District secures funding for facility upgrades; improvements coming to Hazel’s Path

Aug. 14, 2024

Thanks to assistance from Assemblyman Al Stirpe, the Cazenovia Central School District will receive $300,000 in state aid to help cover some future facility upgrades, including improvements to Hazel’s Path at Burton Street Elementary School. 

Before the path was completed in 2023, adaptive playground equipment installed by the PTA was inaccessible to people with limited mobility due to mulch chips. The handicap accessible concrete pathway was requested by Hazel Shaw’s family.

Hazel, 13, was a Cazenovia Middle School student. She died in 2021 before the project was completed and it was named in her memory. 

“We were excited to see this project become a reality, but ended up running into new issues with the path. One being it isn’t wide enough for some wheelchairs. It’s important that we get it right to ensure our school grounds are accessible to everyone. That’s the proper way to honor Hazel. We’re thankful this funding will help us do that,” said Superintendent Christopher DiFulvio. 

Those that worked closely with Hazel are also excited to see these improvements made. 

“I think it's really important that we get Hazel's Path fixed so we can make the playground as inclusive as possible. That's what Hazel's family wants. That's what Hazel would have wanted,” shared Speech Language Pathologist Lea Greene.

Some of the additional bullet aid will be used to re-coat and line the tennis court. Plans are in the works to add pickleball lines so physical education classes can use it as part of their evolving curriculum. It would also be accessible to the community outside of when it is being used by students.

“I appreciate the relationship we’ve been able to build with Assemblyman Stirpe and that he cares about our community and student needs. These projects will benefit so many people for years to come,” said DiFulvio. 

State bullet aid is money distributed by the Assembly, Senate and Governor to individual school districts, libraries and other non-profits, based on resolutions approved by the legislature.