Rod Serling Statue Coming Soon to Binghamton’s Recreation Park

The long-awaited larger-than-life statue honoring Rod Serling - the creator of The Twilight Zone - will soon be erected near his childhood home on Binghamton's West Side.

Workers have started preparing the spot in Recreation Park where the statue will be located.

Employees of PJF Enterprises in Owego have excavated a section in the southeast portion of the park to install footers and the foundation for the project.

Concrete was poured at the site, which is located a short distance from the park's George F. Johnson Memorial.

A six-foot-tall replica of Rod Serling now has been created by a Utah firm. The statue was sculpted, cast, welded and bronzed and it's ready for prime time.

Nicholas Parisi, president of the Rod Serling Memorial Foundation, said a pedestal for the statue is expected to be put in place soon.

Parisi said a statue dedication ceremony has been scheduled for September 15. The event will be a culmination of this year's SerlingFest activities in Binghamton.

While the date for the dedication has been finalized, it's possible the unveiling of the statue may occur earlier.

Funding for the statue is coming from individual donations and a $50,000 state grant secured by Assemblywoman Donna Lupardo.

Serling's nostalgia for Rec Park inspired a Twilight Zone episode called "Walking Distance."

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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.