Middleburgh's Art Park Powers Up with Free Public WiFi and Outdoor Charging Stations
SEEC, Schoharie County, the Village of Middleburgh, and MIDTEL Celebrate a New Chapter in the Schoharie County Digital Revolution
MIDDLEBURGH, NY — Schoharie Economic Enterprise Corporation (SEEC), Schoharie County government, the Village of Middleburgh, and MIDTEL officially celebrated the launch of free public WiFi and outdoor charging stations at Middleburgh's Art Park on Wells Avenue with a ribbon-cutting ceremony on May 20, 2026. Village Mayor Timothy Knight and representatives from the NYS Office of Resilient Homes and Communities (HCR) joined community members for the Power-Up celebration.
The project was funded through a NYS HCR Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) — the same grant program that SEEC and Schoharie County officials secured to bring free WiFi to the Village of Schoharie in 2023. With Middleburgh now online, SEEC has delivered on its commitment to activate public spaces with free internet access across multiple villages in Schoharie County.
The Middleburgh Free WiFi network was made possible through a $65,000 CDBG award to MIDTEL, which includes five years of paid internet service. SEEC and Schoharie County officials led the grant pursuit, with the County Administrator's Office providing oversight for grant administration and Mayor Knight participating in the bid evaluation process.
Free, reliable internet access in a public outdoor space is far more than a convenience. It is a tool for opportunity — for students completing schoolwork, entrepreneurs running businesses, residents staying connected, and visitors discovering all that Middleburgh has to offer. The addition of outdoor charging stations means that Art Park is now a true community hub: a beautiful, welcoming space where people can gather, work, and recharge.
SEEC proactively secured funding to implement free public WiFi in multiple villages to activate public spaces, recognizing that parks and public places became critical for the well-being of residents during and after the COVID-19 pandemic.
Part of a Bigger Picture
The Middleburgh Art Park Power-Up is the latest milestone in the broader Schoharie County Digital Revolution — a multi-year strategy spearheaded by SEEC to build a sustainable tech ecosystem across the county. Schoharie County is on course to provide 100% high-speed fiber broadband access by December 2026, and currently reports 94% coverage, with SEEC leading digital equity planning across the Mohawk Valley region.
Since 2021, the CDBG Digital Strategies program has served 40 businesses and provided open WiFi access to more than 2,127 residents across Schoharie County's low-to-moderate income villages. The Middleburgh installation builds on that foundation, extending digital access into one of the village's most beloved public spaces.
MIDTEL — which has been serving customers in Schoharie County for over 125 years — is also the County's partner in a $30 million Municipal Infrastructure Program grant project that will construct 298 miles of fiber to connect more than 4,000 locations across the county, including its most rural and hard-to-reach areas.
About Schoharie Economic Enterprise Corporation (SEEC)
Founded in 2019 by private sector leaders, SEEC is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit dedicated to fostering economic growth and prosperity in Schoharie County. SEEC works at the intersection of entrepreneurship, placemaking, and community revitalization — having mobilized over $56 million in public-private investment in recent years. Learn more at seecny.org.
About MIDTEL
MIDTEL is an innovative telecommunications infrastructure company providing internet, phone, and TV services to residents and businesses across Schoharie County and parts of Albany County. Established in 1897, it is one of the oldest of New York State's 40 independent telephone companies, serving over 7,000 customers throughout 330 square miles.
MEDIA CONTACT
Schoharie Economic Enterprise Corporation
seecny.org | Schoharie, NY