Comments from Councilwoman Mary Cooke
Niagara River Greenway Commission (NRGC)
Grand Island Meeting
January 9, 2007
Grand Island Golden Age Center

A crowd of over 75 turned out on Tuesday evening to hear Rob Belue, Executive Director of the NRGC, present an overview of the NRG Plan and Draft Environmental Impact Statement. The PowerPoint presentation described the mission and goals of the Greenway. Greenway Commissioner Paul Leuchner, a Grand Island resident, the entire Town Board, Legislator Michele Ianello and Kathy Lenihan from Congresswoman Louise Slaughter’s office attended the meeting.

The law establishing the Greenway specifies that the thirteen municipalities in the boundary of the Greenway must approve the plan by March when it is due at the NYS Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation. Grand Island is one of these thirteen municipalities.

Grand Island Town Officials arranged and hosted the meeting to help make Grand Islanders aware of the draft plan so citizens can provide feedback to the Town Board as they decide on their approval of the plan. Belue emphasized that the Greenway Plan is a long-term project, that specific projects in the plan are generated from the local level and that projects will likely change as time moves forward. More important than the specific projects are the concepts of the Greenway, an overview of which can be found in the Executive Summary of the Draft Plan.

The draft plan is available at niagaragreenway.org and at the Grand Island Memorial Library. If you wish to access the plan by computer find the draft plan on the greenway’s home page. PDF 9 contains the Executive Summary. PDF 11 contains maps showing various projects, including those on Grand Island, recommended thus far by municipalities and stakeholder groups.

I urge Grand Islanders to become familiar with the Greenway Plan and make comments to the Town Board and to the Greenway Commission regarding any changes or additions that you think are needed. This plan will be only as good as we make it and the time is now to get involved.

One issue that arose on Tuesday was that on Figure 46 (find it in PDF 11) the West River Homeowner’s Association (WRHA) is attributed with the idea of phase-out of West River Parkway. Many in attendance spoke up to say that is just the opposite of the view of the WRHA. Executive Director Belue explained that comments can be received on the plan until January 17 and only after that can changes be made. He urged people to comment about this and any other idea via mail or E-mail.

One difference in the Greenway Plan and the many plans that have come and gone over the years is that funding for the Greenway is closely linked to the settlement agreements for the relicensing of the Niagara Power Project. The license runs out in August 2007 and current settlement agreements indicate that $9 million a year for the next 50 years is involved. With that amount as a base, and augmented with grants and municipal funding sources, it is very likely that the Greenway will become a reality.

Contact information:
rob.belue@oprhp.state.ny.us
Phone 773-5361
Fax 773-5392
Niagara River Greenway Commission
Beaver Island State Park
2136 West Oakfield Road
Grand Island, NY 14072