[{"_1":2,"_87":-5,"_88":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6581458,"mediaKeyId","3124432-a9c5cf33a575288a99c860d7ffe80982","parentId",3124432,"title","Grand Island roundtable reviews parks, recreation, tech and preservation updates; staff to pursue grants and infrastructure fixes","audioSeconds",334,"startMs",2416867,"endMs",2751050,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3124432-a9c5cf33a575288a99c860d7ffe80982&start=2416&end=2751","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3124432-a9c5cf33a575288a99c860d7ffe80982/thumbnail_2416867.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6581458/Grand-Island/Erie-County/New-York/Grand-Island-roundtable-reviews-parks-recreation-tech-and-preservation-updates-staff-to-pursue-grants-and-infrastructure-fixes","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6581458-7d1485390123dcbcaa1023de8ed3648d/orig.mp4?Expires=1771184802&Signature=DYTIIy0HgHsMHjQEMEW312u3ZziinG0Xt3NREs9ftlS-Qeae7uJyP1Cc3FHCA~CrSqO400~aFTz0HsSxF-VD~iqw3yT5~kCTflYGUJFe6X6OQC4gxB1izxZSIZlW2d57Mitv~z05A76Qco9AyES1BETFQVsNCGGprKWRGBsltIS30bSQT88QnqbyDF3nRomPtVtA9XcLQ~J3w7zgmuDFmJRKuG0YXhJqLLlltnmoog7-KXE0yIlWEAlRpYzQjRanORM4WQ-nirgf1B6vP8u9DdbOfssic2gcS0O6jaErlyO~wEbcqVphZt475UjbrOujlNPmYrn40E7oBxgfvLhpjA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Grand Island, NY","date","2025-04-25T13:32:01.067Z","article","Advisory boards that make up the Town of Grand Island's roundtable delivered a series of project updates Wednesday, describing both near-term capital work and longer-range planning that town officials said will require outside grants and interagency coordination.

Members highlighted recreation projects, broadband and technology plans, historic-preservation efforts and ongoing drainage concerns that town staff said they will pursue through targeted grant applications and improved internal project coordination.

Why this matters: The items discussed touch public recreation, accessibility, stormwater management and economic development. Several projects are grant-funded or seek outside funding; members said they want the town ready to implement work quickly if and when state or federal funds are awarded.

Recreation and park work
Roundtable members described a set of recreation projects moving forward:
- an artificial refrigerated ice rink proposed for the town commons that will require upgraded electrical service; planners said the rink could operate into March with its own refrigeration but needs a higher-capacity power drop;
- a planned splash pad of roughly 7,000 square feet at Veterans Park with a maintenance building conversion to public restrooms and parking changes on the former ice-rink site; the project is being paired with pavilion siting and site testing for soils and utilities;
- continuation of a site master plan for parks and recreation, including parking and trail upgrades, a potential mountain/feature element and improvements to the Commons and Nike Base;
- work to fix the membrane and leaks at the former community ice rink site and a separate $500,000 grant to overhaul the senior/community center; members said abatement and asbestos-related ceiling work will be required before visible repairs.

Members also discussed park-level details such as the need to remove seasonal beach access mats after storms and concerns about parking access and road conditions that affect accessibility for users with disabilities.

Drainage, watershed and DEC coordination
A lengthy discussion focused on drainage problems across the island and the town's efforts to coordinate with DEC and other agencies. Staff and members said:
- many local drainage channels and marsh outfalls have silted and vegetation-choked sections that reduce capacity and contribute to localized flooding; work historically done by farmers and state partners changed hydrology and increased siltation;
- the town has walked ditches with DEC and raised questions about permits and the scale of work DEC will permit; DEC has indicated more stringent wetland rules and is reviewing how to respond to Grand Island's unique situation;
- staff emphasized the town has mapped stream corridors into its LWRP so work that restores channel capacity can be grant-eligible, but members said federal and state permits still will be required and agency timelines are uncertain.

Broadband, technology and facilities
Technology briefings reported progress on municipal broadband and facility connectivity:
- ErieNet presented a municipal-fiber proposal to connect town facilities in a ring/hub configuration and said a build could be completed by year'end; the project would link wastewater, water treatment, police, library and other municipal buildings;
- Greenlight (a regional provider) is in exploratory talks to extend residential high-speed service to the island; town officials said resident interest and a mapped plan would help the case;
- town staff and the tech advisory board are exploring a designated tech liaison for advisory boards to ease meeting video and document access.

Historic preservation and community projects
Historic-preservation members reported they are pursuing a Certified Local Government designation (which would shift some local review tasks to the historic board), are preparing a local designation recommendation for the Rose Cottage on Ferry Road, and are organizing tours and cemetery maintenance work. Members also noted a forthcoming regional celebration that will include the town when the Seneca boat transits the canal.

