From a group of more than 60 submissions from 16 countries, the judges for the Elevating Erie initiative recently announced the winners in the four categories of the contest to bring ideas to improve the Erie Canal corridor in the Syracuse area.
An exhibit opening of the winning submissions was held on May 5 at the Erie Canal Museum at 318 Erie Boulevard in Syracuse. A panel which included five of the judges for the competition was held and included: DeWitt Town Supervisor Ed Michalenko; Chris Reed of the design firm Stoss in Boston; Jeff Olson, a principal with ALTA Planning and Design; Melissa K. Fierke, associate professor, SUNY ESF Forest Entomology and advisor for the ESF Bike Safety Commission; and Ed Griffin, owner of Fleet Feet in DeWitt.
Elevating Erie is a joint effort between the city of Syracuse and the town of DeWitt to help stimulate and guide future development of the 14-mile gap of the Erie Canalway trail starting at Erie Boulevard in DeWitt through the city of Syracuse. The purpose behind the competition is to create ideas to make the canal corridor more usable for multiple forms of transportation, recreational activities, revitalize the economy and make the Erie Canal a place that society can use on many levels.
“I’m excited about the prospect of the future,” said Michalenko. “People have often said that the town of DeWitt has ignored the historical past of the canal, ignored businesses, ignored alternative transportation. The submissions to this project address all of those concerns and more.”
Four categories were focused on for the competition and a winner was announced in each category:
∙Boulevard site: a four-mile stretch of boulevard that represents part of the 14-mile gap of the Erie Canalway Trail. The winner for this was the “Erie Eco-Boulevard” submission by team BEE %, which aims to transform Erie Boulevard from a car-centric road into an area that uses outdoor space and ecological function to improve pedestrian and biking facilities.
∙Block site: section of right-of-way that is the widest portion of Erie measuring over 180-inches between Teall Avenue and Peat Street in Syracuse. The winning submission was “Coexist Corridor,” by team BEE %. This submission had the idea to remove two traffic lanes in the corridor to add a bike and bus lane, on street parking and to create a playground, plaza and community garden in the median.
∙Branch site: an area of widewaters located at the intersection of Erie Boulevard East and Towpath Road, which is where the Erie Canalway Trail will officially connect with Erie Boulevard. The winner was the Erie Knot Park team submission, which is a park that allows the community and trail users to learn about the canal’s history while enjoying a recreation trail and science center that physically engages the water.
∙Bridge site: situated at the terminus of the Old Erie Canal State Historic Park over Interstate 481 to Towpath Road. The winning idea was that from team Object Territories with their “Cut and Spill [Over] Living Underpass.” This project contained guidelines to create public space by creating a natural gateway that follows the path of the original Erie Canal.
The winner of the boulevard site category received $3,000, and the three other teams were awarded iPad Pros.
While these projects may or may not come to fruition in the future, director of planning for the town of DeWitt Sam Gordon and assistant director for city planning in Syracuse Owen Kearney said they serve as a great starting point for innovation in the future. To get an idea of what residents want to see in these areas and to gain residential feedback from the competition’s submissions, a survey has been set up and city and town planners will work on projects from there.
The Elevating Erie Exhibit can be viewed at the Erie Canal Museum in Syracuse until Aug. 14. To learn more about the initiative, to see winning submissions or to take the survey, go to elevatingerie.com
