Former Salina Town Supervisor Ace Ward has a theory about the New York State Department of Transportation’s latest plan for lane closures and medians along the Onondaga Lake Parkway.
“The county and the state tried to do the same thing back in the 1970s,” Ward remembered. He believes that the powers-that-be never wanted the parkway to become the high-speed commuter thoroughfare that it has become. “I think what they wanted then and what they want now is to make it a service road into Onondaga Lake Park.”
Parkway is 86 years old
Certainly, that’s what was intended in 1931 when the Onondaga County Emergency Work Bureau started turning the old Oswego Canal into the two-mile-long parkway connecting the village of Liverpool and the city of Syracuse.
The parkway opened circa 1933, and by the end of World War II it had become one of the most-traveled thoroughfares in the area.
Ace Ward has seen the writing on the wall growing ever more legible over the years.
From 1952 to 1992, the intercollegiate rowing regatta took place on Onondaga Lake, and a Waterfront Extravaganza was staged here in the 1980s. More recently, we’ve had Parkway Sundays close down the parkway in the summertime, and Lights on the Lake still causes village traffic jams each winter.
“For many years, we’ve had special events like the Corporate Challenge [foot race], which also closes the parkway to traffic for a full day,” Ward said. “And now the county’s pushing for a beach at Willow Bay.”
While we average Joes fret over ever-increasing traffic volumes, the decision-makers remain focused solely on Onondaga Lake Park.
Loop the Lake
Another longtime county pipe dream called Loop the Lake proposes to circle the sacred waters with biking and hiking trails. At the Dec. 2 public hearing about the parkway at Liverpool Middle School, Liverpool Mayor Gary White applauded the Loop the Lake idea.
“The village certainly supports that,” White said. “It would be an attraction.”
Nevertheless, Loop the Lake could be accomplished whether or not the DOT goes forward with its most radical changes — closing two of the parkway’s present four lanes.
“Common sense tells you that going from four to two lanes will negatively affect traffic in the village,” White said.
The proposed $8.6 million parkway renovations are being characterized by the DOT as “safety improvements.” But Ace Ward’s not so sure.
“I think that the way the DOT is citing accident figures is a red herring,” said the former town supervisor, and Liverpool Police Chief Don Morris agrees.
The village’s top cop said 69 crashes counted over three years is not many at all when you consider that that more than 24.5 million motorists drove on the parkway over those 36 months.
If crash stats represent a red herring, what is the blue whale?
It’s called Onondaga Lake Park.
Write your state reps
Mayor White suggests that village residents concerned about the DOT’s parkway plans appeal to our representatives in Albany to pressure the DOT to modify its plans to avoid disrupting Liverpool’s quality of life.
Address your correspondence to:
• Assemblywoman Pamela Hunter: 711 East Genesee St., 2nd Floor Syracuse, NY 13210-1540; 315-449-9536; [email protected]
• State Sen. Rachel May: 333 E. Washington St., Suite 805 Syracuse, NY 13202; 315-478-8745; [email protected]
Two workers wanted
The village’s Department of Public Works presently has two full-time openings which Superintendent Mike Neverette would like to fill ASAP.
One job is for a motor-equipment operator who would need to obtain a class B commercial driver’s license. The other opening is for a public maintenance worker.
Interested applicants should check in with the Village Clerk’s office at 310 Sycamore St. No phone calls, please.
Last word
“Christmas can’t be bought from a store.
Maybe Christmas means a little bit more.”
– Dr. Seuss
