Leadership Cayuga’s Class of ’07 Report on Market Street Park Waterfront Development

INTRODUCTION
The Planning and Economic Development department for the city of Auburn is constantly looking to better the community by improving the quality of life, economic health, and structural quality of our city. The planners search for funding to perform these community improvement projects. One such endeavor in 2005 had a very positive response and was well underway. The plan was to turn the Market Street Park in downtown Auburn into a kayak and angling park, a plan that tied in with a series of other downtown revitalization projects that the department has taken on. Funding for the project was approved on a match grant basis, but later studies showed that a kayak park would prove to be a liability in the downtown area.

Development of the Owasco riverfront has been a topic in front of the planning board for decades and has failed to receive funding until this point. Amending the proposal that secured the grants is in process. The purpose of this project is to offer a recommendation for the remodel of the park that takes into account previous proposals, similar waterfront revitalizations performed in other communities, and business and public surveys to assess the local surrounding businesses sentiments, as well as the public’s interest in such a project.

PROPOSAL
With all of this information at hand, a conceptual proposal for developing the waterfront at Market Street Park was drafted. This plan looks to cater to the local businesses and general public while taking example from previous efforts to revitalize the downtown park and from different successful remodels nationwide. The main goal of this proposal is to create a park development plan that Auburn can use and be proud of. As the past proposals aimed to do, this proposal looks to create a park that has educational, historical, and cultural benefits.

Rename the park “Hardenbergh Park”

John Hardenbergh founded the city of Auburn in 1793. A veteran of the American Revolution, he settled in the area and formed the town of Hardenbergh’s Corners. His settlement was actually located in what is now the Market Street Park, and is marked as an historical site, across the street from the fire department. Because of this, the park has historical and cultural significance to the city of Auburn. Renaming the park would also help to reinvent and remarket the renovated park that many Auburnians are currently unfamiliar with anyways. The name of the park could be incorporated into many of the proposed features and would help to make the remodel a cohesive project.

Update benches in the park

A tour of the current park reveals that an adequate amount of benches were previously installed. While not the most stylish fixtures, these benches performed their function to date. Unfortunately, these benches have started to deteriorate, as they are made of concrete and wood that has not been kept up. Being in central New York, this park is highly susceptible to weathering. New benches should replace the old ones, being made of a more weather-resistant material. For instance, a plastisol or thermoplastic fixture, which is designed with the strength of metal while being UV and weather resistant, would be a good replacement, as these materials are highly washable, low maintenance, and durable to the elements.

Add picnic tables

As indicated numerous times, the inclusion of picnic tables in the park would make it a destination for locals to enjoy their afternoon lunch breaks. These tables should be spread throughout the park. Because space is limited, we would suggest incorporating 3 picnic tables into the redesign, which will minimize the loss of space while adding a new level of functionality to the park. Keep in mind that at least one of these tables should be handicap-accessible.

Update the fencing along the waterfront

Currently, the edge of the water through the park is bound with a dated green chain link fence that is in disrepair, coming apart in many sections. This fence is an unattractive site and hurts the scenic quality of the park when looking into or around the park. While the fence is in place for safety, a recommendation is being made to update the fence to match the fencing found on the current pavilion and river overlook. This idea is intended to address the fact that 81% of the public felt the scenic values of the park are important and 91% feel that landscaping is important.

Renovate the pavilion

On the east end of the Market Street Park stands a nice pavilion. The pavilion includes a paved and level viewing area in front of the pavilion. Again, while functional, this feature is now beginning to show signs of weathering and age. It is being recommended that a new, wider pavilion be constructed and that the viewing area in front of the stage be replaced with a gradual sloping lawn. This will provide a viewing area for the new pavilion. Perhaps the most costly renovation that is suggested, this one will address the basic desire of the public to have a reason to come to the park. Such a venue would provide a desirable place to hold functions, such as concerts, movie showings, benefits, and social events, which are all events that the majority of the public indicated they would be likely to attend in the park. Grading the slope in front of the pavilion makes viewing easier for all while, at the same time, leaving a gradual run that can be used for other features if needed during a gathering.

