Local parks have always been an asset for our local communities, many of them being gifted to residents by George F. Johnson and the Endicott-Johnson Shoe Company. The Stage at Little Italy in Endicott’s George W. Johnson Park was developed with the help of a $250,000 grant secured by Assemblywoman Lupardo and was dedicated in 2010. The inspiration for the stage, the Casino Building, was the focus of Casino Park, which was located in the area of the current Union-Endicott High School. In 1948, the Casino Building was destroyed by fire. The stage has become a center for local entertainment in Endicott, with a variety of performances, musical entertainment and other events.