We have commenced our Erie Canal Historic Site Rejuvenation project along the Empire State/Shoreline Trail in the Town of Tonawanda. We received donations from several clubs in our Rotary/Niagara River Partnership as well as a $150,000 grant from the Buffalo and Erie County Greenway Committee. The work is in conjunction with the Erie Canal Bicentennial and the World Canals Conference being held in Buffalo September 21-25.
The first contractor on site was Let's Goat Buffalo to begin eradication of the overwhelming invasive plants found on the site. The site is part of the Erie County Parks system and they, along with the Niagara River Greenway and the Historical Societies of the Tonawandas, are partnered to deliver the project.
The club has hired an engineering firm and landscape designer who are developing plans to bring in native pollinator plants, native shrubs, and trees. The site is overgrown with buckthorn and phragmites and the goats eat the invasive plants while sterilizing those seeds during digestion. In addition to native plantings, accessible pathways, historic interpretive signage, a bicycle pavilion, bike repair station, bike racks and benches will be installed. Below is a concept plan for development. Future additions hopefully will include public art installations.
PHOTO: Jim Jones, Tonawanda Rotary Chair, Jimbo McDonald, Deputy Commissioner Erie County Parks, Josh Konovitz, Erie County Forester along with "crew" from Let's Goat Buffalo standing on the original 200-year-old Erie Canal towpath
In addition to being visible by the conference attendees from around the world, both the Ride for Roswell and the Ride the Erie Canal events will be passing by the site, and you can too if you are out along the beautiful Niagara River Shoreline Trail.