Add a footbridge at the current outlook on the west side of the park

The addition of a footbridge to the park has been suggested in previous proposals and was seen in many of the national examples. Such a feature accomplishes two main goals: it will add to the scenic value of the river and it will tie the park on the north and south banks of the Owasco River together. Such a footbridge would open the park to downtown Auburn as well, tying the renovation into the downtown revitalization that is underway. This footbridge should tie in with walkways and park signage, perhaps incorporating a salutary etching at the foot of the bridge.

Update walkways

Throughout the park on the north side of the river are stone walkways that are in need of repair. The current condition of the walkway is dangerous in spots, which may be a factor adding to the conception that the park is unsafe. Implementing a more durable substrate to existing paths would make them last longer and require fewer repairs, such as cobblestone pavers. These would add to the aesthetic of the park and create a smoother, safer walkway.

The new walkway can also be used as a means to tie the 3 parks of the area together. A new path that starts in the chess park across the street from Wegman’s Food Market could be constructed and cross West Genesee Street, run along the south wall of the river, and cross Rte. 34 N, ending in the Harriet Tubman Park. The same walkway should replace the current stone paths within the park on the north side of the river. If the city ever receives future funding for developing the waterfront beyond the downtown area, this path could be tied into a potential river walk, much like those mentioned in virtually all case studies.

Repair/replace existing lighting features

As safety appears to be a high concern with the park, a recommendation to update lighting fixtures within the park is in order. Existing lights are often dim or broken, some being completely removed from the park and replaced by caps. To tie in with the renovation of downtown, the park should incorporate the acorn-style fixtures that have been implemented along Genesee St. These fixtures add to the decoration, landscaping, and safety of the park, all concerns of the potential users of the space. Additionally, path lights similar to the ones used at Emerson Park should be incorporated to light the main path through the park.

Add lights in the retaining walls of the Owasco River

Taking example from the canal in Baldwinsville, NY, lights should be incorporated in the retaining walls of the Owasco River, facing the water. Such an incorporation will add to the beauty of the park at night, not to mention the overall illumination of the area. This feature would be an attraction in and of itself.

Update general landscaping of the park

Many older trees exist in the park and appear to be healthy and full. However, some areas of the park are somewhat neglected. While it is a small area of the park, the southern wall of the river is currently overrun with shrubs and thorny plants. A drinking fountain in disrepair is sitting in the middle of the park. Multiple tree stumps from previous cuttings are jutting out of the ground about a foot on the east side of the park. The park is riddled with remnants from lighting fixture removal. Areas such as these should be landscaped. Again, the general public strongly agrees that landscaping the park correctly is a very important aesthetic quality that could sway the public’s decision to use the park.

General leveling of the park

As stated in previous proposals, if the ground level is raised in the park, the scenic views of the river will benefit. Such a plan should take into account the preservation of the established trees and maintaining a safe barrier to the water. The final plan should incorporate raising the ground about 1½ -2 feet by the retaining wall and subtly altering the levels in other spots to maximize viewing.

Bringing together all of these modifications would add to the utility, aesthetics, and safety of the park. Again, these are all qualities that the local businesses and general public desire in the park renovation. The newly designed park would now have increased cultural, environmental, and historical value, all important aspects of previous proposals. Such a plan is also the first step toward a successful river-wide waterfront development, much like those outlined in each case study mentioned previously.

BACKGROUND
In 2005, the city of Auburn was approved for grant monies to rehabilitate the Owasco riverfront. This money was in the form of two $250,000 match grants for the state. The grants were intended to be used as phase one funding for the ~10 acre site in downtown Auburn. Development of this area is planned to be a two- phase process, all of which Trowbridge & Wolf Landscape Architects is developing plan for. The area of interest is bounded on the north by the buildings on Market Street, the east by the eastern arm of Loop Rd., the south by the northern arm of Loop Rd., and on the west by eastbound route 20/ Franklin Street. Within this ~10 acre area exists a ~2 acre ‘focus area’, which was to be the focus of the grant.

