The Cornwall-on-Hudson students sat on a hill overlooking their new playground. They listened as Rana Liebert thanked contributors. And they clapped really hard when she mentioned their principal.
When it was time for the ribbon cutting, the kids counted down from five. As they got to zero, they charged down the hill, raced past the dignitaries and hopped onto the playground equipment.
The stampede was planned. But the kids didn’t need encouragement. They’ve been flocking to the playground since it opened at the end of April. Even on rainy days, the area is never deserted. You can always find someone there.
June 15 was a perfect day to get out of school early. It was a Friday and the weather was ideal. Rana Liebert was the emcee. She had chaired the committee that was responsible for the all-inclusive play area. Most of the money had come from grants secured by Senator Bill Larkin and Assemblyman James Skoufis. The two men attended the ceremony and shared the honor of cutting the traditional red ribbon.
Parkitects designed the playground and supervised its construction. About 200 volunteers showed up to get it built. By June 15, it was a familiar sight on the athletic field behind the school.
But there was one piece of unfinished business. The dragon in the center of the playground needed a name. The school held a contest and announced the winners at the ribbon cutting.
Three students (Nicholas Conti, Bridgette Nixon and Lydia Semo) were recognized for suggesting the name “Hudson.” Besides being the mascot for Cornwall’s athletic teams, the Dragon is good for climbing. At its base is a plaque honoring the people and companies that made major contributions to the project.
