Hudson Valley Awarded $2.9 Million for 10 Environment Protection Fund Grants to Revitalize Local Waterfronts

ALBANY, NY (12/30/2009)(readMedia)-- New York Secretary of State Lorraine Cortés-Vázquez today announced $23.8 million in funding from the state Environmental Protection Fund's Local Waterfront Revitalization Program for 90 projects across New York. These awards cover a variety of planning, design and construction projects that focus on economic, community, environmental and recreational improvements, reinforcing Governor Paterson's commitment to improving both local economies and the environment.

Governor David A. Paterson said, "A vibrant waterfront is a key element of a successful coastal, riverside or lakeside community. These awards will help cities, towns and villages expand public access to our state's numerous bodies of water and protect the environment, while also boosting tourism and economic development opportunities."

Secretary of State Cortés-Vázquez said, "The Environmental Protection Fund Local Waterfront Revitalization Program allows us to fund all aspects of planning, design and construction, and I am excited that the Department, through EPF, will be helping 90 communities see their visions for community revitalization come to fruition. Thanks to Governor Paterson's strong leadership and his commitment to the Environmental Protection Fund, we are continuing to build our partnership with local governments across the State. The Department of State is pleased to play a part in fulfilling the Governor's vision of strong local economies and healthy environments along New York's waterfronts."

Seventeen of the awards will advance downtown revitalization, highlighting the important links between a thriving and successful waterfront and downtowns. Forty-three of the awards create new or improved public access to the waterfront. Thirty-six of the awards, totaling $14,623,682, are for projects in areas that have sustained physical deterioration, decay, neglect or disinvestment or where a substantial proportion of the residential population is of low income or is otherwise disadvantaged and is underserved with respect to the existing recreational opportunities in the area.

In addition to advancing existing Local Waterfront Revitalization Programs, these awards also focus on developing watershed management plans. Eight new watershed management plans will be developed covering 22 counties and involving over 150 communities.

Examples of EPF awards include:

·The City of Rochester is receiving three awards totaling more than $2.1 million for the first phase of construction of a public marina facility, a 2,000–foot-long promenade at the Port of Rochester and for planning and design of new public access between Corn Hill Landing and the Ford Street Bridge. The marina project will immediately increase public access to the waterfront as well as add to the amount of dock space available to out-of-town boaters visiting Rochester Harbor. The City expects the project will stimulate $5 million in direct economic benefit to the community.

·An award of $316,625 will enable the Village of Clayton to complete the second phase of the Clayton Riverwalk at Frink Park. Building on the success of the Thousand Island Dock and first phase of the riverwalk, which was also funded through the Environmental Protection Fund Local Waterfront Revitalization Program, this award will expand public access and connect waterfront parks, the downtown commercial district and cultural resources in the community.

·An award of $324,275 will allow City of Little Falls to complete a series of enhancement projects that will improve connections between the City's downtown to the Erie Canal and Mohawk River waterfronts. Building on previous funding through the Environmental Protection Fund Local Waterfront Revitalization Program, this award continues the City's efforts to become a premier destination for heritage tourists and to attract more boaters to the Harbor facility who want to visit the rest of Little Falls.

·An award of $475,000 will provide public access to and revitalize more than 350 acres of significant, underused waterfront parkland at Soundview Park in the South Bronx, East River Park in Lower Manhattan, and Calvert Vaux and Kaiser Parks in the Coney Island area of Brooklyn. This award advances the Catalyst for Neighborhood Parks initiative by focusing on underserved, densely-populated communities that are cut off from their waterfront. The award will be managed by the New York City Department of Parks and Recreation, in collaboration with the City Parks Foundation and will build on four previous EPF LWRP grants totaling $415,000 that enabled the City Parks Foundation to launch the Catalyst Program and revitalize waterfront parks in Manhattan, Bronx, Queens and Brooklyn. Since its launch in 2003 the Catalyst Program has helped leverage and direct more than $92 million of capital improvements and $5 million for programming and staffing, serving over 100,000 people.

State Senator Antoine M. Thompson, Chair of the Senate Environmental Conservation Committee, said: "I applaud Gov. Paterson and Secretary of State Cortés-Vázquez for securing funding from the Environmental Protection Fund's Local Waterfront Revitalization Program. Waterways border much of my district, and this funding is essential to revitalizing and developing our waterfronts."

State Assemblyman Bob Sweeney, Chair of the Assembly Environmental Conservation Committee, said: "New York's Environmental Protection Fund is an irreplaceable source of funding for significant waterfront revitalization projects such as these. Without the EPF these projects, so important to our local communities, would not receive state support. These grants emphasize the importance of supporting a healthy and robust EPF."

Rochester Mayor Robert J. Duffy said: "The three grants awarded to the City will support key economic development priorities to redevelop the Port of Rochester and further establish Corn Hill as a major regional harbor center along the Erie Canal. The City has enjoyed an excellent partnership with the Department of State through the Local Waterfront Revitalization Program, and these projects will expand public access to our wonderful waterfront resources here in Rochester. Funding will be used to complete several key City projects, including construction of a public marina and waterfront trail at the Port of Rochester, and the development of additional public access improvements at Corn Hill Landing."

Little Falls Mayor Robert J. Peters said: "The grant being provided to Little Falls will allow us to continue efforts to strengthen the local economy. It will substantially strengthen the ability of the City to take advantage of canal-related tourism opportunities, revitalize our downtown and waterfront and to implement our Local Waterfront Revitalization Program. The grant will enable the City to develop a pedestrian bridge across the Erie Canal, key in connecting the downtown with neighborhoods in the south side, as well as to construct additional public docks and improvements at the Canal Terminal, which serves as a major regional services center for canal boaters."

Clayton Mayor Norma Zimmer said: "Thanks to the Local Waterfront Revitalization Program, the Village and Town of Clayton have established an effective strategy for revitalizing our downtown and the magnificent resources along our St. Lawrence River waterfront. The grant will allow us to continue development of the Riverwalk at Frink Park and complements previous grants awarded for construction of the Phase 1 improvements and construction of the adjacent Thousand Island Dock. This great project not only serves to bring people to our waterfront, but also is key to the local tourism economy and revitalization of our downtown."

David Rivel, Executive Director of City Parks Foundation in New York City, said: "New York City is gradually reclaiming its waterfront, but there are still significant pockets of neglect. This EPF grant will help City Parks Foundation increase public access to the waterfront in underserved areas of the South Bronx, the Lower East Side of Manhattan and coastal Brooklyn. We are deeply grateful to continue our partnership with the New York State Department of State to achieve our vision of revitalized neighborhoods and vibrant waterfront parks."

The Department of State's Division of Coastal Resources administers EPF grants available to local governments for planning, design and construction projects that advance preparation or implementation of Local Waterfront Revitalization Programs, community revitalization strategies, watershed management plans, adaption to climate change, coastal education programs, blueway trails and urban waterfront redevelopment.

With these awards, 1,164 Local Waterfront Revitalization Program grants have been awarded through the Department of State since 1994, totaling more than $169 million. This year's request for applications issued by the Department of State drew 108 responses.

A complete list of the 2009-2010 grant awards may be found on the Department of State's website at www.dos.state.ny.us.