Currently, the site is an urban park located in downtown Auburn (Fig. 1). The entire area is surrounded by roads, some with as many as 4 lanes. At this time, the buildings in the area surrounding the park are the police station, the fire station, various commercial properties, and restaurants.

Within the park, the river runs through a channel built by the Army Corp. of Engineers after the 1972 flood brought on by hurricane Agnes. The walls were built of concrete, with some sections made of limestone. Heavy vegetation and naturalized banks exist on the riverbanks east of the site.

The original proposal for funding described using the proposed funding for several rehabilitation and beautification projects, as well as design and construction of these new items. This plan ties in with Auburn’s downtown revitalization project, which is geared to making Auburn’s downtown into a setting for new business and redevelopment. With this in mind, the proposal outlined a new promenade at the water’s edge, rehabilitation of the park, development of two new overlook parks on the south bank of the river to create fishing and boating opportunities, revising traffic in the area, adding benches, decorative lighting, etc. The centerpiece of the plan included turning the park into a kayak and angling park. This would have attracted outdoorsmen from all over the county, theoretically, and would have included their input on the development process.

The implementation of this plan would move parking spaces from the park across Market Street to the business fronts. Landscaping plans included simple lawn and shading trees, as well as slope grading that would bring the promenade and the park up to the same elevation as Market Street, which would allow for better views of the river. Traffic calming would consist of curb bump-outs, which shortens the pedestrian crossing distance on West Genesee St.

While this plan received great fanfare and was passed for grant monies, further studies revealed that this proposal could not move ahead as planned.

After the grant was approved, the city of Auburn was given a $90,000 grant to conduct a feasibility study for the kayak park remodel. An assessment group from Colorado came in to review the site and found that the downtown park was unsuitable for kayaking, stating numerous adverse conditions. There is a 42 inch sewer main that cannot be moved that runs underneath the West Genesee St. bridge. Travel from the end of the proposed kayak course to the beginning with a kayak would be dangerous along the main city streets. Water access in the middle of downtown opens a whole slew of liability issues. Possible unfavorable environmental factors that would come with regular water releases from the Owasco dam were all cited as major discouraging factors, as this would raise red flags with various government agencies, like the EPA and the DEC.

HISTORY
Owasco River has been referred to as the “biggest little river in the world”. By 1840, 10 dams were built on the river to supply power to manufacturing businesses along the corridor. Albert Mayer, architect and urban planner, said that the river could be developed in a romantic and unique way and that it would attract visitors from afar. With this in mind, many planners have looked to the Owasco River for development purposes.

In the past, various proposals have been created by the Auburn planning board to develop the Owasco river waterfront. These proposals have never come to fruition, however, because either funding hadn’t come through or the proposal failed to become a priority of the city council. The first proposal was submitted February 1970 and was followed by various separate proposals in the following years.

In February of 1970, the planning board submitted a proposal titled “Revised Land Use Plan”. The plan focused on the “Urban Renewal Project”, a project prepared by Stuart MacKay. This proposal was submitted around the time that the arterial (rt. 5&20) was built. The proposal wanted Auburn to “attain excellence in its regional role as an industrial, business, commercial, cultural, governmental, educational, recreational, and residential community” by the year 2000. The plan called for encouraging growth of existing industrial, commercial and business areas by providing development activity. Tourism was considered a valuable industry that could be enhanced by protecting and enhancing areas of potential recreation. It looked to improve livability of existing & future residential areas, as it said that development should also provide for additional housing. The authors also wanted to encourage development of culture & education, while improving the aesthetic qualities of the city. This plan also called for the development of an efficient and safe transportation network. It also stated that the city of Auburn must protect the natural environment.

This rather broad blanket recommendation did little to offer a plan for developing the city, but it was the first mention of developing the Owasco River. The study points out that no in-depth study of the river had ever been done and that it was an important step in the development of the city.

