Park renamed for Myron Urbanski

By Geri Corey
GOSHEN — “He was a diamond in the rough,” said Town Councilman Phil Canterino, speaking at the Craigville Park renaming ceremony on June 29.

Canterino was fondly referring to the once-town supervisor Myron Urbanski. He told friends and family who attended the ceremony that Urbanski was “a real good friend of mine,” and said that renaming the park in his honor — The Myron Urbanski Memorial Park — was “a special day” for him.

Urbanski was Town of Goshen Supervisor from 1983 to 1993. He died on May 28, 2012.

Canterino served as councilman when Urbanski was supervisor. He said Urbanski understood in the early '80s that Goshen had a recreation program but no place to hold activities.

“At that time, we were using school fields and gyms during off-hours," Canterino said. "We had to schedule around when their facilities weren’t being used. Myron loved Goshen, so when he became supervisor, it was high on his priority list to build a park for Goshen’s children. And so it began."

Canterino explained that Urbanski had a knack for getting volunteers to pitch in and, as a result, most of the work, equipment and supplies were donated.

It was Urbanski himself who got the project going.

“He climbed on a huge bulldozer, cranked it up, put it in gear, and that was the start of the recreation park,” said Canterino, recalling that special moment with evident pleasure. “The rest is history."

He said the park project will not burden taxpayers.

“We only had to pay for construction of the buildings," he said.

Years before Myron took office, an artist's rendering showed what the park should look like. The town owned the property, and when Urbanski decided it was time to build the park, he, Canterino, and others guided engineers and professionals through the process.

Lots is going on today in the park. Originally called the Land O’Goshen Park, it is now commonly referred to as Craigville Park because of its location on Craigville Road. Facilities — four ball fields, three soccer fields, fully equipped playground, pavilion with a full kitchen, rest room facilities, volleyball court, and a T-ball batting cage for children — are geared to accommodate all ages.

Besides providing a sports venue, the park is used for community events like the yearly Halloween party, as a day camp, and as a rental for family reunions and other events.

“It’s a tremendous asset,” said Town Councilman George Lyons.

Through the years, projects have been undertaken to improve the park. For instance, the ground surface is mainly clay and wetlands, and, after a rainfall, the fields were too wet for games. So the Soccer Club undertook a two-phase project to correct the problem.

First, they installed a perimeter drain around the outside of the field, which provided a 50 percent improvement over the way it was. Then they installed lateral drains to complete the project.

“With the standing water being drained off, now the fields are used 100 percent of the time,” said Lyons. "And the grass grows better.”

Next on the Joint Recreation Commission’s agenda is to purchase a water truck with a water source for dry times maintenance.

In speaking about Urbanski, Lyons said: “I never met a man who got so much accomplished, given the red tape of government. He was able to work out deals for getting work done at low cost or even for nothing.“

Village Mayor Kyle Roddey never met Urbanski personally. But he said much of his childhood centered around park activities, like Little League, soccer, and day camp.

“Everyone takes the park for granted, not realizing the amount of sweat it took to build it," Roddey said. "It’s appropriate to rename this park The Myron Urbanski Memorial Park.”

“This park wouldn’t have gotten done without Myron,” said Goshen Town Supervisor Doug Bloomfield. "He could move mountains very quickly. Kids come here and have a good time because of Myron.