Yates pushing to finalize $2.5 million in projects at town park
Press Release, Yates Town Supervisor James Simon
File photo: About 200 people attended a concert at the Yates Town Park by Lake Ontario in July 2014. The park is at the end of Morrison Road. The town was awarded a $2.5 million state grant for the park.
YATES – The Town of Yates is exploring how best to take advantage of the $2.531 million grant awarded for the Yates Town Park by the NY State Resiliency and Economic Development Initiative (REDI) Commission.
The REDI grant authorizes the Town of Yates to develop shoreline resiliency upgrades such as jetties, a kayak launch, and a safe harbor for watercraft, and to add park amenities such as a handicap-accessible playground, additional parking for cars and horse-drawn carriages, safety and security measures, a nature walkway, restrooms and a pavilion.
The Town of Yates was in the process of expending a $414,500 state grant for shoreline remediation caused by the 2017 flooding when the REDI Commission called for proposals in June for enhancing resiliency and economic development initiatives along the Lake Ontario shoreline due to additional flooding in 2019.
“This grant provides a much-needed shoreline resiliency upgrade and comes at a time when the Town of Yates is poised to take advantage of the fruits of multiple community-wide planning efforts to enhance the park experience for future generations,” said Jim Simon, Town Supervisor.
“The Town’s REDI grant application was based on ideas generated from the recently revised and adopted Yates-Lyndonville-Ridgeway-Medina-Shelby Western Orleans Comprehensive Plan, the ongoing Yates-Carlton-Kendall-Lyndonville Local Waterfront Revitalization Program revision efforts, and the work of the Yates Town Park Task Force,” Supervisor Simon said.
The Yates Town Park Task Force has met several times since June 2019 to help develop and refine the park proposal. Members include Russ Martino, Georgette Stockman, Paul Lauricella, Anne Marie Holland, Linda Fisk, Highway Superintendent Roger Wolfe, Town Engineer Jon Hinman (MRB Group), Councilman John Riggi, and Supervisor Jim Simon.
The goal of the task force is to make recommendations to the Town Board for final design and related suggestions. The final meeting of the Task Force is January 6 from 5 to 7 p.m. at the Yates Town Hall at 8 South Main St. The meeting is open to the public but only Task Force members will participate, with an option for the public to ask questions once the meeting adjourns.
The Town of Yates is tentatively planning on a public forum followed by a public hearing on Feb. 10 at 7 p.m., at the Town Hall. Yates residents can get the latest updates about the park proposal on the town website (townofyates.org) and may submit ideas about the town park via email to jamesjsimon11@gmail.com.
The Yates Town Board will vote on the final design of the project no later than its March 12 board meeting in order to meet the REDI Commission grant acceptance deadline of March 16.
