Jessica Soule / The Citizen

MOTTVILLE - A place known for recreation just upped its fun factor.

A playground now sits near the Mottville entrance of the Charlie Major Trail.

Marty Hubbard wanted to give back to the hamlet where his construction business is located. Each work day, he drove past a sloped open piece of land near Crow Hill Road, while he was driving to Railroad Road.

Then, last year, he decided to build a playground in Mottville.

“I've really come to know and like the area and the people in the hamlet of Mottville. It's a special little area. I'm really proud to be affiliated with it,” Hubbard said. “After 25 years there, I just wanted to do something to give back to the community and to the area.”

Town officials approved the idea of the park in the spring.

“They thought it was a good idea. Once it gained some momentum and approvals went through, people could start to see this thing unfold and see what it could be,” Hubbard said.

After looking at a few different places in the small hamlet, he decided on that sloped piece of land near the Major Trail after the recommendation of Matt Major, parks and recreation director for the town. Town Highway Superintendent Jim Card said the plot of land that was selected began as a ditched he called a “mosquito trap” that was a nuisance to local residents.

After town highway workers filled in the ditch, two Mottville business women, Stephanie Davis, who died two years ago, and Marsha Williams, targeted that area for improvements, Card said. The pair spearheaded efforts to beautify that area by planting flowers.

Now, Hubbard sees the children's park as an extension of their work. The community has offered help in fulfilling the women's goal. Hubbard worked with a designer to help plan the playground, sought approval from the town to build the park on the town-owned land, and paid for all the equipment.

However, the former village trustee is quick to point to the help the town's Highway Department workers and have given to the project.

“A lot of credit goes to them. They did the actual work as far as the grating and installing the equipment,” Hubbard said.

Town employees created a fountain from natural stone to create a unique look for the park.

“It was really a fun project for us,” Card said. “I live in the area, so I see some of the kids and the families using (the park).”

The Skaneateles Garden Club, too, has pitched in to help maintain the plantings near the play area.

Even the equipment supplier from Rochester came to the location and offered suggestions of different pieces the playground could include.

The company also worked with the design to comply with federal safety guidelines for distance requirements between the swing set and other pieces equipment. Also the company helped select the proper colors for the park.

“They helped with colors, which sounds easy,” Hubbard said, “ but I think the colors are very fitting.”

Children started using the park in August, but the official dedication was Oct. 10.

However, the park still is growing. Hubbard plans to add a teeter-totter in the spring. He also has hopes that community organizations embrace the park and also help maintain it. The park has one picnic table, a figure Hubbard hopes will multiply.

“Frankly, it's grown to a greater dimension than I would have initially thought of,” he said.

“It's really been exciting and satisfying. Frankly, selfishly, it's something that I can enjoy every day because I go by there on my way to work.”