POTSDAM – The opening of the new Community Outdoor Music Park, and a rededication of Garner Park, were celebrated with a ceremony filled with music, speeches, and ice cream Friday, June 3.

Three large scale, permanent outdoor instruments – a piper and two xylophones – are now installed in the park, combining music and play for people of all ages.

The new music park is located in downtown Potsdam, along the Raquette River in Garner Park, at the end of Raymond Street.

Garner Park was also recently updated with new sidewalks, swinging benches overlooking the river, picnic tables, street lighting and decorative landscaping.

“Garner Park honors the Village’s longtime mayor, Ruth F. Garner, who had the distinction of being the first woman elected to the Village Board of Trustees and to the office of mayor,” said Mayor Ron Tischler.

Mayor Garner was instrumental in Potsdam’s downtown revitalization efforts over three decades.

“I’d like to express my sincere gratitude to all the individuals and groups that have worked on this amazing project. My mother would have loved it,” said Ruth Garner’s daughter, Margaret Garner-Haggard.

“My family and I are so grateful that this beautiful park has been improved and become a place for everyone, particularly children, to enjoy for years to come. Our mother would be so honored and delighted. I’m sure she is smiling down on us right now,” said Garner-Haggard.

The Outdoor Community Music Park was funded by the North Country Children’s Museum, Jane Lammers & Family, and the VanNess Family Fund of the Northern New York Community Foundation.

Outgoing Clarkson University President Tony Collins and St. Lawrence Health’s President Donna McGregor were among the speakers. Both organizations also contributed to the project.

Clarkson University is happy to make a small contribution to Potsdam’s new Community Outdoor Music Park, said Collins. “We should celebrate we are in Potsdam with our interconnections that join all of us,” he said.

“This park is so beautiful and so focused on the arts. Thanks for supporting this project,” said Maggie McKenna, Director of St. Lawrence County Arts Council

Also speaking were Kylie Peck of NYS Dept. of State, and donors April Vasher and Jane Lammers, of North Country Children’s Museum.

“What would be an artistic enhancement to the park?” Jane Lammers said a group of community members were discussing nine months ago.

“We came up with a musical park with instruments. You can even wipe off the snow in the winter and play the instruments,” she said.

“We have joined the Global Musical Parks. There are over 1,000 musical parks all over the world,” said Lammers.

Both children and adults smiled as they tried out the outdoor instruments with family and friends.

Animal Cracker band members Dan Sullivan-Catlin, Frank McLaughlin, and Tom Baker entertained the dozens of community members with their music after the speeches.

Many attendees enjoyed ice cream, donated by Stewarts, as they sat on blankets listening to the music.

Garner Park is the first section of the Village’s Downtown Riverwalk Trail to be completed. The remaining trail and related facilities will be constructed using the Potsdam’s Downtown Revitalization Initiative grant funding, village officials say.

[img_assist|nid=320979|title=Maggie McKenna, Director of St. Lawrence County Arts Council, thanked the community donors for supporting the arts project at the celebration of the new Community Outdoor Music Park. Photo submitted by Hans Kuno|desc=|link=none|align=middle|width=672|height=900]

 [img_assist|nid=320953|title=Potsdam Mayor Ron Tischler speaks of former mayor Ruth Garner during rededication of Garner Park as St. Lawrence Health’s President Donna McGregor and outgoing Clarkson University President Tony Collins look on.|desc=|link=none|align=middle|width=971|height=900]

[img_assist|nid=320954|title=Playing together on one of the new outdoor musical instruments at Garner Park, Potsdam, are Molly Murphy, left, Potsdam, and Amy LaPointe, Massena. NCNow photo|desc=|link=none|align=middle|width=848|height=900]

[img_assist|nid=320957|title=Animal Crackers band members, from left, Frank McLaughlin, Dan Sullivan-Catlin and Gavan Cragg entertain attendees at Potsdam’s new Community Outdoor Music Park in Garner Park during its dedication ceremony June 3. NCNow photo|desc=|link=none|align=middle|width=1200|height=840]

[img_assist|nid=320958|title=Elias Cragg, left, and Gavan Cragg make music on the pipes, one of three musical instruments at Potsdam’s Community Outdoor Music Park in Garner Park. NCNow photo|desc=|link=none|align=middle|width=792|height=900]

[img_assist|nid=320959|title=|desc=|link=none|align=middle|width=655|height=900]

[img_assist|nid=320964|title=Celebrating Potsdam’s new Community Outdoor Music Park and a rededication of Garner Park with ice cream while listening to music are, from left, Edith and Matilda Wilke, of Potsdam. NCNow photo|desc=|link=none|align=middle|width=1011|height=900]

[img_assist|nid=320960|title=Dozens of community members came to celebrate Potsdam’s new Community Outdoor Music Park and a rededication of Garner Park June 3. NCNow photo|desc=|link=none|align=middle|width=1101|height=900]