by Elizabeth Doran/ The Post-Standard , Link to original article with photos & video
After three decades of discussion and planning, work will begin fall 2009 on a new village park in Fayetteville.
The first phase of the park development will cost about $500,000, and the village has secured a grant in that amount from the New York State Office of Parks and Historic Preservation, said Fayetteville Mayor Mark Olson. He said there should be grant money available as well for the second and third phases of the park creation.
The property in question, which used to be a storage spot for the state Department of Transportation, is on the west bank of Limestone Creek, north of Limestone Plaza. Originally eight acres, the state has agreed to turn over the entire 18 acres it owned to the village.
When it’s completed, the park will have walking and fitness trails, a dog park and an area for skateboarding. It also will eventually open up the waterway so people can fish and canoe on the creek, and it will connect to the Erie Canal and Towne Center.
“The idea is to get the park open first, and then do the second phases of the work,” Olson said.
The park will likely be called Fayetteville Canal Landing, although Limestone Park and even Mayors’ Park have been suggested.
Engineering proposals are due May 18, and once an engineer is selected planning can begin with a fall start date. A citizens group of about eight people will help with planning, and a group of SUNY ESF students did some preliminary drawings, Olson said.
The first thing to do is tear down the fences and trim the trees and overgrown brush, Olson said. Right now, people drive by and don’t even realize the land is there.
About six acres will be included in the first phase, and the village Department of Public Works crew will be able to do some of the work. The second phase will clear and stabilize the creek banks and open up access to the water, and the third phase calls for a bridge to allow access to the Erie Canal.
The state Department of Environmental Conservation cleaned up the site, which involved demolishing a storage building, Under the building, the soil was contaminated with petroleum products. About 5,000 tons of contaminated soil was removed and replaced with clean fill.