In May 1971, the idea of riverfront development was again addressed in a largely ambitious study presented by the Cayuga County Development team titled “Owasco River, New Neighborhood, Motel”. In this proposal, the development team recognized the potentials of the Owasco River. The river has 14 miles of riverfront that could be developed to have great scenic value, all of which this proposal aimed to cover. Hiking, picnicking, canoeing, and fishing were all forms of recreational tourism that would be brought to the area by developing the riverfront. Again, these planners sited the educational potential of the riverfront, mostly for the historical value of the river in central New York.

In specific, the proposal wanted to create a riverfront plan that would provide attractive and functional use of riverfront. Recreation on the river could be used a link to adjacent areas. Remnants from former industry along the river left decrepit structures, which led the planners to call for the demolition of old buildings. Abandoned railroad tracks along the riverfront also needed to be removed. The plan called for the creation of bridges for scenic views of the waterfront and beautification of the prison wall. Recreational access to the redesigned river also would require new access roads and off-street parking. Again, this group wanted to tie the development into residential rehabilitation by using it as a test bed for new architectural designs, planning, and concepts. To round out the proposal, the group was looking to tie in commercial properties in the form of hotels and motels for economic purposes. The county planners stressed that recreation and the concept of open space and environmental conservation should all be incorporated into this design. Boating, swimming, fishing, picnicking, hiking, riding, and cycling were all touted as potential uses for the newly redesigned riverfront.

One major problem that the board addressed was the issue of water pollution. At the time of this proposal, there was chemical, sewage and storm water pollution in the river at a level that caused the river to be rated as “low quality” between Owasco lake and Throopsville. Furthermore, environmental blight was mentioned, using decrepit buildings, eroded shoreline, and litter as examples. At that time, plans were underway to fix pollution problems, namely Auburn’s Separation Program and a secondary sewage treatment plant. The Separation Program was developed out of the need of the city to update storm and sewer lines. The secondary sewage treatment plant was developed to mitigate overflow during storm events. Both projects were completed and pollution in the water has now been minimalized, but at the time of the proposal, these obstacles would have prevented progress.

The plan called for specific needs that the county would have in order to implement these general plans for the river. For instance, the plan called for the establishment of a revolving fund to obtain waterfront property. The plan went on to describe how to garner public support for the effort and how to secure private funding. It was also realized at this time that development of the entire river corridor would require the cooperation of 5 local jurisdictions, state government, and federal government. As an end to these means, the plan called for the creation of the “Owasco River Development District”, a group that would have special regulations that would need to be adopted into local ordinances, which would expedite the efforts. Financially, the plan called for funding from all levels of government, siting HUD projects as a source of grants for the residential tie-in and working with NYSEG to acquire land rights along the riverfront. While these ideas were noble, it was determined that the public wasn’t receptive to giving up waterfront land and paying higher taxes to develop the Owasco River.

In June of 1972, a group of 22 students from SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry conducted research on the river to determine the assets of the water body and created “Urban Study: Auburn, NY”, a report that gave their insight on development. In the report, the students recognized the river as a source of electrical power, as well as a potential recreational gold mine. On the downside, the report stated: “However, in the vicinity of the Central Business District, the circulation system seems to have little sensitivity toward the natural river system; street layout is more rigid and geometric, and imposed upon the landscape rather then deriving its form from and complementing the landscaping. Development, in general, also seems to have the same relationship with the river.”

The group concluded by stating that the Owasco River must be recognized as a positive environmental element, being developed as part of a recreational open-space system.

In 1973, hurricane Agnes caused an extreme flood event in Auburn, at which point the ACOE came in and developed the retaining walls on the downtown river. The talks of developing the riverfront ceased for almost 2 decades, a time in which Auburn went through an economic decline. It wasn’t until 1991 that the river was once again mentioned in proposal.

The county development office scripted “City of Auburn Comprehensive Plan” in May of 1991, this time calling on the expertise of Nutter Associates and The Saratoga Association. The plan was a proposal for improving the city as a whole. The report stressed the need to develop better river access and recommended retaining vacant historic buildings for alternate uses. The group reported that the riverfront in downtown Auburn should be regarded as an amenity and marketed as the city’s tie to Owasco Lake. The group reported that the river is under-utilized in regards to its recreational potential. The group commented that the view of the river was obscured by the concrete flood walls that the ACOE installed and mentioned that Auburn lacked a trail system, hinting that the river had potential for such a feature. Like previous proposals, this one was tabled indefinitely.

