Construction crews are set to move into Frear Park the week of October 26, kicking off a long-promised overhaul of the playground next to the ice rink. Troy Mayor Carmella Mantello announced that work on the site will begin in the coming weeks, with the city confirming the project is scheduled to start the week of October 26.
The announcement follows Troy City Council's approval of the playground project, according to wnyt.com. The scope is broad: new playground equipment, a splash pad, ADA-accessible resurfacing, new fencing, public grills, traffic-calming measures, parking adjustments and new sidewalk construction are all part of the plan, per the same report. City officials say the goal is to improve safety, access and recreation for families who use the park.
Mantello described the playground improvements as an important step in Frear Park's revitalization, saying residents deserve safe, accessible, modern playground equipment for children and families, per a press release cited in the Troy Record. The project is also intended to improve pedestrian access and safety throughout the playground area, the outlet reports.
Council Leaders Weigh In on Funding and Timing
Troy City Council President Sue Steele said the playground improvements will not burden local taxpayers, according to the Troy Record's reporting. Deputy Mayor Seamus Donnelly, meanwhile, said the park upgrade was overdue and noted that the park is heavily used, per the same account. The council had unanimously approved the purchase of a new playground for Frear Park, with that purchase funded by federal ARPA dollars, the paper reports — while the broader construction project is described as keeping the existing recreational program largely unchanged even as the equipment itself gets upgraded.
City officials say they plan to celebrate a groundbreaking in the coming weeks, a detail confirmed in the wnyt.com report. The timing caps off a planning process that stretches back further than this fall's announcement suggests.
A Years-in-the-Making Plan for the Whole Park
Troy officials first began discussing the Frear Park upgrades at the end of 2024 while sorting out how to use the city's remaining ARPA funds, according to news10.com. That outlet reports the park is slated for several upgrades in 2026, with both the North Lake Playground and the ice rink-adjacent playground in line to get new equipment.
The North Lake Playground is planned to be rebuilt as an all-inclusive playground for children and families with intellectual, physical and developmental disabilities, per News10's reporting. The Capital Region news station also reports that the wider Frear Park plan includes new tennis and pickleball courts, expanded and paved parking, and landscaping and trail improvements. The city additionally plans to construct a new eatery at the former Park Pub site, preserving the tent operations area, according to the same report — with the Troy Record noting the permanent restaurant and event space is set to open in summer 2027, per the mayor's office.
What Comes Next for Frear Park
Troy's own parks page describes further detail on the vision for the ice rink playground, saying it will undergo a full overhaul featuring brand-new equipment, a modern splash pad and accessible surfacing, according to the city's Frear Park webpage. The city has also framed a related restaurant and event space proposal as part of a broader, transformative investment in the park, per a city newsflash announcement about the eatery's request for proposals.
Work scheduled to begin the week of October 26 at the playground beside the ice rink will include new equipment and fencing. City officials have not detailed a construction completion date or named a contractor for the work, but the groundbreaking celebration expected in the coming weeks will mark the formal start of a project years in the making for the heavily used Troy park.
