SCHUMER, GILLIBRAND, KENNEDY ANNOUNCE $1.7 MILLION TO RESTORE RALPH C. WILSON JR. CENTENNIAL PARK’S SHORELINE VIA THE GREAT LAKES RESTORATION INITIATIVE
Schumer Secured An Unprecedented $1 Billion For the GLRI In The Infrastructure Law; Now This Funding Will Help Restore Niagara River Shoreline For Ralph C. Wilson Jr. Centennial Park In Buffalo
New $$ Will Also Help Cherry Farms Shoreline Along The Upper Niagara River
Schumer, Gillibrand, Kennedy: We’re Turning The Tide For WNY’s Great Lakes Shorelines!
U.S. Senate Majority Leader Charles E. Schumer, U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand, and U.S. Congressman Tim Kennedy today announced $1,961,000 in recommended Great Lakes Restoration Initiative (GLRI) funding to restore two shorelines in Western New York. This includes $1.7 million for Ralph C. Wilson Jr. Centennial Park in Buffalo to help protect the park and make the area and habitats along the Niagara River more resilient and help prevent flooding. This investment comes from the historic funding in the Bipartisan Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, which Senators Schumer and Gillibrand championed with a historic $1 billion in new funding to breathe new life into one of the greatest natural beauties of Upstate NY.
“The dream of Ralph C. Wilson Jr. Centennial Park is becoming a reality. I am proud to deliver this $1.7 million in federal funding to reconstruct the over 100-year-old shoreline to keep it safe from flooding and protect the environment for the next generation of Buffalonians who will use this park. When I led the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law to passage with a historic $1 billion increase for the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative, it is long overdue investments uplifting the environment and community like these that I had in mind,” said Senator Schumer. “Ralph Wilson was a dear friend of mine, and this will help restore the shoreline along the Niagara River to give the families of Buffalo the beautiful waterfront park that our families have long desired and is fitting to his legacy. Investing in the Great Lakes means investing in the future of Western New York, and I will always fight to so our community can enjoy the full natural beauty and economic energy of the wonderful communities along the Great Lakes.”
“The shoreline at Ralph C. Wilson Jr. Centennial Park promises to be a gem for Buffalo residents and visitors, and it is critical we invest to protect its habitats and make it more resilient to flooding,” said Senator Gillibrand. “This $1.7 million in GLRI funding will help restore Ralph C. Wilson Jr. Centennial Park’s shoreline to ensure it is resilient to flooding and that its habitats are protected for years to come. I’m proud to have fought to secure this funding through the GLRI and will continue to fight to protect New York’s natural beauties.”
“This transformational funding will restore the shoreline at Buffalo's rebuilt Ralph C. Wilson Centennial Park to protect our environment, expand recreational space, and generate economic growth,” said Congressman Kennedy. “Residents and visitors alike will now be able to better enjoy our greatest natural resource thanks to $1.7 million made possible through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. Investments like this are protecting the Great Lakes for future generations and setting up Western New York to thrive for years to come.”
“Investments to rebuild our critical infrastructure, improve resiliency, and increase access are vital to communities across the Great Lakes, especially in Western New York,” said David Egner, president & CEO, Ralph C. Wilson, Jr. Foundation. “This historic investment into Buffalo’s Ralph Wilson Park is setting an example of how the public and private sectors can work together to address climate change and improve our communities. The rebuilding of the 100-year-old shoreline will add needed flood protection, while also enhancing the natural habitat and providing new recreational opportunities. We are grateful to all the partners, including the City of Buffalo and Buffalo Niagara Waterkeeper, who are making this community vision a reality.”
Schumer, Gillibrand, and Kennedy explained the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) recommended $261,000 for the Cherry Farms shoreline and $1.7 million for the Ralph C. Wilson Jr. Centennial Park shoreline. Once the funding agreement is finalized, the Cherry Farms project will implement a detailed feasibility study to plan for the restoration of degradation along the east shore of the Upper Niagara River, including building a fish spawning habitat. The Ralph C. Wilson Jr. Centennial Park project will support the redesign and reconstruction of the shoreline along the Niagara River, protecting and restoring up to 5 acres of habitat in the City of Buffalo.
Schumer and Gillibrand previously announced $4.5 million to restore the shoreline of Buffalo’s Ralph C. Wilson Jr. Centennial Park from the National Coastal Resilience Fund (NCRF) to ensure the long-term stability of the park by improving flood mitigation efforts, restoring coastal habitats, and giving the public greater access to the Lake Erie waterfront. That funding was made possible thanks to the historic increases the senators secured in the Bipartisan Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Law.
Since its inception in 2010, Schumer noted, the GLRI has had a significant impact on Upstate New York. The Buffalo River, which is currently listed as an area of federal concern due to excessive pollution, is on its way to being de-listed thanks to a decade-long cleanup effort that was funded by the GLRI and undertaken by multiple federal, state, and local agencies. Schumer noted that the Buffalo River serves as a model for what is possible, particularly with regards to the clean-up of the much larger Niagara River. The GLRI last year allocated $300,000 towards the river’s clean-up, and a cut in funding would have imperiled the progress that has been made. Instead, Schumer explained, clean-up efforts like the ones being undertaken in Western New York can continue in earnest. Schumer has long been a champion for the Great Lakes, fighting off budget cuts to the GLRI in 2019 and working to secure a multimillion dollar increase in authorization levels for the program in 2018.
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