Auburn's Market Street Park will likely receive a facelift this summer.
Sam Tenney / The Citizen
The city of Auburn is considering renovations to Market Street Park. Proposed improvements include better accessibility, concrete work and waterfront access.
The city of Auburn is considering renovations to Market Street Park. Proposed improvements include better accessibility, concrete work and waterfront access.
The downtown park, located along the Owasco River, will be the topic of a presentation at Thursday's city council meeting. Consulting group Environmental Design and Research will discuss recommendations for improvements on the location's accessibility and aesthetics.
If the city moves forward with the improvement project, it would be the most recent in a string of renovations in downtown Auburn.
“It's a nice location in the downtown area,” Doug Gerber of EDR said Monday of the park. “It's a nice enclave - a place to relax and feel like you're part of nature.”
Located adjacent to the police and fire buildings, Market Street Park hosts the city's annual Duck Derby and the Downtown Auburn Summer Concert Series, sponsored by the Business Improvement District.
Gerber said the firm's improvements include making the grounds more accessible and compliant with the Americans With Disabilities Act. He also said the EDR is suggesting some pavement replacement and improving parking.
But the park's most prominent feature is the Owasco River, Gerber continued. And the proposal includes a plan to improve visibility of the water by removing a chain link fence currently in place along the river and replacing it with an ornamental guard rail.
There are also plans for river accessibility on the southeast corner of the park, Gerber said.
“We want to keep the (native trees), let people get closer to the water and make some aesthetic improvements,” Gerber said.
The project will be funded by a $250,000 state grant awarded in 2005 for improvements along the Owasco River waterfront. The grant requires local matching funds from three sources: value of city property used for the park, city in-kind construction contribution and administration and project management.
City officials have discussed possible improvements at Market Street Park for years as part of a greater revitalization in the downtown area. During the summer of 2006, the city council considered a $1.8 million beautification project that included installation of a kayak park at or near Market Street Park.
The council voted down that beautification plan in favor of one that would allow the city to tackle one project at a time. In November 2007, city officials celebrated the completion of the improvement project, which included refurbishing the Exchange Street Mall, planting trees on Genesee Street and construction improvements along Genesee Street, Loop Road and South Street.
EDR provided the plans for that project, as well.
While the new Market Street Park proposal does not include a kayak launch due to concerns over the bridge and storm sewer infrastructure near the park, Gerber said the city should be able to complete it within a year.
“That is what's good about working with Auburn,” Gerber said. “We've been able to develop great progress with that site.”
Staff writer Christopher Caskey can be reached at 253-5311 ext. 282 or christopher.caskey@lee.net.
If the city moves forward with the improvement project, it would be the most recent in a string of renovations in downtown Auburn.
“It's a nice location in the downtown area,” Doug Gerber of EDR said Monday of the park. “It's a nice enclave - a place to relax and feel like you're part of nature.”
Located adjacent to the police and fire buildings, Market Street Park hosts the city's annual Duck Derby and the Downtown Auburn Summer Concert Series, sponsored by the Business Improvement District.
Gerber said the firm's improvements include making the grounds more accessible and compliant with the Americans With Disabilities Act. He also said the EDR is suggesting some pavement replacement and improving parking.
But the park's most prominent feature is the Owasco River, Gerber continued. And the proposal includes a plan to improve visibility of the water by removing a chain link fence currently in place along the river and replacing it with an ornamental guard rail.
There are also plans for river accessibility on the southeast corner of the park, Gerber said.
“We want to keep the (native trees), let people get closer to the water and make some aesthetic improvements,” Gerber said.
The project will be funded by a $250,000 state grant awarded in 2005 for improvements along the Owasco River waterfront. The grant requires local matching funds from three sources: value of city property used for the park, city in-kind construction contribution and administration and project management.
City officials have discussed possible improvements at Market Street Park for years as part of a greater revitalization in the downtown area. During the summer of 2006, the city council considered a $1.8 million beautification project that included installation of a kayak park at or near Market Street Park.
The council voted down that beautification plan in favor of one that would allow the city to tackle one project at a time. In November 2007, city officials celebrated the completion of the improvement project, which included refurbishing the Exchange Street Mall, planting trees on Genesee Street and construction improvements along Genesee Street, Loop Road and South Street.
EDR provided the plans for that project, as well.
While the new Market Street Park proposal does not include a kayak launch due to concerns over the bridge and storm sewer infrastructure near the park, Gerber said the city should be able to complete it within a year.
“That is what's good about working with Auburn,” Gerber said. “We've been able to develop great progress with that site.”
Staff writer Christopher Caskey can be reached at 253-5311 ext. 282 or christopher.caskey@lee.net.
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Post your comment - click hereThere are 3 comment(s)
brew1234 wrote on Feb 18, 2009 12:17 AM:
jeanjean wrote on Feb 17, 2009 2:58 PM:
If you ever tried attending a concert there you'll know parking, that ridge of grass that prevents lawn chairs, the ugly fence that blocks one of the city's great assets all need to be fixed up. I would rather my taxes go to that project than many others. "
karl the 2nd wrote on Feb 17, 2009 10:47 AM:
Seriously--is it any wonder we have the highest taxes in the nation?!
This is OUTRAGEOUS! "