The Vestal Town Board is happy to announce that it is possible for Vestal to build a fully restored carousel. The Old Village of Union Historical Society, in the honor of Ted Warner, has donated the parts of an original 1917 Herschell Carousel to the Town of Vestal. Some parts are missing, some need to be replaced, and all the wood needs to be restored. It will be a big project, but we are confident that we can do it. The carousel would be free forever and would be a part of our community for generations to come.
The project will cost about 1 million dollars to complete and must be funded by grants and donations. We believe that we will receive $300,000 in state grant money and will be pursuing other grant opportunities. The rest of the money must come from donations. The project will be built, and restored, as we receive the necessary donations. If we want a carousel in Vestal, we need to do this together.
The carousel will be built in Arnold Park and will be open seasonally. Arnold Park is a great location because it has a playground, sports fields, hiking trails, a large parking lot, and bathrooms. Physically, the park covers almost 100 acres, has a level area to build, has electricity, and is not in a flood zone. Families would be able to go to the park, enjoy all these activities, and ride the carousel. All for free. The park also has gazebos that can be rented for family gatherings.
Included is a rendering of the carousel. It is an accurate representation of the placement of the carousel, but it does not show the particulars of the actual structure or design.
Here are some of the details:
The carousel will be a full-size carousel and will have 36 horses and two chariots. All of the original wood parts (horses, chariots, and ornamental pieces) will be restored.
There will be a protective structure over the carousel (like a gazebo). The structure will have specially designed roll-down windows. The gates will function like garage doors but will be made of clear security glass. They will be pulled down, protecting the carousel in off hours, to ensure security. They may also be rolled down during inclement weather to protect the riders from rain or wind.
There will be a low wall in the area around the carousel, facilitating the formation of a line.
Some mechanical pieces (that make the carousel work) will be replaced. Some because they are missing, and a few for practical and mechanical reasons (including the motor). These are generally pieces that are not visible to the public and will not be noticed. They will be replaced to ensure that the carousel runs well, minimizing repairs.
Our Town Engineer, Parks Supervisor, and Highway Superintendent have developed a plan to build and restore the carousel. Now that we know that the main structural beam is sound, we can proceed with the project. Our Parks Department personnel have a lot of experience in building and restoration. They created and/or restored most of the wonderful things in our local parks. We are confident that all the necessary missing parts can be obtained, and all the construction and restoration can be completed. Our personnel will be doing as much of the work as possible, but some work must be contracted out.
We can only build this project if we receive donations. We will begin collecting donations immediately. While large donations are absolutely needed to make the project possible, we hope that all our residents and businesses will contribute what they can. All donations, large or small, will be greatly appreciated. Donations of $100 or more will receive permanent, inscribed, recognition. Families, individuals, or businesses that contribute $10,000 or more will be able to be the sole sponsor of a horse or a chariot, and their name would be permanently inscribed and attached to the horse/chariot. Additionally, the sponsor of each horse/chariot will be invited to participate in the ribbon cutting ceremony and will be able to take the first ride on the carousel. All other donations ($100 or above) will also receive permanent, inscribed, recognition on a plaque and/or a wall, dependent on the amount of the donation. Donors will be able to show the inscription to their family members, as they visit the carousel, for generations to come.
A free carousel in Arnold Park would be a wonderful addition to our community, for our families today and many generations to come. Our Town personnel are ready to build and restore it. If we, as a community, pull together to fund it, we can make it a reality.
If you would like to donate to the Vestal Carousel Fund, please mail a check to:
The Town of Vestal
Carousel Fund Attn: Vestal Comptroller
605 Vestal Parkway West
Vestal, NY 13850
Please make the check out to the “Town of Vestal”, include "Carousel Fund Donation" on the notes line, and include the following information:
Name of donor(s):
Full Address:
Contact email:
Contact Phone number:
Please make sure that you include your contact information so that we can ensure that your inscription is correct.
Additional ways to donate will be available soon.