Agreement reached on Canton walkway

CANTON — The town and the developers of the former Gray Lanes bowling alley have signed a memorandum of understanding on a future river walkway.

Public access to the Grasse River from the SUNY Canton footbridge on Riverside Drive to a proposed bridge across the river at Bend in the River Park is a goal of the community's waterfront revitalization plan, Supervisor David T. Button said.

The proposed renovation of the one-time bowling alley into condominiums and commercial space eventually should be part of that mix, he said.

The town and developers of Rushton Place at 1 Main St. — John J. Gray Jr., Colton, and Richard E. Maginn, Massena — agreed that a 12-foot strip along the water would be conditionally available.

"They have seven years to sign up 70 percent of the property owners," Mr. Gray said. "We have no problem giving the land if it's a reality. We'll do our part."

The memo agrees the town can proceed to eminent domain if an agreement on a reasonable payment isn't reached.

The stretch of Riverside Drive from 1 Main St. to the footbridge includes businesses, senior citizen housing complexes and several private homes, some of which are on the market. Mr. Button said he thought rights to a river walkway could come without discord.

"We're going to do this in piecemeal fashion," he said. "I think the work will be a model for what can go on. I hope that others will catch the vision."

The town has applied for a $100,000 state waterfront revitalization grant to help pay for the engineering of a pedestrian bridge proposed for Bend in the River Park that would span the river to Maple Hill Properties on Route 11.

Officials have suggested the bridge also could carry water and sewer pipes across the river that would help development at Maple Hill, a 72-acre commercial and residential subdivision.