FULTON – Fulton’s Downtown Revitalization Initiative (DRI) Advisory Committee met Thursday July 18 and heard an overview from C&S Engineers on both the Fulton Waterfront and Marina and Downtown Historic Marker & Signage Program projects at its recent meeting.
C&S was previously awarded design and engineering contracts for the city’s municipal projects; municipal projects include the marina, the library, the trail, zoning code revisions and the creation of signage and historic markers. On Thursday, C&S provided an overview of conceptual plans for the marina and signage. The continuation of Pathfinder Trail and upgrades to the Fulton Public Library will be discussed in detail at the committee’s Sept. 19 meeting.
Downtown Historic Markers and Signage
The city’s DRI included a $100,000 award to create a signage and marketing program to help promote historic sites and the city’s rich industrial past, natural assets, and cultural attractions to encourage tourism and downtown visitors. C&S provided design renderings of marque signage and smaller historic markers that would be installed at key locations throughout the DRI boundaries. The signs, which feature the city’s lake and river, would also be interactive and include a QR code to direct pedestrians to information online, depending on sign content and location.
The next step will be to determine costs and location of signs and if other suggestions are feasible and affordable such as illumination. It is not known how many signs can be installed but the plan is for the city to easily replicate the sign throughout the city if more funding were to become available. The grant covers signage to be installed in the DRI boundary.
Fulton Waterfront and Marina
As part of the DRI, the city was awarded $1.7 million to assist in updating the city’s waterfront and marina. C&S provided renderings of what they referred to as a master plan for the marina but indicated the city would have to prioritize which updates the grant will assist with since the funding would not cover all of the proposed upgrades.
The plan includes: new lighting; specially treated cement walls along the marina to house future art installations such as murals; upgraded bathrooms; new and removable docks for boats; terraced seating along the river bank north of the gazebo; an upgraded historic breakwall surface to create a safer and handicap accessible walking area; a new multi-use building that would serve as a stage for live performances and outdoor movies, a concession stand, and storage for seasonal and temporary recreational amenities such as turf, pickleball, shuffleboard, ice skating, and other outdoor sports depending on budget and public preferences. A new stage and concession building is proposed.
Costs of each proposed improvement will be identified in the near future but can be bid out separately. With all improvements, C&S stated there will be an effort made to tie the marina in with the new Pathfinder Trail along the Oswego Canal and improvements to the library to create a more inviting space along the river.
C&S explained once the city decides on what its first priorities are, the DRI grant can be administered and additional grants could be secured for future phases.
The committee is accepting input from the public on both the signage project and the larger marina project. To view plans that the committee has seen, visit: fultonny.org/dri-advisory-committee/ and click on DRI Projects. To provide feedback to the committee, please send email to [email protected]. Questions, concerns and feedback will be provided to the committee for consideration or response. Members of the committee are encouraged to bring any public concerns to future meetings as well. The meetings are open to the public.
On Sept. 19, at 5 pm the public is invited to the DRI’s committee meeting to hear details on the trail and the library. This will be the committee’s first evening meeting. The next DRI Advisory Committee meeting will be held Aug. 8 at 10 am. The committee will hear an update on the Case Lee House. The public is welcome to attend. Both meetings will be held in the municipal room at City Hall.
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