Article: State officials mark improvements at Wellesley Island, Grass Point State Parks

Unalam note: This is an article about a project at Wellesley Island State Park that we supplied glulam for in late Spring 2015. We are very happy to see that the new building is now open. We would like to thank Barry Halperin, architect from beardsley architects+engineers, who designed this project, for sharing the article with us and our customer on this job, Eagle Associates of Cazenovia, for choosing us to supply the glulam.


State officials mark improvements at Wellesley Island, Grass Point State Parks
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By GORDON BLOCK
WATERTOWN DAILY TIMES STAFF WRITER
PUBLISHED: SATURDAY, AUGUST 22, 2015 AT 12:30 AM


WELLESLEY ISLAND — Millions of dollars in improvements to parks were described as “transformative,” as their development was marked Friday.


“It’s more accessible, more welcoming,” said Rose H. Harvey, state parks commissioner. “It’s everything you want state parks to be.”


At Wellesley Island State Park, the improvements included a $2 million bathhouse at the park’s beach, which includes an improved concession area, arcade and covered pavilion.


“It’s about making it a family event, all day, on the river,” she said.


The arcade project will be finished over the winter by park staff.


The improvements also included $850,000 toward upgrading the park’s RV camping loop, making it full-service in its electric, water and sewage connections.


State officials and lawmakers toured the park’s improved facilities Friday morning.


The consolidation of the playground, pavilion and other amenities at one site, rather than a smaller pavilion and an adjacent barn across the street, was seen as an improvement for safety.


“The kids were constantly running in circles and crossing the road,” said Brian C. Thomas, regional capital facilities manager.


As the tour took place on the island, parks officials marked the creation of a new bathhouse at Grass Point State Park, at a cost of $735,000.


Ms. Harvey said research she’d seen indicated that every dollar in state funding for parks generated $7 in economic activity.


“It’s not only for us; it’s for the locals nearby,” she said. “You’ll see more use of the park, and those users will fan out.”


The money for the works comes from the state’s NY Parks 2020 program, which has infused $900 million for such efforts from 2011 to 2020.


“It’s a nice synergy,” Ms. Harvey said. “To be exercising, to be healthy, and at the same time helping the economy.”


In addition to the Jefferson County projects, state parks has invested about $1 million for an accessible trail at the Wilson Hill Wildlife Management Area, near Massena, that will feature multiple scenic outlooks.