Highlights infrastructure improvements
At a Monday morning press conference, Sen. James Skoufis cited the grants that are helping Cornwall refurbish its infrastructure.
“It’s a lot of money to inject into a town,” the senator said. “But it’s overdue.”
The senator held the press conference in the alley between Hazard Pharmacy and Clark Financial. The sign behind him said “road closed.” And if anyone missed the message, there were two fences to keep pedestrians off the walkway that crosses the creek on Bridge Street.
The bridge has been closed to motor vehicles since 2007. More recently, it has been off limits for walkers. But that will change this fall. The Town is using a $200,000 grant, secured by Senator Skoufis, to repair the bridge so it can support foot traffic. At a later date, the town will repave the surface and add benches.
Paul Schermer attended the press conference with his wife and two children. The audience members could see his home from where they were standing. “I can’t speak for everyone,” Mr. Schermer admitted, “but I know four people who are going to be very happy when this bridge project is completed.”
The infusion of money includes the bridge project, $125,000 to improve Main Street, funds for the drainage work at Laurel Crest Park, $100,000 to replace the tennis courts, and the cost of repairing the bridges over Route 9W.
County Legislator Kevin Hines observed that the county replaced a bridge on Willow Avenue and would be repaving Main Street. “We would have done it last year,” Mr. Hines assured the crowd, “but we had to wait for Central Hudson to get finished.”
To get to the press conference, Mr. Hines had to wait for several cars – even though he was standing at a crosswalk. In the future, the crosswalks will be more conspicuous and the traffic lights will have push buttons that can be used by pedestrians.
Town Supervisor Richard Randazzo cited the replacement of the tennis courts that have been around since 1930. He told the audience that, as a teenager, he was on those courts all the time.
Town Board member Josh Wojehowski used to own a restaurant on Main Street, He predicted that the improvements would be “a shot in the arm for local business owners.” And his colleague on the Town Board, Virginia Scott, assumed that Cornwall would become an even more welcoming place.
Senator Skoufis returned to the podium at the end of the conference. “We’re going to have a small business corridor we can be proud of,” he predicted.
“A lot of people are coming out of New York City. Cornwall will be attractive to visitors, businesses and prospective residents.”
