Indian Point Park Celebrates Multi-Use Trail Groundbreaking In Fulton

by Shea O'Malley | September 16, 2020 10:33 am

FULTON – Fulton Mayor Deana Michaels and City Officials gathered together yesterday, September 15, to celebrate the Multi-Use Trail groundbreaking ceremony at Indian Point Park in Fulton.

The four-year project was a cumulative idea brought together by two women with the same creative minds; Fulton city residents and volunteers Brittney Jerred and Marie Mankiewicz.

Both women have been working together since 2016 to gather local backing and support, while securing grants for the trail’s creation. The pathway initially began with a city comprehensive plan a few years prior.

“In the comprehensive plan for the city, they mapped out seven different walking trails in Fulton, and the Pathfinder Trail and the Canalview Bridgewalk Trail are two of them,” Mankiewicz said. “And so, this trail in particular is half-done. It got started when they did Indian Point Landing and then it ends over at one of the companies down here. So, the idea was to finish this trail and to add benches around the Canalview Bridgewalk, which is what people walk around – the bridges all the time.”

Fulton is currently one of a handful of communities in the state without trail development along their waterfront. Mankiewicz and Jerred called the Department of State inquiring about information for the trails development, receiving encouragement and much needed advice.

A grant-feasibility study was then done to see what it would take to finish the trail and the Canalview Bridgewalk Trail. Completion of a Local Waterfront Revitalization Plan also had to be done in order for the city to quality for grants. A 2005 LWRP had been completed but had never been approved.

“We pulled together a large committee of business owners and people who had volunteered in the past, and we just kind of asked them, ‘What advice do you have for us?’ Jerred said. “And they said, ‘Go to work!'”

Mankiewicz formally worked as a project manager for National Grid, with Jerred having a background in press and media community relations.

“We found each other through this project,” Mankiewicz said. “But, we’re a perfect team because Brittney has different skills than I have, and we complement each other. It really has been a labor of love since we’ve done this.”

The $900,000 project was funded by a New York State Department of State grant for $750,000, and a Canal Corporation grant in the amount of $150,000.

“This is an exciting opportunity for the people of Fulton. This has been a long time in the making,” Mayor Deana Michaels said. “To the amazing Marie Mankiewicz and Brittney Jerred; this would not happen today without the two of them. It’s your vision, your dedication and certainly your hard work that has gotten us to this point where we can actually put shovels in the ground and start our Multi-Use Trail once and for all. Thank you, thank you, thank you, for everything you’ve done to bring us here.”

Michaels, Mankiewicz and Jerred thanked all the project partners who took the time in making the project a reality, praising their work and resolution throughout.

The 1.2 mile trail will run close to the river, veering off toward city sidewalks to gain access around area businesses, then moving back toward the river’s edge. The trail will provide marina access with a walking area leading past the backside of the Fulton Library, up to the Broadway Street Bridge.

“We hope that people will be imaginative and use this as a foundation for different development,” Jerred said. “We hope that it’s a driver for economic development. This is really a reason that got me motivated, trying to think about, what do you have here that people can really attach themselves to? It’s a reason to increase pedestrian traffic and bring people here to do things, you know?”

The CNS Company and Upstate Construction will create the project. The project is slated to be finished by spring 2021.

Source URL: https://oswegocountytoday.com/news/fulton/indian-point-park-celebrates-multi-use-trail-groundbreaking-in-fulton/

---