Niagara Falls Memorial Medical Center announced Tuesday that it has been awarded a $155,000 Community Development Block Grant from the City of Niagara Falls to support a comprehensive renovation of Schoellkopf Park.
The first public park in Niagara Falls, it is a cornerstone of the hospital’s campus. Hospital president and CEO Joseph Ruffolo, in a statement, expressed gratitude for the city’s investment in the medical campus and surrounding neighborhood.
“As the only full-service hospital in Niagara County, providing a peaceful space like Schoellkopf Park for our patients and their families is pivotal,” said Ruffalo. “This initiative further illustrates our unified dedication to enhancing community well-being.”
The funds will be used to repaint the park’s iron fencing, update its sprinkler system, install new lighting fixtures and restore the historic pillars at the Walnut Avenue entrance. Part of the grant is reserved for replanting areas that have begun to show wear.
Established in 1913, the 2-acre park at Portage Road and Pine Avenue honors former mayor Arthur Schoellkopf, son of hydropower pioneer Jacob Schoellkopf.
In the late 1990s, the park’s ownership was transferred from the city to the hospital. The renovation, begun last year, is scheduled to be completed next month.
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