Kathy Hochul announced the start of construction of two resiliency projects, totaling more than $4 million in grant funding, awarded to Cayuga County through New York State’s Resiliency and Economic Development Initiative (REDI).
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The Sterling Nature Center, located on the south shore of Lake Ontario, encompasses over 1,400 acres of land and features observation decks, an existing Interpretive Building, more than nine miles of trails, and a variety of ecosystems.
The first project, a new interpretative building, that was awarded $3.2 million by the REDI Commission, will provide enhanced climate resiliency, improve tourism, and promote environmental education at the Sterling Nature Center.
Once complete, the new Sterling Nature Center and Resiliency Educational Building will:
Reduce operational and maintenance costs at the site by utilizing green technology and sustainable practices;
Improve tourism offerings in the region by improving services and expanding programming and event opportunities; and
Inform and educate the public by providing a facility with sufficient space for education exhibits and programming related to green infrastructure, lakeshore protection, and climate resiliency.
Record high Lake Ontario water levels and extreme rainfall events have damaged or destroyed trails along the shoreline of the Sterling Nature Center.
In 2019, high Lake Ontario water levels and rain events destroyed a section of Old McIntyre Road, a park trail that is the only access point for emergency responders to this section of the shoreline.
The second REDI project was awarded $804,500 in grant funding to address stormwater issues that have degraded trails and negatively impacted visitor experience, as well as repair the damaged section of Old McIntyre Road to ensure continued access for emergency responders.
Mitigation measures to be implemented for this project include:
Green infrastructure, including a parking area, sidewalks, rain gardens, and wetlands;
Educational exhibits and programming related to green infrastructure;
Repairing and rerouting approximately four miles of hiking trails, including Dogwood, Lakeview, Heron, Bluff, Buttonbush, and Lake Trail; and
Restoring the damaged section of Old McIntyre Rd. ■