The Green Gateway Project
Curtin's Crossing
Bridge Dedication - November 3, 2023
The Green Gateway is a project that began as a vision to create a park at an abandoned woolen mill site, using a variety of eco-friendly and “green” initiatives, and involving Village and Town employees, civic and community leaders and environmental students at Marcellus Central School. The project has become a collaboration between the Marcellus School District and the Village of Marcellus, allowing students to conceptualize and research site improvements including a number of creative designs such as outdoor classroom space (kiosks) for MCS environmental students, an ADA compliant fishing platform, public trails connecting Village sidewalks and the Village creek walk, as well as an arboretum for residents and tourists alike to enjoy.
The most recent part of the Green Gateway project has involved the design, construction, and installation of a pedestrians-only footbridge, crossing Nine Mile Creek from school property to the lower mill site. This pedestrian steel bridge, 85’ length x 6’ width, placed on concrete abutments, would allow for an easy and safe manner for students to cross directly from the MCS campus to the outdoor classroom in the park. MCS involvement in this project began in 2021 with MCS teacher Tyler Cooper and MCS student Austin Raicht, in discussion and meetings with Village DPW and Town of Marcellus Highway Department personnel. With support from our County Legislator, Julie Abbott, a funding request was made to our NYS Senator, John Mannion, who helped to secure a NYS project grant of $180,000. Then, working with our local engineer, Joe Durand of TDK Engineering, along with Dan Bishop of the NYSDEC, and Carl Schwartz of the US Fish & Wildlife Agency, School, Village and Town employees became involved with soil testing, design, and survey of the bridge, as well as excavation and foundation work. After a number of months, the bridge, manufactured by a local company, Crossroads Highway Supplies, was delivered to the park site and installation of the bridge by Village and Town workers took place, in mid-July, 2023.
John P. Curtin, our former Mayor, began teaching Social Studies in 1963, at Roosevelt Junior High in Syracuse. He eventually moved on to teach at Corcoran High School, retiring in June of 1997. After his retirement from the Syracuse City School District, John spent 12 years as an adjunct professor at LeMoyne College, serving as a field supervisor of student teachers, many of whom are teachers here in Marcellus Central School District. In 1995, John was appointed to the Village Board, served as a Village Trustee for 13 years, and in 2010 he was elected Mayor, serving the people of Marcellus for 13 additional years until his retirement this past August. During that time, John was a respected leader and dedicated public servant, embarking on numerous projects that have enhanced the quality of life and character of our beloved Village.
During his administration, the Village saw completion of a portion of the Creekwalk known as Fred’s trail, drainage improvements, road reconstructions, beautification projects and upgrades to Village infrastructure, most notably the 8-million-dollar Wastewater Treatment Plant upgrade completed in 2019. Because of his unwavering commitment his students, family, staff and community, we find it fitting that the bridge and outdoor classroom be known as “Curtin’s Crossing”, and be a place where the boundaries between education and nature intertwine. On behalf of all of us at the Village, we thank you John, for all that you have done for the Village of Marcellus and we dedicate this bridge and classroom to you.
The Green Gateway is a project that began as a vision to create a park at an abandoned woolen mill site, using a variety of eco-friendly and “green” initiatives, and involving Village and Town employees, civic and community leaders and environmental students at Marcellus Central School. The project has become a collaboration between the Marcellus School District and the Village of Marcellus, allowing students to conceptualize and research site improvements including a number of creative designs such as outdoor classroom space (kiosks) for MCS environmental students, an ADA compliant fishing platform, public trails connecting Village sidewalks and the Village creek walk, as well as an arboretum for residents and tourists alike to enjoy.
