(Photo provided by Kevin L. Smith of The Cortland Voice).
A massive expansion project at Gutchess Lumber Sports Complex dubbed by town of Cortlandville officials as the community hub carries a hefty price tag.
To shore up costs, town officials are turning to federal representatives for help.
The proposed project – which would expand parking, add a community area and a performance stage – was discussed at Wednesday’s town board meeting. At that meeting, town board members unanimously approved a resolution seeking federal funds from representatives like U.S. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) and U.S. Rep. Marc Molinaro, R-NY-19.
“It’s not only a parking lot, but there’s many other amenities put into that,” said Cortlandville Town Supervisor Tom Williams. “It’s transportation and community events that we are talking about here. We’re talking about perhaps a local or town-wide farmers market type-thing. This is the type of community space for nonprofits, a place for them to hold those types of community events.”
Town resident Bob Martin, surprised by the project, said during the meeting’s privilege of the floor the scope of the proposal “could use further definition and clarification.”
“That sort of came out of the blue. I didn’t see $6.7 million (before),” Martin added. “That's quite a project. Very costly 10-acre parking lot project.”
John McNerney, Cortlandville’s director of parks and recreation, sent a letter to Rep. Molinaro’s office that detailed the town officials’ request. McNerney wrote the complex has already brought in $1.7 million in revenue to the local economy.
The letter pitches Gutchess Lumber Sports Complex as a “true resource for residents” in the region. It also mentions that the town will seek to work with the county to designate a public transportation route to the complex. The town also pitched an outdoor walking trail with landscaping.
McNerney also wrote that the town is lacking in public spaces for gatherings and events. The pitch also notes that the town is composed of 34% low-to-moderate income individuals and that the project will be a boon for residents across a spectrum of different incomes.
According to the letter, it suggests the project could be finished by Nov. 30 (2023).