Again in 2001 a proposal for the development of the riverfront was put forth for discussion. “The Owasco Riverfront Park Project” was a waterfront redevelopment proposal along the edge of the Owasco River as it flows through downtown Auburn, whose primary suggestions were to expand the Market Street Park where it stands and establishing an extension of the same park to the south side of the river. The plan also called for water access to become available. The proposal also discussed the opportunity to create a permanent park setting for use by the Farmer’s Market, which currently resides only a short distance from the proposed area on Genesee Street in front of Wegman’s. This would have been achieved by eliminating or reducing the size of Loop Road, making room for the expansion of the park onto the south side of the river. The sides of the park would be made accessible by a pedestrian bridge that would connect the north and south sides of the river. Terraces were also recommended to replace the massive concrete retaining walls to provide such described water access. This proposal suggested that funding could come from a sizable state grant, the remainder being paid for by the city. This proposal gained some ground and ultimately led to the proposal of 2005 discussed previously.

The recurring themes seen throughout these proposals were a desire to make the river a center of recreation, creating a centerpiece for culture and history, and creating an environmentally friendly landscaping that has high aesthetic value.

CASE STUDIES
In the midst of the past 40 years of development, the Owasco River has failed to move forward. Auburn is not unique in its desire to develop the waterfront. In fact, several excellent examples of development have occurred in the past century and should be viewed as examples of what can be done. While the scale of some of these projects seems different than the development of the river in downtown Auburn, the concepts are more similar than they may appear.

For instance, development of the American River in Sacramento, California can be looked at as positive community involvement in the creation of beneficial waterfront. The river has a prominent place in United States history for being the site of Sutter's Mill, where gold was found in 1848, leading to the California Gold Rush. It runs from the Sierra Mountains through Sacramento and flows into the Sacramento River on its way to San Francisco Bay. The river is best known for its whitewater rapids.

The American river runs through the city of Sacramento creating 23 miles of riverfront. The county refers to this as the "jewel of Sacramento." More than 5 million visitors enjoy this unique wildlife and recreation area annually. Fishing, boating and rafting opportunities lure water enthusiasts. Picnic sites, golfing, guided natural and historic tours are just steps away from the paved trails. Access to the Parkway is available at various points off of the main highway, Highway 50.

The development of the riverfront has been a hot topic since as early as 1915. The city of Sacramento has always considered the development of the riverfront in the city an important decision and even included the park in its earliest planning maps. In 1959, the county of Sacramento established a parks and recreation board. The board initiated the acquisition of lands adjacent to the river, and by 1962, the boards’ plans for the American river Parkway Plan were underway.

The development of the riverfront is an ongoing project that is constantly updated. The main goals of the planning board of Sacramento are preserving naturalistic open space and protecting environmental quality within the urban environment and contributing to the provision of recreational opportunity in the Sacramento area.

• On-going management of the parkway’s natural resources.
• Accommodation of the demand for passive, unstructured, river-oriented recreational pursuits in a natural environment which are not normally provided by other county recreational facilities, while minimizing environmental impact
• Limitation on the use of the parkway to prevent overuse and to preserve the environmental quality of the parkway.
• Coordination and cooperation in the parkway planning and management efforts.
• Balance of the preservation of naturalistic open space and habitat within the urban area with the provision of active recreational facilities to server the recreational needs of the community.

Another example closer to home is that of Point State Park. This 36 acre state park is located in the city of Pittsburgh, Pa and was the site of a former military fort. After military use ceased, the area was converted for business uses. Upon the deterioration of the buildings, the area was reclaimed for use as a state park. The park is located on a point where three rivers meet, creating a focal point for the city’s recreation and cultural activities.

