BY JIMMY LAWTON
North Country This Week

OGDENSBURG - More than 100 people gathered Thursday as Ogdensburg’s new playground opened to the public.

Work on the project hadn’t been expected to be completed until September.

Ogdensburg Mayor Jeffrey M. Skelly said he was pleased with the work that contractors T.J. Fiacco Construction did as well as work performed by J.E. Sheehan. He said the contractors delivered speed and quality on the job.

“I would like to thank the contractors and their employees who performed such high quality work,” he said. “I’d also like to thank Andrea Smith for her hard work on the project and working with all the engineers for such a great final result.”

Skelly said it was great to see such a great turnout at the opening and he was glad Ogdensburg’s youth would be able to enjoy the park for the rest of summer.

“It’s nice to see kids playing again. Our kids really need this,” he said.

Along with the new playground the city also opened new pickleball courts.

The mayor said they are already being used.

The new park replaces the former Kids Kingdom and is part of the construction of the city’s Dobisky Center Municipal Marina and Morrisette Park Shoreline Resiliency Improvements.