Oriskany Playground to Open Following Liberty Tree Dedication

The playground installation nears completion in Trinkaus Park, April 2026.

The new playground in Trinkaus Park (420 Utica St.), Oriskany will open this Saturday, April 25, 2026 following the Liberty Tree dedication at 1:00 pm. 

The playground was made possible thanks to a state grant  to the Village of Oriskany from the Dormitory Authority of the State of New York (DASNY) secured by Assemblywoman Marianne Buttenschon. The village extends their thanks to the Assemblywoman and her team, as well as the manufacturer, GameTime, who provided a partial matching grant, and Town Supervisor Shaun Kaleta for bringing additional attention to this project. 

The new equipment purchase was coordinated by Oriskany Highway Superintendent Chad Miller and includes updated safety and accessibility features, such as a sensory wall, alongside tried and true favorites, like the spiral slide. The new set also features a trio of racing slides. The playground design pairs the maroon and white of the Oriskany colors with blue accents, creating a red, white and blue motif to complement the military memorials in the park. 

At 1:00 pm, in honor of the United States Semiquincentennial, the Oneida Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution will donate a tree and plaque to remember the ideals of Liberty. Just a few dozen yards from the new playground, the ceremony will be hosted with assistance from the Oriskany Museum, Battle of Oriskany Historical Society, and the Battle of Oriskany Chapter of the Masonic War Veterans of New York, Post 55. 

The new Liberty Tree, an elm, will memorialize the original tree of the same name which stood in Boston from 1646-1775. The namesake tree became one of the first sites of protest against British rule in 1765 and gave shelter to the first “Liberty Hall,” as Bostonians gathered beneath its branches to discuss liberty and freedom from British taxation. The tree was struck down by Loyalists in 1775, but the ideals of the Liberty Tree remained and new trees were designated for the same purpose across the colonies. The elm remains an enduring symbol of the American Revolution. 

This event is free and open to the public. Children in attendance will be asked to help by adding soil to the tree so that they might remember our nation’s founding for years to come. 

Following the Liberty Tree dedication, the playground will be officially opened by Oriskany Mayor Clifford “Mick” O’Connor, Jr. and Assemblywoman Marianne Buttenschon. Light refreshments will follow at the Oriskany Museum. 

In the event of inclement weather, the ceremonies will be held inside the Oriskany Museum. No reservations are necessary; seating will be first come, first served. For questions, please contact events@oriskany.org or call the museum at 315-736-7529.