The park is currently undergoing a $35 million dollar renovation project funded by a $25 million dollar state grant with an additional $7.1 million grant for general contracting. The remainder of the costs will be covered by private sources.

This park, being designated as a National Historic Landmark, was allowed federal funding. While the Owasco River project would not be entitled to this type of funding, the idea of obtaining funding from public and private sources is one that Auburn could incorporate into its plan for development.

Another example of waterfront development is found at Fox River in Wisconsin. Much like the Owasco River, Fox River, in central and eastern Wisconsin, has historically been used by many industries for the power gained from it. Today, along the lower edge of the Fox River, 24 paper and pulp mills employ over fifty thousand people. The growth and staying power of this industry has helped the region thrive. While this is good for the economy, a major drawback to this vibrant industry that lines the river is the effect it has had on the environment. Little was done about pollution in the river until after 1972 when federal legislation was passed to force the remediation of the area.

For many years, the bordering city of Oshkosh, WI has aimed to revitalize the waterfront within the city. With the successful revitalization of a riverfront amphitheater, the city began to explore options for a riverfront park and solid riverfront revitalization plans.

The city chose to focus on only the area of the river that fell within the downtown area. The existing conditions included a number of varying types of shorelines, public access sites, and businesses along the river. They took into consideration the current river conditions, such as the changes in river elevation, river ice, the flow of the river, and storm driven waves. They used these conditions in their design. Lastly, the city already has developed a riverside park that has also gone through a redesign. This park allows space for events, a public walk, and public access to the river with floating docks.

In the design of the Riverwalk, the city of Oshkosh successfully connected it to adjacent neighborhoods, destinations, and with the regional state trail. In doing this, they have allowed for a number of ways that people can not only access the Riverwalk, but also access the downtown area. They selected materials that would be low-maintenance, visually appealing, and that would be vandal resistant. They made the entire Riverwalk user-friendly and well-lit to give the area a welcoming feeling.

Overall, the city has plans in place to begin work on a riverfront that will attract visitors and residents alike using a plan that contains many concepts that could and should probably be incorporated into Auburn’s revitalization.

The San Antonio River development is another example of a successful riverfront revitalization project. The project began with a proposal to build a river walk in 1929. The construction of the river walk benefited significantly from the New Deal programs that characterized the Great Depression. On March 14th 1941, a river parade and carnival was held to celebrate the completion of rock walls, stairs, footbridges and other improvements. Since then, the river walk has been extended and improved upon significantly both by the city and the state.

While San Antonio is such a large city, and this project was subject to depression-era funding from the New Deal, it contains many of the same concepts that Auburn would like to incorporate. A river walk is a feature that the Owasco River could incorporate in future funding and planners should keep such examples in mind.

Finally, the Spokane River development in Spokane, WA offers one final example of riverfront planning with features similar to those requested in Auburn’s previous proposals. The Spokane River flows 111 miles from Lake Coeur d'Alene, Idaho to meet up with the Columbia River. The River is one of the most prominent features of the Spokane, WA areas encouraging recreational activity and a very aesthetic tourism feature. The river also suupplies six dams generating hydroelectric power for its communities.

This river also served as the gathering point for the beginning of the metropolitan area of Spokane in the early 1870s. Two squatters came and built a small saw mill along the south bank of the river. The saw mill expanded and then added a bank and other amentities to the city. With the abundance of salmon in the river, the area was able to draw people. Eventually the development of hydroelectric power was sought in the area with the falls nearby.

In 1974, Spokane had the opportunity to host the World's Fair. The theme that year was environmentally friendly, in response to the growing concern of urban developments on the environment. They removed a century worth of railroad that had once been the core of the city and developed it into a park and venues for the fair. The Expo site was developed into a 100 acre Riverfront Park containing the US Pavilion and the Clocktower; still significant features of Spokane today. Since the Expo, the park has been kept up and developed more into a tourist attraction with well landscaped walkways, activities and new buildings including an IMAX theater.

All of the aforementioned waterfront development projects show successful planning that came to fruition, resulting in waterfront features much like those that Auburn has sought to incorporate in all of its past proposals. These programs also show that the city needs to make the riverfront a priority for development in order for progress to occur.

