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Governor
Cuomo Announces Opening of New $6 Million
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Green
Lakes State Park Waterfront
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Environmental
Education Center
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Improvements
to Top Tourism Destination Complement
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Central NY
Rising Economic Development Blueprint
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Albany,
NY – October 2018 / Newsmaker Alert / Governor Andrew M. Cuomo announces
completion of a $6 million makeover of the Green
Lakes State Park waterfront, featuring a new year-round environmental
education center. The transformation of Central New York’s most-visited
State Park is made possible by public-private partnership through the Governor’s
NY Parks 2020 initiative, and complements “Central
NY Rising,” the region’s comprehensive blueprint to generate robust
economic growth and community development.
“Green
Lakes State Park is a key destination in Central New York that draws hundreds
of thousands of visitors to experience the park’s stunning lakes, and its
great camping, hiking, biking and golfing,” Governor Cuomo said. “These
improvements will strengthen the parks connection to young visitors while
helping to ensure it remains a popular tourist destination for years to
come.”
This
project converted a deteriorated 1940’s boat house on Green Lake into a
modern facility to house park events and enhance environmental education
programming. The historic boathouse materials were disassembled and meticulously
rebuilt away from the water’s edge. The new 1,100-square-foot center includes
indoor classroom/multipurpose space and restrooms in the building, as well
as an outdoor classroom, lakefront boardwalk and canoe/kayak landing, new
boat rental booth and storage racks.
“The
improvements to the Green Lakes State Park will boost tourism and provide
additional educational and recreational opportunities for residents and
visitors,” said Lieutenant Governor Kathy Hochul. “The State Park is the
most visited in Central New York, attracting hundreds of thousands of children
and families to enjoy all that it has to offer. This transformation of
the waterfront park will continue to attract tourists and economic growth
in the region and beyond.”
As
part of the project, New York State Parks completed work to improve the
park ecosystem, including restoring the lake edge, redirecting stormwater
to constructed wetlands and bioswales/bioretention basins; upgrading electric
systems; and rehabilitating the deteriorated West Beach parking area with
green elements.
A public-private
partnership spearheaded by the Central Regional State Parks Commission
raised $1 million in donations and grants for the project, including providing
exhibits on the formation and science of park’s rare meromictic lakes;
wildlife and unique habitats, a large topographic park map; people and
the park through history, and an activity kiosk to highlight many things
to do at Green Lakes State Park through an interactive touchscreen. The
center will help enhance environmental education programs in the park,
including school field trips funded by the Connect
Kids transportation grant program.
Empire
State Trail
In
addition, State Parks completed a $2 million project to upgrade the deteriorated
12-mile section of the Old Erie Canal State Historic Park from Green Lakes
State Park to Canastota. The project installed new stone dust surfacing
for much of the pathway as well as paved asphalt surface on a 1.6-mile
section in Chittenango from Lakeport Road east to Canaseraga Road. The
project advances Governor Cuomo’s Empire State Trail initiative to create
a 750-mile bicycling and pedestrian trail spanning New York State, from
Buffalo to Albany and New York City to Canada. The Empire State Trail initiative
will improve and expand the existing trails such as Old Erie Canal State
Park to connect 750 miles of recreational trail across New York State.
State
Parks Commissioner Rose Harvey said, “I’m thankful to Governor Cuomo and
the Central Regional State Parks Commission for their commitment to connecting
more people to Green Lakes State Park. The new center will help visitors
better enjoy and understand nature and the outdoors, encourage active lifestyles
and simply have fun with friends and family - while helping conserve the
park’s unique ecosystem.”
Central
Regional State Park Commission Chair Cornelius B. Murphy, Jr. said, “I
am thankful for the leadership of Governor Cuomo, Commissioner Harvey and
Central Region Director Joanne Mitchell and the generosity of the Central
New York community for making this dream a reality. The new Environmental
Education Center will help ensure that all of our children will better
understand the wonders that Nature provides us every day.”
State
Senator David J. Valesky said, “Congratulations to New York State Parks
on the completion of these two major projects that will enhance Green Lakes
State Park’s and the Erie Canal’s attractiveness as tourist destinations.
The major investment in these projects will draw visitors to Central New
York and benefit tourist-related industries at all levels.”
Assemblyman
Bill Magnarelli said, “Green Lakes State Park has been a part of my life
since I was a young boy. Swimming, row boating and canoeing in and on this
beautiful lake have left me with wonderful memories. After meeting with
Commissioner Rose Harvey, and hearing from Syracuse School Superintendent
Jaime Alicea, it became apparent that the renovations contemplated would
not only assure that our present young people would benefit from them,
but also that these new renovations would enhance and heighten their educational
experience. That is why when asked, I was happy to help secure grant aid
to make sure this project went forward.”
Assemblyman
Al Stirpe said, “The new Green Lakes State Park Environmental Education
Center will help inform students and park visitors about the unique ecology
and history of Green and Round Lake. I know how important a project like
this is for Central New York, so I made sure we received the funding we
needed to get the job done. I want to thank my partners in government,
as well as all those who donated their time and money, for making this
state-of-the-art facility a reality.”
Assemblyman
Bill Magee, Chairman of the Assembly Committee on Agriculture, said, “The
new and improved trails at the Old Erie Canal State Historic Park will
allow residents and visitors alike to safely enjoy our region’s natural
beauty. Whether you’re biking, hiking or just taking in the fresh air,
these historic trails and Green Lakes State Park has it all. I want to
thank the Governor and my fellow legislators for making these long-awaited
repairs quickly and efficiently.”
These
projects build on nearly $11 million in earlier renovation projects at
the park, including renovation of the Golf Course Clubhouse, modernizing
the Pine Woods Campground, redesigning the park entrance, and rehabilitating
park trails park trails.
The
Green Lakes State Park improvements are part of the Governor’s
NY Parks 2020 Plan (PDF file) a multi-year commitment to leverage $900
million in private and public funding for State Parks from 2011 to 2020.
Accelerating
Central NY Rising
Today’s
announcement complements “Central NY Rising,” the region’s comprehensive
blueprint to generate robust economic growth and community development.
The State has already invested more than $5.6 billion in the region since
2012 to lay the groundwork for the plan - capitalizing on global market
opportunities, strengthening entrepreneurship and creating an inclusive
economy. Today, unemployment is down to the lowest levels since before
the Great Recession; personal and corporate income taxes are down; and
businesses are choosing places like Syracuse, Oswego and Auburn as a destination
to grow and invest in.
Now,
the region is accelerating Central NY Rising with a $500 million State
investment through the Upstate Revitalization Initiative, announced by
Governor Cuomo in December 2015. The State’s $500 million investment will
incentivize private business to invest well over $2.5 billion - and the
region’s plan, as submitted, projects up to 5,900 new jobs. More information
is available here.
The
New
York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation oversees
more than 250 parks, historic sites, recreational trails, golf courses,
boat launches and more, which are visited by 71 million people annually.
A recent study found that New York State Parks generates $5 billion in
park and visitor spending, which supports nearly 54,000 jobs and over $2.8
billion in additional state GDP. For more information on any of these recreation
areas, call 518-474-0456 or visit
www.parks.ny.gov,
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