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Summer 2006 News about Wilmington’s Local Waterfront Revitalization Program (LWRP)

·         Wilmington Waterfront Day coming up – Thursday August 31!! 

·         Fall 2006 Community Meeting in Planning:  Date to be announced.  New Survey coming soon.

·         Web updated.  Have you used it?  How about the Book? 

·         Summary of Spring and Summer Progress

·         Photos in Post Office entryway display case

·         Related News:

o        Dam update:  The debris is out of the gate and trash racks seem ineffective; we may need new ones and need better guidance cleaning them.  Super will contact engineer (Christie or Foley). 

o        New catchment basin near library is inadequate; Town seeking assistance to correct the problem. 

Wilmington Waterfront Day – Thursday August 31

Wilmington Waterfront Day is a chance for families to have fun while learning about the history of the waterfront and the challenges being faced today.  Everyone is invited to come to Wilmington ’s Beautiful Waterfront on Thursday, August 31 for some fun on the Ausable River .

The day’s events begin at 9:00am at Heritage Park , located at the corner of Route 86 and Haselton Road .  In addition to enjoying the last day of the farmer’s market in the park, visitors can also view photos of the Wilmington dam construction, a “Then and Now” photo display of the town, as well as receive copies of an 1876 map of Wilmington’s historical center – all compliments of the Wilmington Historical Society.  The Ausable River Association will also be on hand to provide information on the organization and the important work it does to protect the entire Ausable River watershed.

At 1:00pm , the festivities move down to the Wilmington Beach on Lake Everest .  Kids can participate in a nature scavenger hunt, and from 2-5pm , there will be a Kids’ Fishing Challenge, organized by the Wilmington Fish, Game and Sports Club.  Children age 14 and under are welcome to participate, and several prizes will be awarded.  Baked items and beverages will also be available for purchase at the beach.  All proceeds will go towards the Ausable River Association’s and other waterfront projects in Wilmington . 

At 6:00pm , end the day with the last concert of the summer season at the beach, featuring the band “Country Fugitives”. 

Fall 2006 Community Meeting in Planning:  Date to be announced.  New Survey to be circulated soon.

A community meeting similar to the meeting in January will be held for all residents in October this fall.  Please keep an eye out for flyers with the date.  Topics will include:  what the Committee has learned from the Inventory, what it is suggesting in the policies, and what projects it has made priorities.  Community comments and thoughts will be collected as in January, and the priorities and information in the reports will be changed accordingly. 

Web Updated – See http://www.adksc.org/wilmingtonwaterfront/wilmingtonwaterfront.htm

The Wilmington Waterfront Project web site has been updated to help the community follow progress and find documents and contact information, at www.adksc.org (click on Wilmington Waterfront Project) – this is also linked on the Whiteface Region Visitor’s Bureau web site (http://www.whitefaceregion.com/  Click on “Living Here” and then “Wilmington”).   Check out photos of yourself or friends in Community waterfront meetings, read minutes of the Committee, or get contact information for Committee members and tell them your thoughts.   Keep checking the site for new photos, documents, and maps in the coming month. 

In addition, a booklet is available at the Town Center with documents, minutes, etc. similar to those on the web site.   Let us know if you use the site or booklet, what other information you would like to see there, and other thoughts. 

Spring and Summer 2006 Progress

What have we accomplished so far?  The Citizens’ Committee has done:

·         Learning about the waterfront resources:  cultural, historical, natural, economic, in Inventory and Analysis

·         Community input and outreach through:

-          citizens’ committee work meeting every month since December and conducting subcommittee work in between meetings

-          two community meetings (and two more in planning)

-          two surveys (and another one pending)

-          press articles

-          town newsletter article

-          3 posters (in Post Office entry way)

-          flyers

-          postcard to all residences

-          web site and town clerk booklet

-          visits to groups (seniors, artists, historical society, youth center, and fish/game club)

-          cooperation with local organizations including AuSable River Association, Wilmington Historical Society. 

·         Interviews with Town highway, code enforcement, supervisor and relevant Agencies:  DEC, APA, DOT, DOS (and with IDA, Soil and Water Conservation coming up)

·         Discussion and decisions on key waterfront is sue s:  public access, hamlet revitalization, and lake / beach restoration

·         Discussion and decision on waterfront boundary area

·         Drafts of 13 policies/approaches for Wilmington to control future of waterfront

·         Drafts of project ideas for implementing results of discussions and community ideas

·         New funding proposal for first projects

What do we still need to accomplish?

·         Policy work – finalizing drafts, sharing with town boards and community

·         Project list – finalizing drafts, sharing with town boards and community

·         Draft LWRP

·         Next community meeting – October

·         Review period to agencies

·         Final LWRP

·         Final Community Meeting

·         Fundraising for projects

·         Ongoing waterfront committee (could be same or different members)

Photos in Post Office entryway display case

Have you seen the Waterfront Committee’s photos in the Post Office entry way display case?  The Committee developed three different photoboards to illustrate the Waterfront planning process.  The first board, on display until July, showed views of our beautiful waterfront, from the beach to the park picnic area (near the dam), from the bridge, and more.  The second board is up now; it displays changes in the water occurring over time from accumulated sediment.  The third board will go up soon; it displays the community’s role and the work the Citizen’s Committee has done on its behalf over the months.  Check it out!