Friends group formed to promote county marine parks
File photos by Tom Rivers: The Oak Orchard Lighthouse is shown on June 23, 2022 at Point Breeze. The 35-foot lighthouse is a replica to one that toppled in 1916 after a storm.
CARLTON – A new group, the Friends of Orleans County Marine Parks, has been formed to help promote and push for funding for two county parks.
The new “Friends” is a non-profit organization and registered 501c3. It was created under the auspices of the Oak Orchard Neighborhood Association.
OONA has been running a summer concert series at the Orleans County Marine Park on Route 98 for about a dozen years. Those events often bring in crowds of 500 people.
With the new Friends group, OONA can pruse funding through the Genesee-Orleans Regional Arts Council (GO Art!) to enhance the concerts “and take them to a whole new level,” said Lynne Menz, the Friends president.
The group could also pursue funding through GO Art! for murals on the bridge abutments at the Marine Park.
The Friends also can help the county seek state and federal grants for the Marine Park, and also for the Point Breeze boat launch and lighthouse area.
“Right now we’re putting our wish list together for what enhancements we could do and what funds are available,” said Menz, who is also the county’s tourism coordinator. “We’ll be looking for funding to improve the amenities.”
The Dave Viterna Group performs on July 2, 2019 at the Orleans County Marine Park to kick off last summer’s concert series. There were about 500 people at the concert. The park is located on Route 98 in Point Breeze along the Oak Orchard River. It has hosted the summer concert series since 2010.
Ken Martin is vice president and Frank Panczyszyn is secretary/treasurer with the Friends, while Dawn Borchet, the county tourism director, and Chris Manaseri, OONA president, are ex-officio members.
The Friends may push for pickleball courts at the Marine Park, and an accessible kayak ramp at the boat launch at Point Breeze, while teaming with the county to upgrade other infrastructure at the two sites.
Other nearby parks have Friend groups, including Hamlin Beach State Park and Golden Hill State Park. The Iroquois National Wildlife Refuge also has Friends.
Manaseri is a retired school superintendent at Romulus in Seneca County. When he worked at that district, he was a member of the Friends group for the nearby Sampson State Park.
Manaseri said OONA isn’t being taken over by the new Friends group. OONA will continue with its concert series and other community projects, including helping to make the lighthouse available for tours during the summer.
The Friends will spread the word about the marine parks, which he said are a great asset to the local residents and visitors.
“We think it’s another venue to know what it’s the parks and what’s available in them,” Manaseri said about the Friends.
Menz and the Friends welcome ideas for projects and activities at the parks. The group is getting suggestions, including a light show during the holidays.
Menz moved to Point Breeze 21 years ago. She said a close-knit group there wants to promote the area. It was 14 years ago when construction started on the 35-foot-high lighthouse that has become an icon for the community. That effort was spearheaded by local citizens.
“Point Breeze has really blossomed,” Menz said. “It’s a strong community.”
She sees the Friends group as helping to build on the recent progress at Point Breeze.
She welcomes volunteers and ideas for the parks. To reach her, email lynne@focmp.org.
The group also has a new Facebook page.
