By Kate Hill
Staff Writer
On June 13, the Village of Cazenovia and the New York State Canal Corporation held a ribbon-cutting ceremony to celebrate the opening of a new kayak and canoe launch at Lakeland Park.
The event — attended by Cazenovia residents, the media, representatives of local organizations and members of the state and local government — featured speeches by Mayor Kurt Wheeler and Canal Corporation Director Brian U. Stratton.
In the past, the park had a single water access point for swimmers, boaters, paddle boarders and others entering the water.
The new boat launch — positioned at the park’s southern border by Carpenter’s Barn — will help to reduce crowding and provide for a safer and more enjoyable visitor experience.
The launch is located on a feeder canal that connects Cazenovia Lake to Chittenango Creek. The creek feeds into the historic Erie Canal and ends at Oneida Lake, a key part of the modern-day Canal System.
“As a history teacher, it really brings me joy that we are now breathing new life into this historic element of our community,” Wheeler said. “For many years, this was part of the canal feeder system for the canals in New York State. It doesn’t actively serve that purpose too much anymore, but it’s a beautiful natural resource and people have always kayaked on it. Now we’re facilitating that by putting a launch right here in [our] park . . .”
The project was funded by a $70,000 matching grant from the Canal Corporation, made available through the fifth round of Governor Andrew M. Cuomo’s Regional Economic Development Council (REDC) initiative.
The village submitted the project proposal in 2015 through the Consolidated Funding Application (CFA) process.
“Enhancing opportunities for recreational use of the beautiful canal system waterways is a top priority for us at the Canal Corporation,” Stratton said. “The village mayor put forward an outstanding application.”
The Canal Corp. awarded the funding through the Canalway Grant Program — a competitive matching grant program that awards up to $1 million to eligible municipalities and nonprofit organizations along the NYS Canal System. Funding is awarded for capital projects that enhance economic and community development along the canal corridor.
The $70,000 grant was matched dollar to dollar by the village.
Michael Walker, owner of Expert Building Services, oversaw the launch construction and the repair of a section of the historic canal adjacent to the launch site. Walker was also responsible for rebuilding the park’s historic front wall in 2013-14.
The launch project was made possible with help from the Cazenovia Department of Public Works, the Historic Preservation Committee, Cazenovia Area Community Development Association (CACDA) and local volunteers.
At the end of the ceremony, Stratton, Wheeler, Cazenovia Deputy Mayor/Village Trustee Amy Mann, and Colleen Deacon, Gov. Cuomo’s CNY regional representative, stood behind a blue ribbon. As a team, Stratton and Mann cut the ribbon to signify the official opening of the boat launch.
The Canal Corporation is responsible for the oversight, administration and maintenance of the New York State Canal System, which includes four historic canals — the Erie, Champlain, Oswego and Cayuga-Seneca.
Spanning 524 miles, the waterways link the Hudson River with the Great Lakes, the Finger Lakes and Lake Champlain. The canals form the backbone of the Erie Canalway National Heritage Corridor and connect hundreds of historic communities.
On June 24, the governor’s newly formed “Reimagine the Canals” taskforce will gather for its first meeting.
The group will be co-chaired by former Onondaga county executive and current chief operating officer at SUNY ESF Joanie Mahoney, former Department of Environmental Conservation Commissioner Joe Martens, and Former Lieutenant Governor Bob Duffy.
According to Stratton, the goal of the taskforce is to identify the best ways for the Erie Canal to help boost local economies, inspire opportunities for recreation and tourism, and strengthen environmental resiliency along the canal.
“We look forward to the work they are going to be doing,” Stratton said. “And we look forward to our continued partnership [with] the Village of Cazenovia and with other communities so we can highlight the NYS Canal System and its interconnecting waterways and all that they bring to Central New York and Upstate New York.”
