Rod Serling statue installed at Rec Park, unveiling coming soon

BINGHAMTON, N.Y. (WIVT/WBGH) – A tribute to the timeless creativity of Binghamton’s most famous resident will soon be unveiled.

The statue of Rod Serling has been installed in Recreation Park and is currently under wraps.

The 8-foot-tall statue features a life size depiction of The Twilight Zone creator positioned in front of a Door to Imagination that is slightly ajar. The door is inscribed with the words “You unlock this door with the key of imagination.” And the base of the statue reads Serling’s famous quote “Everyone has a hometown and Binghamton’s mine”

President of the Rod Serling Memorial Foundation Nicholas Parisi says the statue serves as an important reminder to the community that Serling’s work is still important today.

“He was more than a writer. He was somebody who had a very firm moral compass and somebody who knew how to take his passions and turn them into something entertaining. Something entertaining as well as something that would make you think and that’s a rare combination,” said Parisi.

Parisi says the erection of the statue has been four years in the making. A state grant secured by Assemblywoman Donna Lupardo as well as community support helped to fund the project.

Parisi says Binghamton has not done enough to pay tribute to Serling.

“A lot of the inspiration for his works came from his childhood which he considered to be an idyllic childhood in Binghamton. And we want it to be there for people who don’t know he came from Binghamton so if they come to Binghamton and see that statue, they realize of the 20th centuries great writers called Binghamton home,” said Parisi.

The Rod Serling statue will be unveiled on Sunday September 15th. It will coincide with the last day of Serlingfest. The unveiling will take place at noon. It is free to attend.

For more information on Serling Fest, visit RodSerling.com .

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