Utica

Utica holds first official celebration at Memorial Park with ice festival, fireworks

By Brad D. Bates
C & G Staff Writer

» Click on image to view full size « Photo by Donna Agusti Memorial Park in downtown Utica — highlighted by its majestic clock tower — will be the place to be when the city holds its first-ever fireworks show to kick off the 2012 ice festival at 8 p.m. Feb. 10. Photo by Donna Agusti Memorial Park in downtown Utica — highlighted by its majestic clock tower — will be the place to be when the city holds its first-ever fireworks show to kick off the 2012 ice festival at 8 p.m. Feb. 10.

UTICA — After working for years to develop its riverfront, the city of Utica has big plans to introduce Memorial Park on Auburn Road with a bang.

The park will be the designated viewing area for the city’s first fireworks show, which will kick off the 2012 Ice Carving & Fireworks Spectacular at 8 p.m. Feb. 10.

“Even though (fireworks are) a big cost, (the Downtown Development Authority) is defraying that cost with a right-to-light contest,” Mayor Jacqueline Noonan said of the kick-off event.

“The DDA knows this is basic to their mission statement — to build up infrastructure and help downtown be better and better.”

The fireworks are only the start to the city’s plans for Memorial Park, which highlights the river walk with its clock tower and paved terraces, as it will host several of the marquee events throughout the festival, which runs through the whole weekend.

“The DDA responded to my request to do Memorial Park and the river walk, and it’s a perfect complement to our streetscape and hike-and-bike trail,” Noonan said of the park, which was officially opened July 29 with Heritage Park East and West.

At 2 p.m. Feb. 11, Memorial Park will feature the carving of the grand-prize winning ice sculpture designed by a student from either St. Lawrence, Trinity Lutheran, Eppler Elementary, Flickinger Elementary or Wiley Elementary schools.

“The DDA donated an ice block to the five schools within the Utica area,” Councilwoman Faith Terenzi said in an email. “We asked the students to design an ice sculpture using ‘Utica Loves Winter’ as the theme.

“Each school has a winning design, but the grand winner from the five schools is having their design carved on site on Saturday after the unveiling of the other four schools’ (winners). We are so excited about this; we received about 1,500 entries from the five schools.”

The ice festival, which was cancelled for the second time in three years last year, will kick off with the 8 p.m. fireworks show and a ceremony to honor brothers and Sterling Heights natives Kevin and Derian Hatcher and their 2010 induction into the U.S. Hockey Hall of Fame.

After the opening night festivities, expanded plans continue throughout the festival with live music from GarageBand Music on Cass Avenue.

The festival will run from noon until 4 p.m. Feb. 11 and 12 with horse carriage rides and the Utica Public Library’s annual book sale both days.

“Because our tax base is so small, we depend on the book sale to pay the bills,” Utica Library Director Marsha Doege said of the library’s biggest fundraiser, which goes from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Feb. 11-12 in the Gibbing Room at the library, located at 7530 Auburn Road.

“We use the money to buy materials that we would not normally be able to afford, like DVDs for our free (item) shelf.”

Doege said this year’s sale inventory, which covers all genres of books, as well as DVDs and CDs, was highlighted by one particular donation of note.

“We had a nice large donation of ‘Star Wars’ books, most in really good, mint condition,” Doege said of the nearly 200 items donated.

“We do have lots of good books of all genres,” Doege added. “We have CDs and more DVDs than in the past, and books of every type.”

Despite clearing out the stock that was left after last year’s sale, Doege said the inventory is still large because of the generous donations the library has received.

“Last year, we got rid of everything that had not sold previously, so it’s all new,” Doege said.

Costs for the book sale are $1 for paperbacks, $2 for hardcovers, and $1-$2 for DVDs and CDs. There are discounts on children’s books and sets. The prices drop Feb. 12.

“The Sunday sale is bag day,” Doege said. “You can fill a paper grocery bag for $5. Anything that is in that room, buy as many bags as you want.”

To ensure that all aspects of the festival are safe and family friendly, the Utica Police Department is shutting down Auburn Road during and after the fireworks.

“After the fireworks, people are going to walk around downtown, so we want that to be a safe environment,” Police Chief David Faber said of the closure from 6-10 p.m. Feb. 10 on Auburn Road, between Brownell Street and Utica Road.

“We want (visitors) to be able to walk up and down the street and take advantage of the businesses,” Faber added. “We’re hoping a lot of people stay after the fireworks and enjoy the downtown, so we’ll make it a safe zone.”

And officials hope a successful model posed by the ice festival leads to more big things along the river as they prep for a River Walk Festival July 6-8.

“We’re partnering with the Chamber of Commerce, the Downtown Development Authority, and the Parks and Recreation Commission,” Noonan said. “They’re planning a weekend festival with a carnival and classic car cruise. It will be like the Fourth of July, but later.”

You can reach C & G Staff Writer Brad D. Bates at bbates@candgnews.com or at (586)498-1029.