Wheatfield eyeing outdoor improvements

By Senior Contributing Writer Benjamin Joe

The financial groundwork is being set for a future project on the Town of Wheatfield’s only property adjacent to the Niagara River.

At a recent Town of Wheatfield Town Board meeting, several resolutions were approved by the Town Board to realize plans such as habitat restoration, environmental rehabilitation, shoreline improvements, trail enhancements, an accessible fishing access dock, bicycle amenities and other recreational improvements.

The next day Wheatfield Supervisor Don MacSwan explained the property had been owned for years by the town, which had also received a grant to develop it.

“We did receive a grant to revitalize the park and restore it,” he said via telephone. “There’s additional grants available to go further with it.”

The received grant, called an EPA Brownfields Cleanup Grant, totaled $425,000 and was given by the Niagara County Brownfield Development Corp. MacSwan said Niagara County was also aware, or would be aware, of other grants available for the project and submit on the town’s behalf.

Issues involving the safety and health of the property have been tested and sampled, MacSwan said.

“The soils were sampled and any potential environmental issues were identified and that was what the original grant was for. As far as it being brownfield, the purpose of the grant is to take designated brownfields and bring it back,” he said.

“The Greenway trail (The Niagara River Shoreline Trail) runs right by it, which is perfect, because people can be riding along the trail from Niagara Falls to Wheatfield and they can stop at the park.”

The plans could be implemented by September, MacSwan also said, provided the grants come through.

“It’s going to be a town’s park. So, as far as use, there will be a couple benches, a place to fish. All strictly recreational,” MacSwan said.