State park will get $6.5M renovation

WATKINS GLEN--Starting this summer, work will begin on a $6.5 million project to renovate the main entrance to Watkins Glen State Park. State representatives announced the new project details Thursday, Feb. 11 at the Watkins Glen Chamber of Commerce, which included changes to parking, the welcome center and green space at the entrance. Commissioner of the New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation Rose Harvey said the project will relocate the parking area away from the gorge, creating a less congested entryway into the park.
"This project will help visitors to have richer and more rewarding experiences at the park, while vastly improving the gateway to the village of Watkins Glen," Harvey said.
Redevelopment of the park's entrance will include relocating the parking area away from the gorge across Franklin Street, which will improve vehicular traffic flow on village streets, as well as pedestrian traffic flow in the park. The two newly-acquired properties will be joined by a vacant lot already owned by state parks to create a new parking area. The current main entrance parking lot will be returned to green space.
Construction is expected to begin this summer and be complete in time for the 2017 summer season. Access to the gorge will be maintained during the project. The state's $5 million commitment is expected to leverage an additional $1.5 million in grants and private investment. The asphalt entrance to the gorge will be transformed into a more natural landscaped park setting, including a new visitor welcome center where park staff can provide information about the park. The Watkins Glen Chamber of Commerce will also have a counter to provide information about other attractions in the region.
"Having the opportunity to take part in welcoming visitors to Watkins Glen State Park will spark additional tourist foot traffic in our downtown, therefore generating more interest in staying, dining and shopping in Schuyler County," said Rebekah LaMoreaux, president and CEO Watkins Glen Area Chamber of Commerce. "It's a great development for all of us."
Other improvements will include a small outdoor amphitheater and improved educational displays on the park's human history and natural and geologic features, including a touchable model of the gorge, and a new overlook at the base of the gorge where people with mobility challenges will be able to enjoy the waterfalls. Other improvements include renovating the park's existing concession/restroom building and reopening the "Indian Trail," which has been closed for more than 50 years.
The major overhaul of the park gateway is proceeding with the acquisition of two properties adjacent to the entrance by The Open Space Institute (OSI), which expects to transfer the properties to New York State Parks within months. State Parks will utilize the Environmental Protection Fund for the $300,000 purchase of the two properties.
Funding for state parks to acquire the properties from OSI comes from New York State's Environmental Protection Fund (EPF). As part of his 2016-17 executive budget, Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced New York State will allocate $300 million for the EPF--the highest amount ever for the fund.
The visitor entrance renovations will be funded through the New York Parks 2020 program, a multi-year commitment to leverage $900 million in private and public funding for state parks from 2011 to 2020. The governor included $90 million toward this initiative in his 2016-17 executive budget.
Last April, Watkins Glen State Park was selected as the third-best state park in the country through a USA Today Reader's Choice Poll.
"One of the nation's greatest state parks certainly deserves a grand entrance,"State Senator Tom O'Mara (R,C,I-Big Flats) said.
"Watkins Glen State Park draws nearly a million visitors a year and this new entrance promises to be an exciting and worthy welcome to America's third best state park," Assemblyman Phil Palmesano (R,C,I-Corning) added.