MONTEZUMA - Silence and no raised hands.
That was the reaction Montezuma Town Supervisor Scott Saroodis received at Tuesday's town board meeting.
The question: Was anyone against moving forward with a proposal to form what would be Cayuga County's first state historic park?
Following this show of public support on what is being called Four Canals State Historic Park, the town board unanimously passed a resolution authorizing Trish Riter, deputy director with the county's Department of Planning and Economic Development, to write up a formal proposal to present to the state.
Riter will now spend the next month drafting the document, which must be approved by the town board before it is submitted.
Residents gathered at the Montezuma town offices Tuesday to hear Riter's ideas about the park, an area of approximately 185 acres in Montezuma that contains remnants of four canals: the original Erie (aka Clinton's Ditch), Cayuga-Seneca, Enlarged Erie and Seneca River (aka Barge Canal).
The park's development is
contingent on the town transferring roughly 140 acres of its property to the state Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Development.
Riter made a brief presentation on Four Canals, which has been in the works for several years. She referred several times to the uniqueness of the area, with its varied resources and history.
Yet many of its structures, such as canal locks and the Richmond Aqueduct, have fallen victim to age and Mother Nature and are in need of preservation, she said.
“This is part of your local history,” Riter told the audience of more than 30 people. “You're losing it right now because the resources here are deteriorating.”
Residents were generally optimistic and accepting of the park proposal, though individuals raised some issues that they would like Riter to include in her draft.
Tim Noga, of Montezuma, wants to see a reasonable amount of traditional uses, including hunting, fishing and trapping, maintained on park grounds.
Allowing these actions to continue would benefit both recreationists and the environment, Noga said.
Others championed the inclusion of a clause that would allow snowmobilers and ATV-users to pass through a certain area of
the park, as trails are on either side.
Riter fielded questions from residents about what effects a state park could have for Montezuma residents.
Will there be the creation of jobs? Will tourists come to the area? Will that cause traffic problems?
Though Riter said that no one could answer these questions for certain, she is hopeful the park, which will offer opportunities for historical signs, picnic areas, wildlife observation, biking, hiking and camping, will be a major attraction along the Canal Corridor.
County and town officials have met with state representatives of the parks office and the Canal Corporation, and both are receptive to the idea, she added.
“I think there is a lot of momentum right now at the state and federal level to develop and protect the resources you have here,” she said.
Staff writer Linda Ober can be reached at 253-5311 ext. 237 or linda.ober@lee.net
The question: Was anyone against moving forward with a proposal to form what would be Cayuga County's first state historic park?
Following this show of public support on what is being called Four Canals State Historic Park, the town board unanimously passed a resolution authorizing Trish Riter, deputy director with the county's Department of Planning and Economic Development, to write up a formal proposal to present to the state.
Riter will now spend the next month drafting the document, which must be approved by the town board before it is submitted.
Residents gathered at the Montezuma town offices Tuesday to hear Riter's ideas about the park, an area of approximately 185 acres in Montezuma that contains remnants of four canals: the original Erie (aka Clinton's Ditch), Cayuga-Seneca, Enlarged Erie and Seneca River (aka Barge Canal).
The park's development is
contingent on the town transferring roughly 140 acres of its property to the state Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Development.
Riter made a brief presentation on Four Canals, which has been in the works for several years. She referred several times to the uniqueness of the area, with its varied resources and history.
Yet many of its structures, such as canal locks and the Richmond Aqueduct, have fallen victim to age and Mother Nature and are in need of preservation, she said.
“This is part of your local history,” Riter told the audience of more than 30 people. “You're losing it right now because the resources here are deteriorating.”
Residents were generally optimistic and accepting of the park proposal, though individuals raised some issues that they would like Riter to include in her draft.
Tim Noga, of Montezuma, wants to see a reasonable amount of traditional uses, including hunting, fishing and trapping, maintained on park grounds.
Allowing these actions to continue would benefit both recreationists and the environment, Noga said.
Others championed the inclusion of a clause that would allow snowmobilers and ATV-users to pass through a certain area of
the park, as trails are on either side.
Riter fielded questions from residents about what effects a state park could have for Montezuma residents.
Will there be the creation of jobs? Will tourists come to the area? Will that cause traffic problems?
Though Riter said that no one could answer these questions for certain, she is hopeful the park, which will offer opportunities for historical signs, picnic areas, wildlife observation, biking, hiking and camping, will be a major attraction along the Canal Corridor.
County and town officials have met with state representatives of the parks office and the Canal Corporation, and both are receptive to the idea, she added.
“I think there is a lot of momentum right now at the state and federal level to develop and protect the resources you have here,” she said.
Staff writer Linda Ober can be reached at 253-5311 ext. 237 or linda.ober@lee.net