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Summerfest helps fund park maintenance, improvements
Festivals and summer happenings are in full swing in Niagara County. From sailing experiences on the river, to a celebration of the Tuscarora Nation, an amateur golf classic above the hill, an international soccer tourney down at Fort Niagara, to those many Artpark happenings, the lower River Region is the place to be in summer.
Next weekend, yet another fun time returns with the Porter on the Lake Summerfest. The event is set for 3-10 p.m. Saturday, July 20, at the town park and beach located on Dietz Road in the Town of Porter. The annual happening is put on by the town.
Look for an overall enjoyable day up by the lake, with kids’ attractions, two bands at the lakeside bandshell, food trucks and tasty eats. Also, vendors, local merchants and community groups, two beer and wine tents, family get-togethers and a spectacular fireworks display.
Porter Supervisor John “Duffy” Johnston said, “For the kids, we beefed it up a bit. There will be a petting zoo, a bounce house; there’s three or four Ninja Turtles that will be running around the park for a couple of hours.”
The Artificial Hip, a local group serving up the classics of legendary Canadian rocker the late Gord Downie and The Tragically Hip, go on stage at 3 p.m.
“Come out and give 'em a listen! A group of talented local musicians coming together to play their hearts out. They put on a great, high-energy show that doesn't stray far in appearance or sound from the original Hip,” Kevin Heddin said on the group’s Facebook post.
Next up, at 6 p.m., Nashville recording artist JB Aaron, a local firefighter/EMT from Niagara Active Hose, headlines with an evening of country rock.
Rounding out the day will be a fireworks show presented by Matt Shaw of Skylighters Fireworks of NY.
Admission for the all-day event is $5 for adults. Children under the age of 12 are free. Parking is included.
As in past years, Johnston said the proceeds for this annual happening will go toward maintenance and upkeep at POTL, which was acquired by the town in the early 2000s.
Sponsors for this year’s Summerfest include Modern Disposal Services, First District Niagara County Legislator Irene Myers, Waste Management, Mark Cerrone Inc., Sevenson Environmental Services Inc., Ki-Po Chevrolet, New York State Sen. Rob Ortt, Assemblyman Angelo Morinello, Skydive the Falls, Fox Fence, Rays Tavern, Hardison Funeral Homes Inc., Mawhiney Trucking, Truesdell Trucking, and the Youngstown Business and Professional Association.
Future POTL plans
As to upcoming projects planned at POTL:
“We’re putting in another large parking lot that will be up by the entrance to the nature trail,” Johnston said. “There will be four new EV charging stations there; all free for visitors.
“We’re (also) looking into the main pavilion; we’re looking at metal roofing inside. We have netting to keep the birds out and keep it nice and clean. Also, we’re going to resurface the basketball court and stripe it for pickleball. We have the nets there, so it will be a dual purpose, a shared court.”
He added, “More people are playing pickleball than basketball. It’s an up-and-coming sport. We’re providing the net (for play). It’ll all be resurfaced. There’s a couple of new projects going on down there.”
Down at the beach, “We’re looking into a grant for some engineering to see if we can put a pier out there and then (add) an L-shaped rock formation (barrier) to make it a safe harbor,” Johnston said. “And that would protect our shoreline. We’re looking into that. It’s the engineering first, then to see if there’s problems with erosion at Four Mile or the neighbors to the east.”
“It would kind of be like Wilson and Olcott,” Johnston said of the plan.
He noted the town has been working with the New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation, owners of Four Mile Creek State Park, on ongoing park enhancements.
“There’s an actual path going through there (between the two parks),” Johnston said. “Our (highway) guys cleaned a lot of it up.
“Eventually, Greenway will put a bike trail from Four Mile to Porter on the Lake. That’s the plan with the Greenway bike trail (that’s been discussed).”