The most recent part of the Green Gateway project has involved the design, construction, and installation of a pedestrians-only footbridge, crossing Nine Mile Creek from school property to the lower mill site. This pedestrian steel bridge, 85’ length x 6’ width, placed on concrete abutments, would allow for an easy and safe manner for students to cross directly from the MCS campus to the outdoor classroom in the park. MCS involvement in this project began in 2021 with MCS teacher Tyler Cooper and MCS student Austin Raicht, in discussion and meetings with Village DPW and Town of Marcellus Highway Department personnel. With support from our County Legislator, Julie Abbott, a funding request was made to our NYS Senator, John Mannion, who helped to secure a NYS project grant of $180,000. Then, working with our local engineer, Joe Durand of TDK Engineering, along with Dan Bishop of the NYSDEC, and Carl Schwartz of the US Fish & Wildlife Agency, School, Village and Town employees became involved with soil testing, design, and survey of the bridge, as well as excavation and foundation work. After a number of months, the bridge, manufactured by a local company, Crossroads Highway Supplies, was delivered to the park site and installation of the bridge by Village and Town workers took place, in mid-July, 2023.
John P. Curtin, our former Mayor, began teaching Social Studies in 1963, at Roosevelt Junior High in Syracuse. He eventually moved on to teach at Corcoran High School, retiring in June of 1997. After his retirement from the Syracuse City School District, John spent 12 years as an adjunct professor at LeMoyne College, serving as a field supervisor of student teachers, many of whom are teachers here in Marcellus Central School District. In 1995, John was appointed to the Village Board, served as a Village Trustee for 13 years, and in 2010 he was elected Mayor, serving the people of Marcellus for 13 additional years until his retirement this past August. During that time, John was a respected leader and dedicated public servant, embarking on numerous projects that have enhanced the quality of life and character of our beloved Village.
During his administration, the Village saw completion of a portion of the Creekwalk known as Fred’s trail, drainage improvements, road reconstructions, beautification projects and upgrades to Village infrastructure, most notably the 8-million-dollar Wastewater Treatment Plant upgrade completed in 2019. Because of his unwavering commitment his students, family, staff and community, we find it fitting that the bridge and outdoor classroom be known as “Curtin’s Crossing”, and be a place where the boundaries between education and nature intertwine. On behalf of all of us at the Village, we thank you John, for all that you have done for the Village of Marcellus and we dedicate this bridge and classroom to you.
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Green Gateway Pedestrian Bridge
One part of the Green Gateway project involves the construction of a pedestrians-only footbridge, crossing the creek from school property to the lower mill site, which is now owned by the Village. A pedestrian steel bridge, 85’ length x 6’ width, placed on concrete abutments, would create an easy and safe manner for students to cross directly from the campus to the outdoor classroom. The process, which started in 2021, to acquire and install the bridge began with a request for funding from our NYS Senator, John Mannion, who helped to secure a State and Municipal (SAM) capital project grant of $180,000. After soil testing, design and survey, excavation and foundation work followed, and installation took place in mid-July, utilizing a crane and the many efforts of Village DPW and Town Highway workers. The bridge is one more excellent example of intermunicipal cooperation between the Village, the Town, and the Marcellus School District. |
July 2023
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Village Gateway Project History
In the summer of 2016, the Village Board discussed the demolition of the lower mill, and the Board subsequently authorized, as a public emergency and at the behest of the Code Enforcement Officer, the immediate demolition of the remaining structures of the lower mill. This demolition was completed, the Village assessing the costs (approximately $100,000) against the owner of property at 71 North Street. If the Village tax bill along with the re-levied expenses of the demolition was not paid by October 31, 2017, the Village taxes would then be re-levied to the Town and County taxes, which would be mailed in January of 2018. When the Town and County taxes were not paid, the County of Onondaga made the Village whole in April 2018. Subsequently, the lower mill property was scheduled for public auction in October. However, the Village asked the County to pull the sale because the future of this site became uncertain. There was legitimate concern that development, vastly out of alignment with the community’s character, would move into the area, since it was now environmentally clean and a much more attractive site. However, any development vastly out of alignment with the community’s character, especially for the Village’s gateway, was a serious concern for the Village Board.
