NYPA President Gets On-Site Briefing Of Construction Work At Robert Moses State Park’s Beach Area

For Further Information:
Christine Pritchard
518-322-9143
Christine.Pritchard@nypa.gov

March 30, 2009

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

MASSENA—New York Power Authority (NYPA) President and Chief Executive Officer Richard M. Kessel today received a walking tour and briefing on the status of the rehabilitation work to the Beach Area Complex at Robert Moses State Park. 

The Robert Moses State Park is one of the most valuable treasures of the North Country region, both in terms of tourism, and community identity and character and the Power Authority is proud to provide the financial support necessary to maintain its integrity,” said Kessel. “As this important rehabilitation project moves through its final stages, the New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation should be commended for its dedication to the outstanding work and in involving local companies, which translates into local jobs, which is extremely important in this economic climate.”

“This project is illustrative of the types of valuable community projects receiving funding from NYPA through the St. Lawrence-Franklin D. Roosevelt Power Project relicensing. The completion of this very important restoration project will be part of a special celebration that the Thousand Island Region of Parks is planning for this summer,” Kessel added.

“The preservation, protection and improvement of the Robert Moses State Park are critical to maintaining the quality of our community and indispensable to its residents for recreational opportunities,” said Judge Eugene Nicandri, a NYPA trustee and resident of St. Lawrence County.

“I look forward to joining President Kessel in June when we can mark the official reopening of the beach complex at Robert Moses State Park in conjunction with the 50th anniversary of this magnificent North Country Park. State Parks are one of the primary economic engines in the North Country and a major player in the vital tourism industry,” stated Carol Ash, commissioner of the Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation. “Improvements like these at Robert Moses and Coles Creek State Parks have shown that, through wise reinvestment, we can increase the use of our wonderful State Park facilities and thus improve the economies of our local communities.”

President Kessel toured the site with Brian Thomas, Capital Facilities Manager, New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation (OPRHP).

North Country contractors being used in this project include: Fiacco and Riley, from Norwood as the general contractor; Continental Construction, of Gouverneur, to perform the plumbing work; Collins Hammond located in Ogdensburg as the electrical contractor; and Hoover Heating and Cooling from Redwood to perform HVAC work.

The rehabilitation work to the Beach Area Complex has three components

• A new bathhouse, which is nearly finished, and includes a complete interior demolition and asbestos abatement on the former concessionaire building to renovate it into a bathhouse. The renovations include: new windows, doors, skylights and roof; electrical service; plumbing with upgraded restrooms; and new rooms for first aid and lifeguard equipment storage.

• Renovation of the former bathhouse into the camper registration building including: installation of new windows, doors, a tile floor, skylights, roof and structural improvements for center section of flat roofing; electrical and telephone service; and sanitary drainage piping.  The building will also have a new registration area, a store area, a small office and two visitors’ restrooms.

• Various site works: work that is scheduled to begin shortly includes a new concrete curb along the entrance drive, stripping of the existing parking area, installation ramps for the disabled, resurfacing of the existing asphalt sidewalks, replacement of the historic trellis walkways parallel to the beach, and installation of various drainage systems for storm water and sanitary sewer.

In October 2003, the Power Authority received a 50-year federal license for the St. Lawrence-FDR project, leading to a host of new economic, environmental and recreational benefits to the region stemming from various agreements. Since that time, NYPA trustees have authorized expenditures totaling about $170 million—including the rehabilitation costs for Robert Moses State Park and Coles Creek State Park, an 1,800-acre park in Waddington and Louisville—to fulfill the terms of the new license.  The Power Authority is investing over $7 million in the restoration and improvement of Robert Moses State Park.

Robert Moses State Park, located in the Town of Massena, is one of the St. Lawrence-FDR Project’s recreation facilities operated by OPRHP. At 2,300 acres, the park includes the Barnhart Island Marina and Boat Basin, with slips for 66 boats, a boat launch ramp and a place to rent power boats and canoes. Robert Moses State Park has ample camping opportunities for tents, trailers, recreational vehicles and 15 fully-outfitted cabins available for rent. The facilities renovated for this project are near the park's riverfront beach complex.

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  About NYPA:

■    NYPA uses no tax money or state credit.  It finances its operations through the sale of bonds and revenues earned in large part through sales of electricity.  ■    NYPA is a leader in promoting energy-efficiency, new energy technologies and electric transportation initiatives.  ■    It is the nation’s largest state-owned electric utility, with 18 generating facilities in various parts of the state and more than 1,400 circuit-miles of transmission lines.

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