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One of the arguments for passing the Comprehensive Plan revision by the beginning of May was that Lansing would become eligible for a half-million dollar grant to make improvements to Myers Park.  They noted that the project was rated the full 20 points last year, the highest number of points the Southern Tier region assigns to projects that best meet regional goals for development.  But it was knocked out of the running because the official Town plan was a dozen years old.  Not having the Comprehensive Plan revision passed may have disqualified the project.

"I don't know if it disqualified us," says Lansing Planning Consultant Michael long. "It made it very difficult to get over the hump, in terms of projects.  Regional looks at certain things, but a comprehensive plan is a benchmark project that they would like to see, especially because of how out of date our old plan was.  A large grant was given to the Village of Union Springs for a project there.  We were competing with them."

The Town is going to try for the money again this year.  Long has until July 27th to submit the application, and this year he says he will hedge the Town's bets by applying for two different grants.  He says there are various configurations under which the park plan could qualify for part or all of the amount needed to realize the plan.

"From a strategic point of view I intend to apply under two different programs this year," he says. "We'll reapply under the waterfront revitalization program that has a 75% grand/25% local match.  There is also another program that we qualify for this year, called the Parks Development program.  That is a 50%-50% match.  You can use in-kind labor and equipment as the match."


What is the Myers Park Master Plan?  Long says it is a map and a budget that can be submitted to the Southern Tier Regional Development Council, one of ten regions in New York State that receive money from Albany to dole out for local projects that best meet regional goals.  Each region develops a long term development strategy. then reviews applications for specific projects within the region.  Points are assigned to each, and projects with the highest number of points are most likely to be chosen for funding.  Last year Lansing hoped to receive a $500,000 grant - $250,000 of state funds which the Town would match in-kind.  The Town's part would be Highway Department labor and equipment, with the state money being used for materials and other costs.

"The grant would really help upgrade some things and make them more solid than they are now," says Park Superintendent Steve Colt. "It's more infrastructure things, and it might be relocating some things: moving the basketball court over, the kayak storage area, possibly a rebuild of the A pavilion.  A new bathroom would be more on the east side of the park.  We have an extremely talented Highway Department.  They rebuilt our marina, so there are a lot of things those guys could do to offset that 50%."

Colt says that rebuilding the bulkhead in the channel leading into the town marina is critical.  He says that Lansing's iconic lighthouse could be in jeopardy if the bulkhead isn't rebuilt.  But not all the proposed elements of the plan are infrastructure.  Colt says new elements to the park could enhance the park and make it possible to offer more recreational programs, but adds that property tax monies should not be used for projects like this.

"I think it could be both," he says. "Some of these things cost a lot of money to do.  We're probably only going to make a good, solid infrastructure upgrade by use of a grant.  As beautiful as Myers Park is, and the amount of people that love Myers Park, you're still not going to go directly to your taxpayers and your town budget to fund those types of things.You're hopefully going to be able to get those things via a grant."

A couple of weeks ago Colt added a new dream to the mix: a permanent band shell that he says could mean bringing bigger-name bands to Myers Park, as well as providing a performance space for local bands and a resource for the Lansing schools.

"Obviously we would keep the bandstand where it is -- its a beautiful structure," Colt says. "But down where the volleyball court is we might have a band shell, so performances play up the center of the park.  Now all of the talent plays away from the lake, all of your seating is in one direction.  It may even come out and cover the stage a bit, it could have permanent lighting, more consistent power -- legitimate plug-ins for sound guys that really know their stuff.  The band stand might now be the type of area facing the stage where the sound guy sets up the board.  That opens the door, down the road, for ratcheting up some of the groups we could bring there, or school use, or anybody that wants to do things."

Long says he must update the budget numbers from last year's application, and make further adjustments if a band shell is included in the plan.

"It's possible.  We're still in the formation stages," he says. "Last year we applied for money for lighting improvements, electrical upgrades and the septic systems, and a new restroom for the campers.  It's all going to depend, when we look at the numbers again this year, to see what can fit."

Once the application has been submitted the region typically takes a few months to rate each submission, and announces their ratings in October or November.  Once that is done it is a matter of waiting for the Governor's announcement that money has been allotted, after which the Town will learn if all or part of its request will be granted.  If the Town is successful the work would be done next year.  Long says that the plan is still about a $500,000 proposition.

There are no guarantees, but town officials are optimistic that this year's application may be successful, largely because of last year's plan receiving all 20 points and because the Comprehensive Plan revision was adopted on May 2nd.  Colt says that if only part of the money is granted this year the Town could break up the project and apply for the rest next year.

"Instead of stepping in the box and trying for a grand slam home run, maybe we'll try for a double," he says. "You want to get as much as you can get.  We'll see what happens."

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