A brand new wooden chessboard has just been built outside of St. Paul’s Episcopal Church on Mansion Street in Poughkeepsie, New York. The life-size chessboard played it's first match on Sunday, September 4, 2022.
Photo Caption: Players Mia Griffin and Yehuda Simpson playing on the new life-size chessboard at St. Paul's Episcopal Church on September 4, 2022, in Poughkeepsie, NY. Credit: Nile Clarke of the Goodie Drop
GAME ON!
The giant community chessboard was created by Poughkeepsie Custom Wood Works. Volunteers from the neighborhood and St. Paul’s Church painted the squares to complete the look. The Queen, The Knight and the other remaining chess pieces were painted red and blue to match the exterior aesthetic of church. Chess players Mia Griffin and Yehuda Simpson were among the first people to try out the new board. Simpson who is new to the game said, "It’s a good start, so that people could actually feel what it’s like to play chess and move around the board.” Griffin who played on a championship level team in Albany said, "It’s a good opportunity to teach the community about life skills, but also have fun, because it’s about strategy.”
“It’s a good opportunity to teach the community about life skills.”
-Mia Griffin
Photo Caption: Chess players try out the new life-size chessboard at St. Paul's Episcopal Church on September 4, 2022, in Poughkeepsie, NY. Credit: Nile Clarke of the Goodie Drop
Matthew Tether, a member of the new Crossroads Chess Community group thought of this giant chessboard idea last year. Tether began coordinating with Rev. Dr. Mary Barber the Priest-in-Charge at St. Paul's Church, The Oak Group and MidHudson Construction Management to raise money for the 2022 project. Tether told The Goodie Drop that he grew up in Poughkeepsie and played chess as a kid, but jumped back into the chess game after playing chess with his daughter for school.
The chessboard is now open to the public, checkmate!
*Note - This new community group called the Crossroads Chess Community is on IG - Link below.
Comments