By Ashley M. Casey
Staff Writer
A pillar of the community and government in the town of Clay has been immortalized. On Sept. 20, the Central New York Land Trust dedicated the Trail at Riverwalk to Town Councilor Bill Weaver, who was highway superintendent from 1970 to 2004 and has served on the town board since 2005.
“Mr. Weaver has been a pillar of the community and really has contributed a lot,” said Mary Ellen Montani, a Riverwalk resident and CNY Land Trust steward. “We feel he’s deserving of something as beautiful as this.”
The Bragman Companies recently donated 93 acres of land to the CNY Land Trust for the Riverwalk Preserve. The Weaver Trail, which is about 0.7 miles long, contains 100 feet of boardwalk and has interpretive signage about the unique wildlife in the preserve. The CNY Land Trust plans to expand the trail next spring.
“It’s eventually going to go to the [Oneida] River and up to Guy Young Road,” Montani said.
Montani said the Riverwalk Preserve is the CNY Land Trust’s “most diverse property.” The preserve is home to the endangered Indiana bat, yellow iris and a line of “wolf trees” that were once used to mark the boundaries of pastures.
“They almost look like Halloween trees, they’re so huge,” Montani said.
Surrounded by family members, fellow town officials and representatives from Riverwalk, CNY Land Trust and the contractors who have helped build the trail, Weaver cut the ribbon to the trail that now bears his name.
“I think it’s super — it’s quite an honor,” Weaver said. “It’s going to be here for years. It’s nice to have this kind of stuff because it stays.”
Michael Bragman Sr., founder of the Bragman Companies, said he has known Weaver for 50 years.
“You’re a special guy who has done special things,” Bragman told Weaver at the dedication. “You’ve always cared about what was good for our community and the people in our community.”
Bragman said the trail will be a symbol of Weaver’s integrity and devotion to the community.
“Twenty, 30, 40 years from now, we want to be able to reflect on who you were,” he said.
Clay Town Supervisor Damian Ulatowski praised Weaver for his contributions to the town, especially in his 34-year career as highway superintendent.
“He spearheaded a number of projects that I think turned out extremely well,” Ulatowski said, noting that Weaver was instrumental in the development of Clay Historical Park, the creation of trash districts and the completion of the Clay Senior Center.
“There’s a tremendous amount of knowledge in that man’s head,” Ulatowski added. “Always, that man has had the residents of the town of Clay in the forefront.”