Other advisory-board work and community initiatives
Several other items were noted:
- Economic development and arts volunteers are exploring a program to paint or wrap electrical boxes with community art and a possible contest involving local students;
- volunteers and advisory boards are coordinating a town cleanup event and renewed enforcement to remove illegal signs in rights-of-way;
- planning and zoning updates include a proposed amendment addressing accessory structures and a draft revision to livestock/chicken rules that adopts Cornell guidance on stocking and setbacks;
- recreation staff said a targeted National Grid easement pilot could enable extension of a crushed-stone multi-use path to Baseline Road, which would be a test segment for larger trail connectivity.

Staffing and grant strategy
Town staff said they will reorganize some duties to make grant application and implementation more proactive. The town is assigning a town employee with water-billing and administrative experience to lead grant capture and grant financial management duties, and staff said they plan to prioritize grant applications aligned with identified infrastructure needs rather than pursuing nonessential grants.

Clarifying details from the meeting
- The proposed splash pad was described as slightly under 7,000 square feet; a maintenance building is planned to provide restrooms and storage.
- The town reported a previously awarded $1 million state grant for playground work at other park locations; new projects are being sequenced to align with available funding.
- The ice rink concept relies on refrigeration and will require an upgraded power drop from the utility; the rink is intended to operate later into winter than an uncooled surface.

Speakers (attribution whitelist)
- Pete, Town Supervisor (government)
- Paul, advisory/roundtable member (government)
- Dave, Planning Board member (government)
- Jen, Economic Development/Arts Board representative (government)
- Rod, Technology advisory representative (government)
- Sharon Nichols, Ferry Village resident and preservation subcommittee (citizen)

Proper names referenced: Town of Grand Island; Veterans Park; Nike Base; Big Six Marina; ErieNet; Greenlight; New York State Parks; DEC; National Grid; Rose Cottage; Maple Grove (cemetery); East River Marsh.

Community_relevance: geographies include Veterans Park, Nike Base, Big Six Marina, Ferry Village and the island'wide commons; funding sources discussed include state grants, Greenway funding and potential federal grants; impact groups include park users, people who rely on accessible facilities, residents near drainage corridors, local small businesses and historic-preservation supporters.

Meeting_context: members described substantial engagement across advisory boards, multiple active projects in planning or design, and a town staff reallocation to support grant writing and implementation. Implementation risk was described as medium-to-high for drainage projects because of required DEC/Corps permits; lower risk for park work where state grant funding is already secured.

Salience and follow-up: staff were directed to prioritize grant applications for infrastructure and to coordinate designs with DEC and utility providers for electrical and drainage work. The roundtable asked to review design documents where they affect the waterfront or public access.

Provenance (transcript evidence)
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The two proposals reviewed were an accessibility package that includes new ADA ramps and beach-access devices, restroom upgrades and improvements to a new dog-park area, and a multi-year invasive-species control program that would use mechanical and targeted chemical treatments at park sites. Roundtable members said the package would improve public access but urged design changes at ramp termini and asked for guarantees that invasive-species work would avoid broad, indiscriminate herbicide application.

Why this matters: Both proposals affect shorelines and near-shore habitat regulated under the town's LWRP and by state and federal agencies. The accessibility work directly changes the shore edge and public access points; the invasive-species program could involve aquatic herbicide applications and wetland work overseen by the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) and, where applicable, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.

What the roundtable reviewed and recommended
The accessibility proposal covers beach ramps, beach and water wheelchairs and improvements to restrooms and playground areas at a State Parks site on Grand Island. Members endorsed the project's overall intent and recommended the roundtable's formal comment letter say the work is consistent with the town's LWRP while listing site-specific recommendations: reinforce or anchor ramp termini so they will not be undermined by wave action, consider pile or piling elements rather than only surface connections, and include seasonal removal or secure storage for temporary access mats or floating pads used for water access.

Roundtable members also confirmed the dog-park area appears to provide separate spaces for large and small dogs and urged clear fencing and surface details to be included in final plans.

On invasive-species control, roundtable members noted the draft describes targeted mechanical removal and specimen-level chemical applications (for example, stem-injection techniques) over a multi-year period rather than blanket spraying. Members supported the project's objective of restoring native biodiversity but asked the town's comment letter to request explicit language that:
- no broad-area aerial or broadcast herbicide applications will be used; and
- all chemical treatments will be done only by licensed applicators, in low-wind conditions, with appropriate personal protective equipment and best-management practices to avoid drift or contamination of ground or surface water.

Members also asked staff to confirm whether DEC permitting or Corps review would include site-specific conditions for wetlands or work below the ordinary high-water mark.

Follow-up and staff direction
Roundtable members directed town staff to draft two short comment letters: one that says the accessibility package is consistent with the LWRP and lists design suggestions (ramp stabilization, seasonal removal of beach access mats, and details on separation and fencing for the dog area), and another that accepts the invasive-species program in principle while asking for explicit commitments about application methods, licensed applicators and limits on broad-area chemical use. A staff member was asked to work with a roundtable member (identified in the meeting as Paul) to finalize the precise wording before the letters are sent to State Parks.

