Archive: Around Town

Lansing's parks are undeniably gems not only for the Town, but there is always more that can be done to enhance and maintain them.  Park Superintendent and Recreation Director Steve Colt has been applying for grants recently to bring new features to the parks.  Last summer he received a Celebrations Grant, offered by Tompkins County to promote tourism, that was used to pay for two signs promoting Concerts In The Park and to help pay some of the bands.  This year the County has more money than it gave out, so they are holding a smaller second round of grant proposals.

"I'm no professional grant writer, but I had some luck with that one," Colt says.  "So I'll try it again here with the short version.  This is an opportunity that they don't have every year.  It is nice of them to make it available. "


This time Colt wants to use the money to build kayak racks for Myers Park.  Two years ago Trevor Miller built an eight-boat rack for his Eagle Scout project.  It has become so popular and well used that Colt wants to build two more six-boat racks.

"You talk about tourism -- it's a great way to get more lake exposure," Colt says.  "Paddling sports -- canoeing, kayaking -- are coming on strong.  It's great exercise.  It's totally green.  There is no noise, no fuel.  And where we locate the rack is a great place to put into Salmon Creek.  You can paddle around Salt Point.  You can paddle around Myers Point, south of the point... there are a lot of great paddling opportunities there."

The Town allows the use of the rack for free, as long as kayak and canoe owners take responsibility for their own security.  The existing rack has been full most of the time.  Colt got John Dean of Leathers and Associates to draft plans for the new racks, which will be 10 x 3 feet with three shelves that hold two boats each.


"For people that typically transport this type of boat on their rooftop, it's nice to have it on the lakefront," Colt says.  "It's easier to use and you are more apt to use it.  It's been popular and we've taken a lot of requests for more spaces."

Whether he is successful in this round or not, Colt plans to apply for the regular Celebration Grant in 2009.  This time he says he will gear it toward the needs of Lansing Harbor Festival.  But Colt is not limiting his grant proposals to that.  Another grant for the Town is currently being considered by the Elm Research Institute of Keene, New Hampshire.  If successful, the institute will provide a Liberty Tree to the town.

"It's a way to replant elm trees," Colt explains.  "Years ago the Dutch Elm Disease wiped out that species of tree.  I applied for it and should know whether we're going to be lucky by late winter.  If we are, we'll get a tree at no cost to us that is probably a three or four inch caliper tree, 18 to 20 feet high.  It also comes with a plaque to put in the ground that commemorates the tree, and a painting commemorating the tree and this project that can be hung in the Town Hall.  This looked like a great opportunity."

If granted a tree the municipality is required to plant it in a prominent place with a fence around it, and erect the plaque.  The municipality must hold a commemorative ceremony for the tree when it is planted, and annually after that.  Optionally a bench may be installed.  The painting features a copy of the poem 'Liberty Tree' by Thomas Payne.

"I originally thought it would go in the front of Myers Park in a spot where it would be noticed," Colt says.  "I'm thinking of a split rail fence.  Economic times being what they are we may not be able to do that for a while.  But I have also thought there might be a spot near the Town Hall.  It's something we'll have to take a look at."

On Wednesday Colt asked the Town Board to authorize him to apply for a Safeteas-Lu (Safe, Accountable, Flexible, Efficient Transportation Equity Act) Recreational Trails Program grant.  "The trail project is through New York State," he explained.  "I don't know how we'll make out with it, but if successful we'll be able to rebuild and establish linkage to complete nearly 800 linear feet of trail behind the Town Hall."

"There is a lot of potential," Colt said.  "If we're successful with this then in two years I would like to take a shot at a big number and get across Woodsedge Drive tot he old railroad bed and put in some low impact trails where people can bike, skate, or walk, and get to the Town Hall, Community Center, Library, skate park, doctor's office, Rogue's Harbor, the coffee shop... without having to drive."

The trails would be a continuation of the paved trails that already traverse the Town ballfield area.  The first phase would add about 275 feet to existing trails, which would also be repaved.  Colt said the project will only happen if he can procure grant funding.  The Board voted unanimously to have Colt go forward with the application.

With some success at procuring funding for limited projects, Colt is excited about finding more.  Now that park activity is winding down, he says it is the perfect time to look for new grants.  "With the parks done, we are planning for the upcoming season, so it is a great time for us to get creative and find some grants to work on," Colt says.  "Most people know that we have some big needs with the infrastructure of the marina.  That's not going to come cheaply.  Some kind of grant would be the optimal way to address the problems there."

----
v4i45