Penn Yan hears about DRI project plans

PENN YAN--At the Monday, Oct. 3 meeting of the Penn Yan Planning Board, Landscape Architect James Fruechtl presented an overview of the Downtown Revitalization Initiative (DRI), including the status of various projects and upcoming work planned.
According to the presentation:
• The DRI planning has identified several strategic goals that focus, for example, on increasing or enhancing current recreational opportunities, promoting the cultural and historic significance of the Keuka Lake Outlet Trail, stimulating economic development, enhancing participation in all forms of art, and exploring transportation and parking.
• Several tasks have been completed, including the archaeology survey, on-site meetings with the Army Corp of Engineers and the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation, and permit documents.
The DRI presentation encompassed three components: parks and trails; Wagener Street and Water Street; and Maiden Lane and Main Street. Existing conditions and program elements have been identified for each component.
For parks and trails, the key focus areas are Indian Pines Park, making trail connections with overlooks, and the Lake Street Park. The plans call for a link between the Keuka Lake beach area and the village with nature-focused pedestrian access.
Program elements for Indian Pines Park, for example, include an accessible pathway network, beach replenishment, waterfront access, green infrastructure, and improved circulation.
The Lake Street Park projects feature a waterfront access point to the Keuka Outlet and a number of accessibility improvements to make connecting from the road to the trail easier.
The concept for Water and Wagener Street includes several improvements to make walking and parking easier. This includes the addition of lighting, enhanced crosswalks, selective tree placement including the addition of rain gardens and downtown parking lot work off of Wagener Street.
The third component in the presentation addressed Maiden Lane and Main Street. The project elements feature public art, pavement treatment, a multi-functional alleyway, accent lighting, and event space development.
Next steps include securing permits in the fall of 2022 and seeking bids for project elements in the winter of 2022, with construction expected to start in 2023.
At the Planning Board meeting, one of the concerns raised was fire truck access to the parking lot adjacent to Maiden Lane and the rear of Main Street if the project was built as shown. This includes a relocated connection for vehicular access and some parking spaces rotated.