Freedom Park was built in 1976 so the Bicentennial Barge would have a place to land in Schenectady County. The former dumping ground was transformed into a lovely amphitheater and stage on the banks of the Mohawk River; an idyllic setting for the production of “Ballad for Americans.” After a wonderful summer of historical and patriotic festivities, soon-to-be Mayor Dennis Madden realized that Scotia now had a fine performance venue – thus was born the Freedom Park Foundation.
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The Foundation continued to present weekly Wednesday programs throughout the ’80s and ’90s under the leadership of board president Nell Burrows. The original small core of volunteers was expanded significantly under Mayor Jim Denney and Park Board Chair Carl George in the mid-nineties.
A new stage was constructed in 1998, including backstage storage, a dressing room, and a roof over the performance space. The Glenville Rotary Club finished and furnished the dressing room interior. An all-weather dance floor was added in 2000, and a backstage restroom for performers was built with a Wright Foundation grant in 2001. In 2010, the Scotia Rotary Club built a covered platform for the sound equipment at the top of the amphitheater. The free summer programs increased from 8 in 1997 to approximately 30, with shows presented each Wednesday, Saturday, and Sunday (plus one Friday night for fireworks) throughout the summer.
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After Hurricane Irene in 2011, the amphitheater was heavily damaged. The storm inflicted substantial harm, causing extensive erosion. Despite these challenges, the park remains a vital part of the community. Renovating Freedom Park became crucial not only to restore its beauty and functionality but also to ensure it continues to serve as a safe and welcoming environment for all Capital Region residents.
Freedom Park was one of the only concert series to continue throughout the Pandemic. The “Freedom Park Quarantune Series” was a highly successful virtual concert and music streaming initiative launched during the summer of 2020. Designed as a safe alternative to their traditional in-person summer performances due to COVID-19, it allowed people from all over to enjoy live local music from their backyards. The virtual shows kept the local arts community connected by holding free weekly streams broadcast directly online every Wednesday and Saturday evening. Performances were recorded at the Turf Tavern, a locally owned restaurant in Scotia.
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In 2026, under board president Cathy Gatta, the Freedom Park amphitheater and dance floor went through a complete transformation in recognition of the park’s 50th Anniversary. Renovations include: additional storage rooms on either side of the stage, façade improvements, ADA-compliant pathways from one end of the amphitheater to the other, an ADA-compliant pathway to our public restrooms, and permanent placement of new state-of-the-art sound equipment.
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