schoolhouse was later demolished by the 1930s and the half-acre lot has remained largely vacant to this date.

In the spring of 2010, the ABC invited the City Planning and Engineering Departments to help design a new use for the currently vacant Osborne Park. The project objective is to provide constructive recreational opportunities for community-wide families and children. The project will accomplish the following tasks:

  1. Remove existing concrete walks from lot;
  2. Install playground equipment including swings and climbing apparatus;
  3. Install park benches, lighting and walkways;
  4. Plant native trees and shrubs to encourage wildlife;
  5. Install and replace dilapidated fencing to improve park safety;
  6. Repair existing masonry columns that define park entrances; and
  7. Install Park signage.

The ABC has partnered with the City Department of Public Works to assist with park planning, implementation and on-going maintenance. As part of ABC’s annual benefit and plant auction at Dickman’s VaVa Bloom Event, the community will have an opportunity to sponsor a plant for the Osborne Park Improvement Project. ABC has an ongoing relationship with Cornell Cooperative Extension Master Gardener program that will assist with the plant selection and plantings. The ABC has also approached Assemblyman Gary Finch to match grant funding raised for this project.

Community and neighborhood children will be the primary beneficiaries of this park improvement project.  It will keep kids off of busy urban streets and provide a constructive recreational alternative to climbing street trees. Community park improvement projects also have a perceived benefit of providing enjoyment for children and encouraging exercise and fitness.

In regards to project implementation, the ABC is proposing to begin site preparation and clean up work in May 2010 with playground construction continuing throughout the summer months.  Planting and final seeding will take place in the fall of 2010.  All components of the project will be completed by year’s end of 2010.