A new unique park is in the works in Utica. The "Made in Utica" group is using property in the City to build a container park. It'll be located just down the road from Union Station. One of the people behind the project tells Melissa Krull about their vision. 

UTICA, N.Y. -- "It's not something new. It will just be new to this area," said Justin Parkinson of "Made in Utica".

The Made in Utica group is all about promoting the city of Utica, and their latest endeavor is a new park.

"Rust2Green envisioned a large park for this that connected all the way through there, and their plan four years ago had containers. So when we presented it to more people they're like, 'Oh you know, we've kind of thought about this and we've had ideas for this,' so a lot of people were receptive of it," Parkinson said.

The containers are refurbished shipping containers. The plan is start out with three, making an "L" shape.

"The two containers that are larger will be able to house multiple businesses. So, it will be three containers, but up to 10 people can occupy them," said Parkinson. "We are looking for people who are basically pre-existing businesses looking for a small, temporary location on the weekends or someone who exists only online or doesn't quite have that presence downtown."

The park is an idea Mayor Robert Palmieri supports.

"We're really excited, because I think when you look at a city, these are all the different levels that you know that you're coming to the point where everyone is very excited about what's happening in the City," Palmieri said.

The property is owned by the City of Utica and is up for sale. Made in Utica is waiting to hear back from the Urban Renewal Agency about the arrangement.

"We actually are talking to a number of developers about parts of it, not all of it, so at this point it could be a great marriage. It also could be a catalyst for future development in that area," said Palmieri.

The plan is to call it "Handshake City".

"It was more of a mob-mentality type of thing so we're hoping to shift that a little bit, and get out of that thinking so when people do now in the future think of 'Handshake City', they don't have to think of those bad past times I guess, and can start looking at something new and exciting," explained Parkinson.

The group hopes to start using the area next month.

Vendors interested in being involved at the container park can contact the "Made in Utica" group by emailing hello@madeinutica.com