Tonawanda, N.Y. (WBEN) - A new mixed federal and town investment for construction of a new multi-use trail is coming to Tonawanda to connect trails along River Road alongside the Niagara River to trails on Two Mile Creek Road.
Congressman Brian Higgins, New York State Senator Sean Ryan and Assemblyman Bill Conrad were all in attendance Wednesday afternoon announcing a $2.12 million dollar investment coming to connect the Two Mile Creek Trail with trails along River Road.
"The 1.33 mile path will provide a new connection between Two-Mile Creek Greenway Trail and the Niagara River Greenway Trail, which runs along Isle View Park. This stretch of roadway [Riverwalk Parkway], which is home to companies that employ over 500 workers currently has no sidewalks or bike lanes, making pedestrian and bicycle travel difficult at best," said Congressman Brian Higgins.
This new Riverwalk Parkway Trail, funded 80 percent [$1.7 million] by federal funds and 20 percent [$400,000] by the Town of Tonawanda, is a continued effort to improve bicycle travel, accessibility and safety across Western New York, according to the congressman.
"We have this park [Riverwalk Parkway] that's filling up with businesses, but there's neighborhoods on the other side. There's a bike path there and it's sort of stranded. So we had long conversations with the town and the people who run the park here and we figured we could bring a bike path straight through now to connect to the path in Niawanda [Park]," said Senator Sean Ryan.
"You look around here and nature's beauties all around us, especially in this community. This is giving people opportunities to explore that beauty by foot or bike. It's ultimately good for our health and wellness, the vibrancy of our community and businesses. A lot of people haven't had access to this part of the waterfront before, it's been industrial in the past. This is really opening up a big footprint, I think, for the town of Tonawanda," says New York State Assemblyman Bill Conrad, who also mentions that the town's funded portion, the $400,000, was 'ponied up' by the Ralph C. Wilson Foundation.
When will we start to see this project break ground?
"We are working through the grant agreement and then we'll enter into the design phase, it'd be tough to have a groundbreaking next year. I think more than likely, we're looking at a groundbreaking in the spring of 2024," said Town of Tonawanda Engineer, Matthew Hutton.
Click here to see a map of where this trail will be.