New York Construction Report staff writer
Construction has started on a $3.2 million project awarded to the Village of Sackets Harbor, Jefferson County through the Resiliency and Economic Development Initiative (REDI).
Work will include climate resilient upgrades and improvements of waterfront greenspace at Market Square Park and other public waterfront sites.
“Through the REDI Program, we are assisting flood-prone communities in four regions, including the local municipalities and thousands of New Yorkers who call the shores of Lake Ontario and the St. Lawrence River home,” Gov. Kathy Hochul said in a statement. “New York State is committed to tackling climate change both by reducing climate-altering pollution and by investing to protect and prepare Lake Ontario shoreline communities for future extreme weather events.”
Market Square Park experienced historic flooding along the shores of Lake Ontario in 2017 and 2019, with the bulkhead and park sidewalk submerged and greenspace damaged and at risk of further flooding during future high-water events.
Construction will enhance public access to the waterfront at two locations within the downtown district, upgrade the Market Square Park pump station and Ontario Street wastewater treatment plant outfall and improve drainage at the Pickering Museum.
Proposed mitigation measures include:
- Raising the sheet pile wall, bulkhead, and waterfront of Market Square Park approximately two feet higher than current elevation.
- Installing an all-access waterfront plaza including Americans with Disabilities Act compliant sidewalks in Market Square Park.
- Installing 14-boat capacity floating docks with power/water pedestals and a sewage pump out station.
- Constructing three new waterfront greenspaces with hand boat launches or fishing piers.
- Expanding public parking areas.
- Shoreline stabilization at the Ontario Street wastewater treatment plant outfall.
- Installing pavers, wooden plank walkways, stone walls, stone piers, and new site plantings to improve the resiliency and appearance of the entrance to the Pickering Museum.
New York State established REDI to increase the resilience of shoreline communities and bolster economic development in the region. Since spring of 2019, 134 REDI funded local and regional projects have been launched, including 50 projects in the design phase, 39 projects in the construction phase, and 45 projects completed.
