OSWEGO – Oswego’s Waterfront Project is now underway as three phases of the lake shore plan begin to unfold along Lake Ontario.
Start of construction on the $16 million dollar project began on June 25; the funding supported by New York State’s Resiliency and Economic Development Initiative (REDI), New York State Consolidated Funding Application (CFA) grants and Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) floodwater damage funds.
The International Pier alongside Wrights Marina will receive a $6 million upgrade as part of the lake shore project. The pier is currently a long, stone driveway that extends out into the harbor, with a city-owned building located at the end.
“The vision I have for the International Pier that we’ll be applying the $6 million dollars towards is turning what is now a gravel driveway out into our harbor, into a pedestrian oriented, friendly boardwalk where people can actually come out,” Oswego Mayor Billy Barlow said.
The mayor’s ideas include a boardwalk encasing the perimeter of the pier, a switchback trail in the center and a green space located at the end for picnics, concerts and localized events. Fountains and lights are also under consideration, along with public use for the former Yacht Club building.
“The key part of this project will be taking, what I believe, should be the most coveted, valuable piece of property, right?” Barlow said. “How many communities can actually say they have a pier going out into a harbor, and making it our most valuable and sought after piece of property rather than the underutilized gravel driveway you’re seeing there?”
Along with the pier, Wrights Landing Marina is receiving extensive renovations to their entire locality. Due to severe flooding and damage from high lake levels in 2017 and 2019, the marina is adding two feet in height to the ground level to avoid future damage.
“With the IJC’s (International Joint Commission) Plan 2014, it’s created the water level of Lake Ontario to rise higher than ever before. We’ve seen record highs in the last two out of three years, and Plan 2014 [has] only been implemented for three years,” Barlow said. “If you remember in 2019, I actually had to close Wrights Landing because it was totally flooded. So, raising the marina two feet will prevent us from ever having to close it in the future, and protect the parking lot, the docks and the amenities that we’re going to build here from being water damaged from wind, waves and rain.”
The marina will house a new Boater Access Center. The building will serve as the new ticket booth, welcome center and gift shop, with talks of a small restaurant being included. The Access Center will house public bathrooms for boaters and pedestrians, with staff maintaining upgraded fuel tanks for boater recreational use.
A new pedestrian trail joining Breitbeck Park to the marina is now under construction as well. The trail will be fully ADA accessible and will replace the steep staircase that was once located at the west end of the park. The new route will lead both to the Harbor Trail walkway and the pathway leading up to Breitbeck Park.
The original first-story bathrooms located at the marina have been upgraded for boaters, with the inclusion of a second story addition to the structure. The second-floor extension will house restrooms facing Breitbeck Park. The inclusion of the bathrooms will make it easier for all visitors in the park and at the marina.
A scenic overlook/seating area will be designed into the hillside overlooking the marina, the area similar to the seating area/fire-pits currently located within Breitbeck Park. The location will offer a beautiful view of the skyline and Wrights Landing.
Other improvements at the marina will include a state-of-the-art, modernized pavilion with a kitchen and furniture upgrades; the space being designed for rental use by the public and boaters. The old pavilion will be used as part of the new Waterfront Project on the Eastside of Oswego.
Other amenities at Wrights Landing will include a new kayak and paddle boat launch with a green space, new picnic tables and a fire-pit/seating area for the public and boaters to rent out. The docks will stay the same, remaining in their general areas.
Breitbeck Park is also receiving a few renovations, but that restoration project will be geared toward protecting the shoreline from further damage caused by rising lake levels. A barge, positioned outside the International Pier, will haul in massive rocks to be placed along the shore to prevent future erosion.
“If you walk Harbor Trail now, you’ll see a lot of the erosion and a lot of the land has washed away [by] the lake,” Barlow said. “The large rocks will deflect the water off [and] take pressure off the shoreline so that we preserve Harbor Trail and Breitbeck Park for many, many years to come.”
The Breitbeck Restoration Project is funded by FEMA. The International Pier and Wrights Landing Marina is funded through REDI and CFA. All construction at Wright’s Landing will be ADA accessible and the work will be completed by Harborfest 2021. The International Pier will be closed and under construction throughout 2021.
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Mayor Barlow is doing a great job with Oswego! It is nice to see Oswego moving ahead and making use of it’s waterfront. Now, if only an industry would come in to town!
Mayor Barlow, we need you in the whitehouse at some position!
When it comes time for election of mayor again you better win reelection because you have made Oswego better than it has been before