Market Street Park is scheduled to receive a facelift. The park, located downtown on the Owasco River is expected to receive new benches, better lighting, pathways and a more aesthetically pleasing fence along the river.
The curb and meters will be repaired, along with the roof above the bandstand.
The proposal also includes plans to improve the landscaping, although a $300,000 plan to include a lower deck closer to the river has been scrapped.
I suppose it would be nice to see some improvements to the park. But I question the cost of the renovations. After all, I never see anyone in Market Street Park, except during the Duck Derby.
And although the Owasco River has its charms, I don’t know that the downtown section rivals any of the regions beautiful lakes and glens.
To spend $600,000 to draw people to a park that overlooks a diner and a fire house seems a bit odd.
I certainly don’t oppose the curbs and meters. Parking is essential, especially as there are great plans to improve the downtown district.
And I am not saying that we should ignore the park completely. It just seems that it would make more sense to brainstorm better ways to use the space.
For example, more parking would be nice. Market Street Park is nestled in a tight little corner and it would certainly help local businesses to have more available spaces.
It would help the city, too, as more spaces means more meters and more meters means more money.
I have no idea how much it would cost to expand the parking lot, but if it does cost less than $600,000, I feel a parking lot would be more bang for the buck.
Unless of course the city has plans to promote the park and use the bandstand more frequently. But Founders Day and Duck Derbies are events that are few and far between.
I don’t know, maybe I’m wrong. Maybe Market Street Park is a beloved Auburn jewel that everyone adores. I haven’t really observed that the park is all that popular, but maybe it would be if it were renovated ( who knows).
All I know is that whenever there is a large amount of money to be spent downtown, it should definitely go, in some way, to improving the roads, curbs or sidewalks before shrubs and fences.
Estabrook’s column appears Mondays and she can be reached at estabrookcarole@yahoo.com
The proposal also includes plans to improve the landscaping, although a $300,000 plan to include a lower deck closer to the river has been scrapped.
I suppose it would be nice to see some improvements to the park. But I question the cost of the renovations. After all, I never see anyone in Market Street Park, except during the Duck Derby.
And although the Owasco River has its charms, I don’t know that the downtown section rivals any of the regions beautiful lakes and glens.
To spend $600,000 to draw people to a park that overlooks a diner and a fire house seems a bit odd.
I certainly don’t oppose the curbs and meters. Parking is essential, especially as there are great plans to improve the downtown district.
And I am not saying that we should ignore the park completely. It just seems that it would make more sense to brainstorm better ways to use the space.
For example, more parking would be nice. Market Street Park is nestled in a tight little corner and it would certainly help local businesses to have more available spaces.
It would help the city, too, as more spaces means more meters and more meters means more money.
I have no idea how much it would cost to expand the parking lot, but if it does cost less than $600,000, I feel a parking lot would be more bang for the buck.
Unless of course the city has plans to promote the park and use the bandstand more frequently. But Founders Day and Duck Derbies are events that are few and far between.
I don’t know, maybe I’m wrong. Maybe Market Street Park is a beloved Auburn jewel that everyone adores. I haven’t really observed that the park is all that popular, but maybe it would be if it were renovated ( who knows).
All I know is that whenever there is a large amount of money to be spent downtown, it should definitely go, in some way, to improving the roads, curbs or sidewalks before shrubs and fences.
Estabrook’s column appears Mondays and she can be reached at estabrookcarole@yahoo.com
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tim5150 wrote on Aug 2, 2009 7:43 PM:
auburn~no~class wrote on Jul 31, 2009 3:26 PM:
horseradish wrote on Jul 31, 2009 9:18 AM:
the first thing you see when driving around auburn are the numerous chain link fences. they look AWFUL. when i first moved here i couldn't believe all of the fences that line the arterial and the river. the arterial is the gateway to the community and its lined with the ugliest possible fence that could be placed there. don't understand it. family and friends that come visit have a negative connotation connected with auburn purely because of those fences. "
horseradish wrote on Jul 31, 2009 9:16 AM:
showpeople wrote on Jul 30, 2009 2:45 PM:
But if the money is burning a hot little hole in the politicians pockets, why not continue with the river front project detailed in the urban plan of 1991 and get the trails on one side of the Owasco outlet completed and a tourist attraction built that will entertain folks who come to our city. Or better yet, use the money to continue the efforts of the Cayuga County Arts Council to bring the Schines theatre to life. Now those projects WOULD benefit the City. "
Andy b wrote on Jul 30, 2009 9:55 AM:
bear wrote on Jul 29, 2009 3:24 PM:
mickeymch wrote on Jul 29, 2009 3:17 PM:
united we wish wrote on Jul 29, 2009 8:24 AM:
auburn~no~class wrote on Jul 27, 2009 7:44 AM: