United Way convenes partners, makes commitment to North Swan Street Park revitalization in Albany's Arbor Hill neighborhood

3t architects donated their services to create a rendering of the completed park on North Swan Street between 1st and 2nd street.

ALBANY, NY – An aging basketball court and swath of buckling pavement on North Swan Street will be transformed into a vibrant park and community gathering space according to a plan unveiled today by the numerous partners who have made a commitment to the project.

The park revitalization is part of an ongoing commitment to Arbor Hill by many stakeholders including the City of Albany and its Planning Department and Housing Authority, Albany County, the Arbor Hill Neighborhood Association, United Way of the Greater Capital Region and others. Work will start later this summer to make over the one-acre plot to a space that will include a playground, outdoor stage, climbing wall, picnic area, water fountains and improvements to the existing basketball court.

"United Way's philosophy is that together, we can achieve much more than any one individual or organization can accomplish alone. That's what we like to call living united," said Katherine Pelham, CEO of United Way of the Greater Capital Region, at a press conference announcing the plan. "The revitalization of North Swan Street Park is an example of what happens when people across the community find common ground and align their efforts to create meaningful change."

United Way CEO Katherine Pelham speaks with Arlene Way, President of the Arbor Hill Neighborhood Association and Executive Director of the Arbor Hill Development Corporation.

Albany Mayor Gerald Jennings said the park will be an intergenerational gathering spot that strengthens the neighborhood. "I can't wait to cut the ribbon on this beautiful place," he said.

Partners representing the City of Albany, Albany County and the Arbor Hill Neighborhood Association said the project is about more than building park; it's about taking a major step forward in the continued transformation of a neighborhood that has seen its share of challenges. North Swan Street Park was identified in Albany's Arbor Hill Neighborhood Plan as a priority for improvements, and the refurbished park will enhance the $41 million already invested in the area since the plan was completed in 2003.

The long-term solution to creating a healthy neighborhood is to bring the community back to this street, said Darren Scott, Director of Planning and Development at the Albany Housing Authority. "It's all about building partnerships and the community," he said.

United Way's commitment to Arbor Hill has been extensive and ongoing. Pelham shared that United Way has made long term investments in the Arbor Hill Community Center and the Trinity Institution Homer Perkins Center. One of United Way's six Family Resource Centers is also located nearby.

United Way CEO Katherine Pelham announces that later this summer, a group of volunteers will begin site preparation at North Swan Street Park as part of United in Action, a United Way initiative that connect employee groups and other volunteers with projects that help create lasting change in communities across the Capital Region.

"Today's announcement is not just about rebuilding a park. It's about transforming a neighborhood," Pelham said. "United Way is working to address the root cause of some of the problems that affect our communities. We're in the business of changing lives. But our commitment goes further - to change conditions so that everyone has the opportunity for a good life. We know that a healthy neighborhood will produce healthy children who have hope and a future, and strong families that are financially stable and enjoy an improved quality of life.

The North Swan Street Park announcement came the day before United Way's major United in Action initiative, which involves a day-long concentration of hands-on volunteer work at three sites across the Greater Capital Region: The Produce Project in Troy, the Unlimited Garden in Ballston Spa, and the Community Garden in Schoharie.

View YNN news coverage of the Arbor Hill project.

United Way of the Greater Capital Region brings people and resources together to achieve measurable and sustainable improvements in the quality of life for our community.