Votes at a glance
- State Parks accessibility and site improvements: motion to find consistent with the Town of Grand Island LWRP and to forward additional technical comments; outcome: approved by the roundtable (motion and second recorded; formal tally not specified in the meeting record).
- State Parks invasive-species control program: motion to find consistent with the Town of Grand Island LWRP and to forward comments asking for limits on application methods and other safeguards; outcome: approved by the roundtable (motion and second recorded; formal tally not specified in the meeting record).

Regulatory context discussed in the meeting
Roundtable members and staff discussed coordination with outside agencies. Speakers noted that structures seaward of or below the ordinary high-water mark can trigger U.S. Army Corps of Engineers review (Section 10, Rivers and Harbors Act of 1899 was cited during discussion) and that DEC authority (Article 15 was cited) often applies to wetlands and aquatic herbicide approvals. Members said they had advised State Parks staff that the town's LWRP and shoreline policies are part of the package the state uses in its review.

What the roundtable did not do
No condition was imposed that would change the scope of the projects; the roundtable's actions were limited to consistency findings under the LWRP and to providing technical comments and design recommendations. Final approvals, permits, and any work that affects wetlands or waters remain subject to DEC, Corps and State Parks permitting processes.

Clarifying details from the meeting
- Meeting participants said State Parks indicated a timeline for response; one document referenced a deadline 'around the fifteenth' but the meeting record did not specify month or year.
- Members said the invasive-species program is described in the draft as a four-year effort using mechanical and targeted herbicide methods rather than broad-area spraying.
- A town representative noted the State previously awarded a roughly $1 million package to upgrade playgrounds at other park locations and that State Parks has other active grant-funded work on the island.

Proper names referenced: Town of Grand Island; New York State Parks; New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC); U.S. Army Corps of Engineers; Rivers and Harbors Act of 1899 (Section 10); Greenway; East River Marsh; West River; Whitehaven; Niagara Mohawk; New York Power Authority.

Speakers (attribution whitelist)
- Paul, advisory/roundtable member (government)
- Rhonda, town staff liaison (government)
- Pete, Town Supervisor (government)
- Jim, advisory/roundtable member (government)
- Larry, advisory/roundtable member (government)

Discussion_decision: {\"discussion_points\":[\"Need for ramp terminus stabilization and piling or anchor details\",\"Seasonal removal or secure storage of beach/water access mats\",\"Separation and fencing details for small- and large-dog areas\",\"Invasive-species methods: prefer mechanical and targeted stem-injection over broad-area spraying\",\"Require licensed applicators and best-management practices to limit drift and water contamination\",\"Coordinate DEC and Corps review where ordinary high-water mark or wetlands are affected\"],\"directions\":[\"Staff to draft two comment letters: one on accessibility/design and one on invasive-species methods; staff to work with Paul on wording\"],\"decisions\":[\"Roundtable found both State Parks proposals consistent with the Town LWRP and approved forwarding technical comments to State Parks and relevant state/federal agencies\"]}

Authorities cited in the meeting
[{\"type\":\"policy\",\"name\":\"Local Waterfront Revitalization Program (LWRP)\",\"referenced_by\":[\"lwrp-state-parks-review\"]},{\"type\":\"statute\",\"name\":\"Section 10, Rivers and Harbors Act of 1899\",\"referenced_by\":[\"lwrp-state-parks-review\"]},{\"type\":\"statute\",\"name\":\"Article 15 (as referenced by DEC)\",\"referenced_by\":[\"lwrp-state-parks-review\"]}]

Provenance (transcript evidence)
[{\"block_id\":\"segment_13_28\",\"local_start\":0,\"local_end\":142,\"evidence_excerpt\":\"K. Yeah. Alright. So the agenda is very simple tonight. We're going to do we're gonna talk about the 2 projects that have been put in front of us for the LWEP pertaining to the state parks.\",\"reason_code\":\"topicintro\"},{\"block_id\":\"segment_2338_2351\",\"local_start\":0,\"local_end\":96,\"evidence_excerpt\":\"Damage to the waterways of of right now. Yeah. So moved.\\nSecond.\\nAny discussion? All in favor?\\nAye. Thanks. Alright.\",\"reason_code\":\"topicfinish\"}]
","The Town of Grand Island advisory roundtable voted Wednesday to find two State Parks projects consistent with the town's Local Waterfront Revitalization Program and authorized staff to send technical comments asking for design tweaks to new beach ramps and assurances on how invasive plants will be controlled.","actionData","errors"]

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Grand Island roundtable reviews parks, recreation, tech and preservation updates; staff to pursue grants and infrastructure fixes

Grand Island roundtable finds two State Parks projects consistent with waterfront plan, asks for design and pesticide clarifications