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Gowanda making plans for $2.5 million grant

OBSERVER Photo by Jo Ward Residents of Gowanda create collages of ideas for what they want to see Zoar Valley Gateway Park and Creekside Park to look like, as other learn about to project.

GOWANDA — In October of 2017, the village of Gowanda was one of four municipalities in the state to receive a $2.5 million Smart Growth grant from Empire State Development (ESD). The grant’s primary function is to fund existing infrastructure and to support placemaking, walkable communities and sustainable development.

“The state crafts the way they want the money to be used,” Joy Kuebler, landscape architect in charge of the projects stated. “The projects for Gowanda were dedicated to the Hollywood Theater and to creek side stabilization at Zoar Valley and pedestrian waterfront access.”

The initial welcome to the project was held earlier this month at The Wicked Glen. Citizens were invited to come down and offer their ideas of what they want to see these areas become.

“We’re asking what directions do we want to go? Do you see it as a recreational space? Do you see it as a nature and conservation space? Do you see it as economic development space? And how do you feel you would operate in those environments? What ways would you use them?”

A lot has already been dictated by the state, what they’re willing to spend money on, but there is some shifting and wiggle room that can be worked out.

“If we’re hearing people really want it one way then we can shift some things around, they (the state) really wants it to be reflective of what is going to resonate with the community,” Kuebler added.

Because the money is coming from ESD the desire is on economy and job growth.

“Our community needs an economic shot in the arm,” Mayor David Smith said. “Being able to open up those water fronts, which are already heavily used, with some safe egress areas down to the water and some lighting and information that is historical to the village, we’re hoping for an economic boom; we’re very excited.”

“The expectation is that we’ll have some projects under construction by spring and summer,” Kuebler added. “We also have the regulatory real world of the Army Corps of Engineers and the DEC (Department of Environmental Conservation). Knowing that those two agencies are in the mix, we’ve already met with both of them earlier in October. We went for a creek walk, we discussed what we think we can do and asked if there would be any problems with those; our survey is underway.”

The intention of the project is to make these places well used parks that are accessible to all individuals, so that everyone can enjoy what the waterways has to offer. A big part of it is bank stabilization, where to create soft and hard edges.

“It’s capturing a recreational audience already, now the intention is to interface with the water, as opposed to looking at water,” Kuebler explained, “For Creekside Park it’s somewhat similar, but will include some gateway elements and some way finding and perhaps a walking trail that connects to Main Street.”

Small water craft, kayaker raft launch, lighting upgrades, benches and picnic tables are just a few of the improvements that people can expect. The workshop held that night was a way for those involved with the project to get feedback from the community.

“It’s about building a conversation and getting awareness out, and then we’ll have several smaller community conversations,” Kuebler noted. “We’re planning on being at Christmas in Gowanda, we’ll have walking tours in the spring. In July, we’re hoping to hold a creek party where we might implement some of the design ideas that the project has come up with.”

“If we can get one thought that helps us focus in terms of moving forward than it’s worth it,” Smith added. “In the end, the community is looking for shovels in the ground and visible progress along the water. This is a step that ESD requires us to take to get to that point, but I too can’t wait for shovels to get in the dirt and get going.”

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