Residents and councilors spar over proposed playground at Fort Stanwix Park

Dozens of residents and several councilors clashed over a proposal to place playground equipment at Fort Stanwix Park during public comment at the Rome Common Council meeting on Aug. 27, 2025.

Opponents said the park is a passive, historic site — including a burial ground — and that installing playground equipment or allowing a private childcare operator to use the space would damage neighborhood character and public safety. “There’s bones there that date back 200 years,” said Richard Lomenio, a 51‑year resident who lives on Port Sandwich Park. Kenneth Pace, whose letter was read by Michael Brown, said the park “was known and is still by some as Crack Park” before neighborhood cleanup efforts, warning that a playground could reverse recent gains.

The debate followed comments from several speakers who described both the park’s historic character and lingering damage from a tornado last summer. “We got whacked with the tornado,” Councilor Anderson said, describing lost trees and ongoing recovery work. Anderson and other councilors said the city is undertaking a parks master plan review and emphasized that any change to Fort Stanwix would go through that process and public meetings.

Why it matters: Fort Stanwix Park is listed by residents as a passive park in the Fifth Ward and neighbors say it functions as a quiet green space for nearby homes. Residents argued a playground or daycare use would reduce public access, increase noise and attract activity they view as inconsistent with the park’s historic role.

What speakers said and asked

- David Amidon said he opposed converting the park to a playground and urged replanting trees lost in last year’s storm. He told the council he walks the park frequently and wants to preserve it for walking and quiet use.

- Richard Lomenio, a longtime resident, asked whether graves would be disturbed and asked who would pay for maintenance and supervision if the space were used by a daycare. “Do we want kids going there? You tell me,” he said.

- Michael Brown read a letter from Kenneth Pace, a 21‑year resident, that described the park’s transformation from a drug‑use site, praised neighborhood cleanup efforts and urged tree replacement rather than playground equipment. Pace proposed residents coordinate to purchase larger specimen trees for the city to plant.

Council response and process points

Councilor Anderson said he is not in favor of placing playground equipment in Fort Stanwix Park and described the site as historic and better suited to passive uses. “The historic nature is usually the primary reason,” Anderson said, and he said he has discussed tree replacement with the city arborist.

Councilor Sporaglia (spelled in the meeting transcript multiple ways) and other councilors noted the parks department is conducting a master‑plan review that will include public meetings; any change to a park’s designation would be considered through that process. Sporaglia told residents the parks master‑plan review has been ongoing and that public meetings will be scheduled.

Residents proposed interim measures such as coordinated donations of larger trees from local nurseries (Aspinall in Manlius was named by a speaker) while the city completes recovery and planning work.

Discussion vs. decision

This discussion was part of the public comment period and of councilors’ reports; no formal action to change Fort Stanwix Park’s designation or to install playground equipment was taken at the Aug. 27 meeting. Councilors described next steps as part of the parks master plan review and said they will invite public input at upcoming ward and parks meetings.

Ending

Councilors and residents said they expect further discussion during the parks master plan process and ward meetings scheduled to resume in September. Residents urged quicker tree replacement after the tornado, but no funding or planting schedule was approved during the meeting.