New Castle, NY – New York State Senator Pete Harckham joined New Castle Town Supervisor Victoria Tipp, town officials, and campers from the Town Day Camp recently to celebrate the opening of a new playground at Amsterdam Park, made possible through $100,000 in state funding secured by the senator.

“Playgrounds are vibrant spaces where children can play, learn, and grow together,” Harckham said. “They foster inclusion, build friendships, and strengthen our communities. I’m proud to have secured the funding for this project and help create an even better place for children and families to connect and enjoy one of New Castle’s most beloved parks.”

Amsterdam Park is one of New Castle’s busiest recreational sites, serving as the home of the Town Day Camp and a variety of youth sports programs and community activities. The previous playground was roughly half the size of the new installation and featured wood-chip surfacing. The upgraded playground includes a significantly larger play structure, rubber safety surfacing topped with synthetic turf, and enhanced play opportunities for children of all ages.

“Thank you to Senator Harckham for your continued support of the New Castle community,” Tipp said. “This playground is a wonderful upgrade for one of our most used parks that community members can enjoy for many years to come.” 

This marks the second major improvement at Amsterdam Park supported through state funding secured by Harckham. Previously, he obtained grant funding to re-sod the park’s athletic fields, further enhancing one of the town’s most utilized recreational facilities.

The $100,000 for the playground project was awarded through the Community Resiliency, Economic Sustainability, and Technology (CREST) program, which supports critical infrastructure improvements for municipalities and nonprofit organizations.

The funding is part of the more than $40 million Harckham has secured for projects benefiting communities throughout the 40th Senate District, which includes northern Westchester, eastern Putnam, and portions of Rockland County.