The Holyoke Merry-Go-Round

You are never too young or too old to take a spin on a Merry-Go-Round. It’s always a
thrill, no matter your age, to hop on a beautifully hand-carved painted horse or ride in
one of the chariots. For me, it has always had to be the horse that goes up and down. But there have been times when the chariot makes me feel a little special. When Mountain Park in Holyoke closed in 1987, a group of Holyoke residents and community leaders were determined to keep the park’s carousel in the city, and purchased it for $850,000, entirely through volunteer donations. The antique carousel was lovingly restored and has been spinning for 33 years at its current home at Holyoke Heritage State Park, due to the dedication and passion of volunteers. Joe McGiverin and his daughters Brenda and Kelly have stepped in as the current volunteer leaders of the Merry-Go-Round, overseeing a volunteer board of directors. Lifelong Holyokers, they have memories of spending their own childhoods at Mountain Park and are committed to carrying on the beloved tradition. Part of their stewardship includes making sure that the carousel is maintained. The Merry-Go-Round recently received a local and state CPA Preservation Grant that is being used to restore four horses at the Carousel Museum in New Britain, CT. There, the paint on the horses will be completely stripped, the damage wood restored, and repainted to bring back, as closely as possible, the intricate details of each one. The Merry-Go-Round accepts donations to its Annual Preservation Fund, which, says Joe, has had repeat donors for 33 years. “Merry-Go-Rounds don’t survive easily, he adds, noting that the roof will be replaced this year, along with repairing the 32 windows of the building’s cupola. The project cost will be close to $120,000. The Merry-Go-Round is more than just a ride in the park. The venue hosts a variety of events and is available to rent for children’s birthday parties, weddings, retirement parties and other special occasions.