PUBLIC SURVEY
For a riverfront project to come to fruition in the city of Auburn, it would need the backing of the general public. Public support is what drives the official agenda of the city council. The best way to demonstrate the wants and needs of the public is through a survey.

A paper and phone survey was conducted between March and May in the city of Auburn to assess the level of public support and concerns regarding the development of the Market Street Park. To obtain a statistically significant random sample of the Auburn population, 377 surveys were completed. This number is derived from Auburn’s population of ~27,900, a confidence level of 95%, and a confidence interval of 5 points. Of the 377 surveys run, 322 surveys were completed.

For this study, only 18 + year old residents of the 13021 area code were surveyed. The respondents were asked a series of 10 questions (see attached survey for reference).

Of those surveyed, 73% believed that revitalizing downtown Auburn, as a whole, was an important topic. Respondents expressed great interest in the inclusion of seating, improved landscaping, scenic views, walking areas, and picnic tables in the renovation of the waterfront at Market Street park.

When asked what events they were likely to attend at the park, Auburnians responded that they were most likely to attend benefits, entertainment/movies, social events, music/concert events, and festivals. Respondents said they were less likely to attend sporting or dancing events in the park.

Regarding safety, this survey turned out a series of statistics that should be addressed by a proposal for renovation. Only 49% of respondents felt that market Street Park is a safe place to go. Of those that said it wasn't a safe place to go, 97% would reconsider the safety of the park if renovations were made. 70% of women surveyed think that the Market Street Park is and unsafe place. Additionally, 52% of those who have lived in the Auburn area for more than 20 years think that Market Street Park is unsafe. Finally, 39% of those who have lived here less than 5 years think that Market Street Park is unsafe.

From this, it becomes apparent that the general population perceives the park as a somewhat dangerous place to go. This seems counter-intuitive, considering that the police and fire departments border the park. On the same token, the Auburn public feels that renovations to downtown are very important and if this park were developed into a venue for entertainment activities, could become a local hotspot in the downtown area.

BUSINESS SURVEY
Upon visiting the Market Street Park, one can see that many businesses surround the lot of land. If a remodel is to happen at the park, it should theoretically cater somewhat to the needs of these local businesses in some capacity, as they have potential to increase their use of the park on a daily basis. To gain a greater appreciation for the needs of the business community local to the park, an informal discussion session was conducted with several workers in the businesses adjacent to the park. Workers were available for comment at Unity House, Meyer Bookbinding, Robin’s Hair Care, and Eliminator Automotive.

The employees at Unity House were asked about their use of the park. Half of those questioned said that they never use the park and the other half said they take occasional lunch breaks there, weather permitting. It was noted that 45 people are employed at Unity House, an organization that works with mentally disabled persons, as well as those with chemical dependencies. One worker commented that if the park had picnic tables, it would be much easier to use the park for lunch breaks for everyone at the business.

Mr. Meyer of Meyer Bookbinding had a very negative reflection of the park. Meyer Bookbinding employs on full time and one part time employee. The second floor of the establishment is used as a 9 person rooming house. Mr. Meyer indicated that he felt the park was under-utilized. Siting lack of parking and poor park maintenance as major problems, Mr. Meyer also agreed that picnic tables would be a good addition to the park, but that conditions have been so poor for so long that he is looking to move his business.

The employees of Robin’s Hair Care felt rather indifferent towards the park. Six employees work at the establishment, all of which said that they do not use the park for anything. Their idea of a remediation for the park was to pave the whole thing and make it a parking lot. They feel that their patrons have to walk too far to get to their business and that the metered parking often creates problems in this situation, where customers are often required to sit for hours.

At Eliminator Automotive, the 5 employees present indicated that they do not use the park personally, but felt that the park was fine. They indicated that they would appreciate the installation of picnic tables in the park, and also commented that they would also like food vendors in the park.

All of those interviewed had concerns about the crows of Auburn. They said that the crows are a nuisance when the weather is nice and felt that this deters people from coming to the park regularly. They also noted that events in the park are often disturbed by the police department, which impedes the flow of traffic into and out of these Market Street businesses.

