New York is putting $1.5 million toward two projects outside the Finger Lakes: a school-based health center in Oneonta and the next phase of a public skatepark in Rome, Gov. Kathy Hochul announced. The grants are $500,000 for the health center and $1 million for the skatepark; neither figure is the total cost of both projects.
The governor's announcement says the Dormitory Authority of the State of New York will administer the Oneonta grant. The school district plans to convert existing classroom space into reception, examination and staff areas and upgrade the entrance and hallways. The center is intended to offer students medical, mental-health and dental services during the school day.
The release identifies the planned clinic as being at Oneonta Middle School in its summary and main text, but a later section heading calls it Oneonta High School. The state did not reconcile the two references. The precise building should be confirmed before families treat the announcement as a location for appointments; the announcement also gives no opening date.
Rome park moves to a second phase
Rome's SFM Skatepark opened its first phase to the public in August 2025. It is named for Stone F. Mercurio and grew from a community effort in his memory. The first phase includes skating areas, shade structures and an initial bicycle pump track.
The new $1 million state grant is intended to advance the second phase, which includes additional skate and bike features, seating, landscaping, lighting, signs and changes to the access road. The state previously provided a $150,000 Canal Corporation grant to the project. The announcement does not specify a construction start or completion date for the new phase.
The two awards serve different communities and purposes: one is a proposed student health service and the other is a recreational capital project. State officials grouped them in a Mohawk Valley investment announcement, although Oneonta is in Otsego County and Rome is in Oneida County. Neither grant is an award to a Finger Lakes institution.
The administration says both grants are intended to improve access to services and public space. What they deliver will depend on the school renovation and skatepark construction proceeding after the funding announcement.
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