For Immediate Release: 09/30/2015
Contact:
Shane Mahar | shane.mahar@thruway.ny.gov | (518) 471-5300
CANAL CORPORATION AND DEPARTMENT OF STATE ANNOUNCE MAJOR INFRASTRUCTURE
IMPROVEMENTS ALONG THE ERIE CANAL IN BREWERTON
$3.3 million committed to improving amenities for boaters and increasing access for local residents while encouraging tourism
As part of Governor Andrew M. Cuomo’s Capital for a Day in Central New York, the Canal Corporation and Department of State today announced their combined investment of $3.3 million into three significant projects along the Erie Canal in Brewerton that will redevelop the shoreline for increased local access, encourage tourism and improve amenities for boaters.
“The Brewerton pier wall project was developed in conjunction with local and state officials, and reflects the concerns of mariners who could no longer use the old collapsed pier,” said Canal Corporation Director Brian U. Stratton. “Governor Cuomo knows the Erie Canal is an historic treasure, an extraordinary recreational resource and a vital part of New York’s economy, and through our involvement in this project, we have demonstrated our commitment to this region as well as our focus on maintaining a safe and reliable Canal system for all.”
“The Department of State is proud to invest in these improvements to the Hamlet of Brewerton that will provide a vital connection between the waterfront and business district,” said New York Secretary of State Cesar A. Perales. “This access will spur tourism, as well as improve recreational opportunities for locals and visitors alike. We look forward to continue working with the Canal Corporation and local communities to fulfill Governor Cuomo’s vision to reinvigorate New York State’s waterfront and spur economic development in the Central New York region.”
The Canal Corporation is close to completing construction on a new $2.9 million pier wall at the west end of Oneida Lake along the Erie Canal. Located in the Town of Hastings, Oswego County, in a very popular area for boating, the pier is also a critical stopping point for barges, especially if rough weather on Oneida Lake prevents safe passage. The pier is conveniently located near restaurants and other attractions in the Hamlet of Brewerton and provides a safe docking area for tour boats and pleasure boats while in turn providing the opportunity for increased tourism and recreational spending in Oswego County. The new pier, when completed in December, replaces the original pier that was built in 1911 and had recently fallen into disrepair.
The Department of State has funded approximately $262,500 in improvements undertaken by the Town of Cicero, Onondaga County, to revitalize the local waterfront and increase connectivity within the hamlet, especially between the canal and business district. The funds also provide for the design and construction of improvements at Brewerton Riverfront Park that will expand boater and pedestrian access opportunities by widening and resurfacing the existing walkway along the river to make it ADA compliant, as well as provide for the installation of lighting and benches in advance of the 2016 boating and tourism season.
The Department of State is also providing $127,275 for the design and construction of streetscape improvements within the Hamlet of Brewerton to strengthen the business district, improve community appearance and enhance access to the town’s Oneida Lake waterfront. The project will improve parking, provide for the planting of trees and landscaping, and install decorative lighting and benches along Brewerton’s Bennett Street and its intersection with Route 11.
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The New York State Canal System is comprised of four historic waterways, the Erie, the Champlain, the Oswego and the Cayuga-Seneca Canals. Spanning 524 miles, the waterways link the Hudson River, Lake Champlain, Lake Ontario, the Finger Lakes, Niagara River and Lake Erie with communities rich in history and culture. For more information about the New York State Canal System, vacation opportunities and events call 1-800-4CANAL4 or visit www.canals.ny.gov.
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