Park Plans to be Unveiled at Public Presentation on December 5, 2013

Doug Gerber, LA, with EDR Companies, discusses plans being designed for Montezuma Heritage Park at the August 2013 Canal Splash community picnic

The public is invited to a presentation on the final schematic design and phasing plans for the Montezuma Heritage Park on Thursday, December 5th, 7 PM at the Town Hall, 8102 Dock Street.

Doug Gerber, LA, with EDR Companies, a landscape architect firm well known for development of park master plans that integrates landscape architecture, community planning, environmental and visual assessment for communities, will give the presentation. He will show the results of a year-long planning project teaming with the Town of Montezuma Heritage Park Committee, the Center for Community Design and Research and students from the SUNY College of ESF School of Landscape Architecture.

The project was funded by an EPF Grant awarded the Town of Montezuma through the New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation. The Heritage Park Design Committee chose EDR Companies because of their experience and community-centered approach. The project has involved cultural, social, safety, economic, ecological and aesthetic impacts. EDR's understanding of the importance of community participation has opened the door for citizen ownership and long-term success for the Town of Montezuma.

EDR has worked very closely with the Heritage Park Design Committee applying a natural resource-based approach toward development to help realize the vision of creating lasting amenities for the community that include:

• Providing places for people to play, exercise, and relax and a place for plants and wildlife to thrive. 
• Imparts enduring benefits on a community through environmental and natural history education, and respite
• Preserves historic landscapes, protects and promotes regional and state history
• Offers open space, preservation, safe accessible, affordable outdoor recreation and linkages to the communities and waterways.

An important component of the design is that the park must connect to the hamlet and bring users to the river. The December 5th presentation will unveil a vision showing how we've accomplished this, and are very excited to present to the community. Please join us for this important meeting.