27-07-2025
City's west side marina project still in search of funding
Conversations about improvements to the west side of the city eventually mention the construction of a 'West Side Marina' on the canal near the Stevens Street bridge. Officially known as the Lockport Heritage Harbor Project, the plan to develop boat slips closer to downtown was part of a state economic development initiative in 2019.
A boat launch and parking area already exists between the Genesee Street and Stevens Street bridges. Following a driveway off of West Genesee Street, along the side of Reid Petroleum, reveals the extensive graveled area where vehicles with boat trailers can easily maneuver and unload.
Mark Devine, 3rd Ward alderman, said that when the city was working on the Downtown Revitalization Plan, he championed harbor development at the location, which was outside the downtown's official boundary.
'I was very, very adamant about putting in the marina down there,' he said. 'It could bring in people from Lake Erie and any of the Great Lakes. I don't know what happened. All of a sudden, that project got dropped.'
The Lockport Heritage Harbor Project is officially in 'deferment,' said Jackie Schillinger, senior communications strategy manager for the New York State Canal Corp. The project was part of the state's Reimagine the Canals Initiative, Schillinger said.
'We were looking at projects across the canal system,' she said. 'The purpose was to make infrastructure more resilient to climate change, increase tourism, and provide economic development.'
Devine recalled that the project was to include eight to 10 docks.
'It wasn't going to be like North Tonawanda, but it was going to be substantial enough,' he said. 'They just wanted to get something in there that they could expand on in the future. This was so that people didn't have to go through the locks, but they could hang out in Lockport. It takes a lot of time to go through the locks.'
The Lockport Heritage Harbor Project entered the initial development stage with the canal corporation, and Schillinger said a scope of work was developed, 30% of the design was completed, and initial soil borings were collected. Schillinger said that preliminary work identified that 'the terminal wall of the site has significant needs,' referring to the reinforced canal bank that runs the entire length of the current parking area. Estimates made last year identified costs of at least $8 million, she said.
Due to budgetary pressures, Schillinger said the canal corporation reviewed Reimagine the Canals to see which projects could be deferred, and the marina on the west side was put on hold.
'We have been working with sister agencies to identify outside sources of funding,' she said. 'As those are secured, the project will advance to additional design phases.' She said the canal corporation had explored funding for the project through New York's Department of State, Department of Conservation, Empire State Development Corp., and the US Army Corps of Engineers.
Vicki Smith, director of planning and development for the Greater Lockport Development Corp., did not respond to a question about whether the GLDC was involved in seeking funds for the project.
'It's going to be a great project,' said Dave Kinyon, chairman of the Lockport Locks Heritage District. 'We just hope that it happens sooner rather than later. It's very much needed.'
Kinyon said boaters have told him that Wide Waters Marina is disconnected from the city's amenities.
'The harbor project will make Lockport a much more attractive place for boaters,' he said.
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