From these conversations, it can be deduced that the businesses do not consider the park an asset to their business. Adding picnic tables to the park would be a great start, but this park also doubles as the front yard of these businesses. If the park is dirty, it has a negative impact on the images of these businesses. As indicated by the employees of Market Street, a better maintenance plan should be incorporated into any revitalization attempt.

SUGGESTIONS FOR FUNDING
The grants awarded to Auburn in 2005 are the first step in funding this project. These match grants will supply in excess of $300,000, provided that the funds are matched by local funding sources. The city has already planned to match these funds with a combination of real property value, in-kind construction costs, and in-kind staff costs. In addition to this, other potential sources of funding could potentially come from state politicians, inclusion in a series of venues being developed, and from actual venue proceeds.

Politicians in the state of New York are responsible for budget monies within their districts. Each elected official typically has a form of a “member item”, or money that can be written into his or her budget to fund a specific project within their district. Currently, Mike Nozzolio should be a prime candidate to lobby. He is the founder of the Blueprint group and this renovation ties directly to the goals his groups seeks to achieve. Another suggestion would be for our local representatives to use their monies toward the project. For this to be possible, a request would be made of a state or county legislator, senator, etc. in the fall, a process that is now required to allow items to be added to their budget. If political support for this project can be made an agenda item, then funding could be made possible. A second source of potential funding could be the inclusion of this new venue in the proposed theater festival that the Blueprint group seeks to bring to Auburn. The Blueprint group is a special committee formed by Mike Nozzolio that is offering their recommendations for improving the city of Auburn. One of the projects they have recommended include securing funding for the renovation of performing arts venues in the city, making the town a prime candidate to support a summer theater festival. The plan aims to renovate buildings in need of repair, while, at the same time, generating revenue throughout the city. If this park’s pavilion meets the requirements of a venue for this plan, then the park could also secure funding from the project.

One final suggestion for possible funding sources would be to utilize the park as a venue for a self-promoting fundraiser. The event could be an annual festival, much like events that have been held in the park in previous years. One such event was the annual 3 Steps Faire, named as such because of the 3 steps on the pavilion. The event, geared toward the young adult demographic, was a free admission, day-long concert showcasing local music acts. While money was not raised by collecting admission, raffles, food, and music cd sales were used to generate funding that went to a scholarship fund at Cayuga Community College in memory of Jessica Onderdonk, a local teen who died in a car accident. The event went on for 3 years and raised thousands of dollars. From this example, the city could devise and plan a fundraiser with much better marketing and resulting turnout, which could potentially generate a good source of funding for the park.

Bringing these monies from all these sources could potentially cover and exceed the city’s requirements for match funding. If this is the case, the city should look to bolstering its park maintenance program as a whole to keep the parks safe and clean. Additionally, the park should receive a high level of effort in planning to make sure that the park is well coordinated with respect to events, particularly the annual theater festival the Blueprint group looks to establish.

CONCLUSION
The grant for work on the riverfront project in downtown Auburn has been granted, a milestone for which no previous renovations have managed to obtain with much success. While the plan implementation needs to be changed, for safety reasons, to remove the kayak park, the city of Auburn should take this opportunity to incorporate the great ideas of past proposals, nationwide examples, and the public interest. The changes proposed in this report call for minor improvements upon a great foundation that the park already offers, rather than recreating the park to cater to a select group of outdoorsman. These renovations will spur public interest in, and patronage to, the park. With the proper marketing, maintenance, and coordination of the park, Market Street park could become the cultural, historical, and scenic reality of that which many have envisioned.

Volume 2.6:

• Summer Events for 2007

• Merry-Go-Round Playhouse Announces "All Tickets On Sale Now!"

• New Executive Director of Downtown Auburn Buiness Improvement District Announced

• Is there a house on your block, or on your way to work that is vacant or in need of attention?

• Leadership Cayuga’s Class of ’07: Report on Market Street Park Waterfront Development