Planning Underway for Events at “New” Grippen Park in Endicott

Broome County officials are working on scheduling events for Grippen Park, the West Endicott facility now being renovated.

Although construction work at the park is on hold for the winter, planning is moving forward for when it reopens next year.

The park on the north bank of the Susquehanna River is undergoing a $4.3 million makeover.

The initial work on the project started last year when workers ripped out the old floor and refrigeration system at the park's 50-year-old ice rink.

County Executive Jason Garnar said while much of the renovation work on the building has been finished, many of the amenities that are being developed near the structure still must be completed.

Speaking on WNBF Radio's Binghamton Now program, Garnar said he expects an official opening of the park will be held in the spring.

The county executive said discussions are underway about staging a concert series at Grippen that would be similar to what's been held in recent years at Otsiningo Park.

Grippen said the building would be "a really great place" for concerts and other events. He said there may be a fall festival and a Christmas-time event planned for Grippen Park.

He said the park building might lend itself to other uses - things like proms and weddings.

Grippen Park ice skating rink was busy for a few decades but the fun ended after its ice-making system was wrecked by flooding in April 2005. The site was contaminated by chemicals that leaked from the damaged refrigeration equipment.

BMX races will held in the rink building for several years but the county put an end to the competitions citing safety concerns with the old building.

The "new" Grippen Park will have five pickleball courts, a basketball court, a flag football field and a wiffle ball stadium.

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Contact WNBF News reporter Bob Joseph: bob@wnbf.com. For breaking news and updates on developing stories, follow @BinghamtonNow on Twitter.