Hochul helps open new projects in Watkins

WATKINS GLEN--Local and county officials were joined by Lt. Gov. Kathy Hochul for the ribbon cutting of the roughly $5 million project at Clute Park Tuesday, June 22. The renovation has brought Clute Park a new year-round pavilion, a seasonal splash pad, a seasonal ice rink and more.
"This is a world-class facility, and that is not an overstatement because I have seen enough to make declarations like that and I think it is really icing on the cake for a community that has really risen," said Hochul.
Clute Park, which according to workers on site is 98 percent finished and on track to be totally finished by July 4th, adds to Watkins Glen's broad appeal.
"You have so many assets here, the state park is extraordinary," Hochul commented.
Hochul was also impressed with the work that went into making it happen.
"It is so refreshing to see the resiliency of this community, how people here came back, and you continue with a project like this, with a groundbreaking, and now a ribbon-cutting all during the time of a pandemic, that's amazing," Hochul stated.
Considering the economic hardship the area was facing during COVID makes it all the more impressive, Hochul added.
"This is just one more step in the transformation that is occurring within Watkins Glen and the county as a whole," said Tim O'Hearn, Schuyler County Administrator.
Also speaking prior to the ribbon-cutting were Assemblyman Phil Palmesano and State Senator Tom O'Mara, both of whom thanked Gov. Andrew Cuomo and the state for investing the money into Clute Park and by extension Watkins Glen.
Hochul also singled out Judy McKinney Cherry, executive director of the Schuyler County Partnership for Economic Development, for praise.
"(Cherry) works tirelessly for (Schuyler County)," said Hochul.
Part of the $10 million in funding received by Watkins Glen from the Downtown Revitalization Initiative, the Clute Park redevelopment has been done in a way designed to make the park a year-round attraction.
Along with the new 4,200 square foot pavilion that can be used year-round when winter comes the splash pad will give way to an outdoor ice rink.
"It is ingenious, I love the concept," said Hochul.
The rink is expected to open to the public in November.
Of the state funding, $2.6 million came from DRI funds with the rest being provided in the form of $2.1 million in funding from Local Waterfront Revitalization Program grants from the Environmental Protection Fund. $415,000 came from the Office of New York State Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation.
While work at the park required the removal of 36 trees 85 have been replanted along with 1,600 additional plants throughout the park.
Also on Tuesday, a ribbon-cutting was held with Lt. Gov. Hochul at the Glen Lake Apartments in the village. Also a recipient of significant state funding, the building features 34 apartments and a daycare facility on the first floor.
Of the 34 apartments, six have been designated to serve as supportive homes reserved for individuals with intellectual or developmental disabilities. The daycare on the first floor is a 7,300 square foot area designed to provide educational opportunities for children under age five and enrollment is not predicated upon living on site.
Funding for the apartment complex, which is being run through a partnership between the Watkins Glen Housing Authority and Ithaca Neighborhood Housing Services, received $7.5 million in federal and state Low-Income Housing Tax Credits, $2.6 million in subsidies from New York State Homes and Community Renewal (HCR), $824,000 in capital funds from the New York State Office for People With Developmental Disabilities (OPWDD), and $500,000 from the Downtown Revitalization Initiative (DRI).