By Joshua Maloni

GM/Managing Editor

The Town of Lewiston on Monday voted to provide the Village of Lewiston with $190,000 in Niagara River Greenway funds for a pavilion at Academy Park.

Town Supervisor Steve Broderick made a motion to accept the plan with the stipulations town Building Inspector Tim Masters be involved in the inspection of the final plans before they’re sent out to bid, that the bids be sealed, that Broderick see the bids when they’re received, and that Masters inspect the pavilion.

Fittante Architecture principal Jim Fittante designed the pavilion rendering. He noted the park has 249,559 square feet – more than 5 acres of green space. The new structure would only take up 2.5% of that park land – less than the Lewiston Academy schoolhouse used when it sat on the site in 1824.

Fittante added, “The architectural look of the structure was based on complementing the band shelter.”

He added, “Many groups have been involved in this long process. This has been well over two years in discussion with the village, the town, Kiwanis, VFW, artisan market, Anthony DiMino and many other Lewiston businesses.”

Fittante is a member of the village’s Historic Preservation Commission.

At the Board of Trustees meeting last week, Mayor Anne Welch said the pavilion “would house our Memorial Day (luncheon), farmers market, veterans functions, the Peach Fest, reunions, picnics.

“I think that Academy Park warrants a nice picnic pavilion.”

Initial project costs range from $325,000 to $350,000. Welch said donations in the amount of $120,000 have already been received.

She initially asked for $250,000, but Broderick said $90,000 was already earmarked for the “Lewiston Public Art Project.” That is why his board agreed to reduce this funding request.

The pavilion plan will next go before the village's Historic Preservation and Planning commissions.

At the Town Board meeting, Welch said she is hopeful the project could be completed in time for the 2024 Memorial Day luncheon.

On Friday, a Veterans of Foreign Wars Downriver Post 7487 official noted the VFW had not seen the rendering nor endorsed the project.

Academy Park pavilion renderings courtesy of Jim Fittante/Fittante Architecture

Town of Lewiston Greenway Funding

As part of the New York Power Authority’s 50-year relicensing agreement, which took effect in 2007, NYPA is annually providing:

•$3 million for the Host Community Standing Committee, of which the Town of Lewiston is entitled to 17%, or $510,000.

Projects must be presented to the Greenway Commission for consistency with the Greenway Plan. Voting members include the Niagara Power Coalition and NYPA.

•$5 million for the Host Communities Fund – specifically for the Niagara Power Coalition – of which the Town of Lewiston gets 17%, or $850,000.

This money can’t be used for items or projects outside of the town.

Other NPC members include Niagara County, the City of Niagara Falls, the Town of Niagara, and the Lewiston-Porter, Niagara Falls and Niagara Wheatfield school districts.

See also >> Village of Lewiston sending metal art frames to HPC, Planning boards