Cortland Youth Bureau. (Photo provided by the Cortland Youth Bureau)
The Cortland Youth Bureau (CYB) will soon submit grant applications for lighting and staging in specific areas of the city.
CYB is planning to submit an application to the Robert J. Viktus Fund through the Central New York Community Foundation “for an amount not to exceed” $75,000. At Tuesday’s Common Council meeting, CYB director Andrea Piedigrossi said the fund increases access to hunting and fishing.
If CYB is awarded funds, it would go towards solar lighting at Yaman Park. Since the park has fishing in the pond and Tioughnioga River, Piedigrossi thought the request for funds was “a good fit.”
Piedigrossi said CYB has plans to install three lights in front of the beach to shine over the sand area, four lights along the right-side pathway where the cabanas are located, and three lights apiece in the back area and the walkway side of the beach.
“It would provide an effective, sustainable, low cost and low maintenance and sustainable means to improve accessibility and safety,” according to the resolution in Tuesday’s meeting agenda.
Councilperson Katy Silliman (D-2nd Ward) expressed concerns for residents near the park and the potential for the lights to affect the area. Piedigrossi, however, stated that the lights are “very specific to where they’d be placed,” noting that there isn’t a wide range of lighting.
Piedigrossi said the grant application for solar lighting will be submitted in March. The winner will be announced at the end of June.
CYB is also submitting an application for funding from the Bright Ideas grant, also part of the Central New York Community Foundation, to cover costs for temporary staging at Courthouse Park “not to exceed” $3,000.
Piedigrossi said the temporary stage, which consists of lumber and other waterproofing materials, is needed for concerts and performances in the area, as the city awaits the delivery of a new Showmobile. She mentioned, through a partnership with the town of Cortlandville, that Assemblywoman Anna Kelles’ office approved an application for the new Showmobile.
Despite being locked into receiving a Showmobile, Piedigrossi noted that there is a two-year wait for equipment. Details on the response to the Bright Ideas grant application remain to be seen.