Since the Village already owned a triangular shaped parcel that lies to the south, one that connects with the former mill site, it was thought that extending Village ownership over the entire piece would not only be a practical and environmental, but also enhance and make this a more attractive gateway to the Village. The Village also has plans dating back to 2005 and designed by SUNY ESF students and professors, to set up an environmental park in this area.
The Village enlisted the help of a grant writer to design, on a conceptual level, an innovative environmental initiative for our community titled “The Green Gateway.” The Village also solicited the support of the Marcellus School District and its Superintendent, local governmental officials, as well as a variety of local business owners, and community leaders.
The project was a vision to include a variety of eco-friendly and “green” initiatives including a solar panel garden (farm) on the former mill site, which would in turn help to power the nearby Village Waste Water Treatment Plant. Environmental students and staff at Marcellus Central School, with much support from the MCS Superintendent, were solicited to begin working on designs for the southern parcel of this site, including a number of creative designs such as outdoor classroom space (kiosks) for MCS environmental students, an ADA compliant fishing platform, public trails connecting to Village sidewalks and the Village creek walk as well as additional trees (arboretum) for residents as well as tourists alike to enjoy. Environmental students and staff at Marcellus Central School presented their designs to the Village Board during the 2018-2019 school year, and it is expected that their efforts will continue into the 2019-2020 school year as well.
The Village Board made a proposal to purchase the former mill site property from the County for public use and to establish what became known as “The Green Gateway.” The Board also presented the Gateway Project to the Onondaga County Executive to solicit his support. Our local County Legislator, Julie Abbott, acted as our spokesperson, advocating for approval from the County Legislature to purchase the former mill site. On August 6, 2019, the County Legislature unanimously approved the transfer of the tax delinquent property at 71 North Street to the Village of Marcellus for park purposes; and, that any and all unpaid interest and penalties on such parcel shall be discharged.
Thus continues a vision that began a number of years ago during the administration of former Mayor Fred Eisenberg, one that is not only very practical and environmentally sound, but also enhances and make a much more attractive gateway to our Village.
https://www.syracuse.com/news/2019/08/marcellus-plans-creekside-village-park-with-trails-fishing-on-site-of-demolished-mill.html
In the summer of 2016, the Village Board discussed the demolition of the lower mill, and the Board subsequently authorized, as a public emergency and at the behest of the Code Enforcement Officer, the immediate demolition of the remaining structures of the lower mill. This demolition was completed, the Village assessing the costs (approximately $100,000) against the owner of property at 71 North Street. If the Village tax bill along with the re-levied expenses of the demolition was not paid by October 31, 2017, the Village taxes would then be re-levied to the Town and County taxes, which would be mailed in January of 2018. When the Town and County taxes were not paid, the County of Onondaga made the Village whole in April 2018. Subsequently, the lower mill property was scheduled for public auction in October. However, the Village asked the County to pull the sale because the future of this site became uncertain. There was legitimate concern that development, vastly out of alignment with the community’s character, would move into the area, since it was now environmentally clean and a much more attractive site. However, any development vastly out of alignment with the community’s character, especially for the Village’s gateway, was a serious concern for the Village Board.
Since the Village already owned a triangular shaped parcel that lies to the south, one that connects with the former mill site, it was thought that extending Village ownership over the entire piece would not only be a practical and environmental, but also enhance and make this a more attractive gateway to the Village. The Village also has plans dating back to 2005 and designed by SUNY ESF students and professors, to set up an environmental park in this area.
The Village enlisted the help of a grant writer to design, on a conceptual level, an innovative environmental initiative for our community titled “The Green Gateway.” The Village also solicited the support of the Marcellus School District and its Superintendent, local governmental officials, as well as a variety of local business owners, and community leaders.
The project was a vision to include a variety of eco-friendly and “green” initiatives including a solar panel garden (farm) on the former mill site, which would in turn help to power the nearby Village Waste Water Treatment Plant. Environmental students and staff at Marcellus Central School, with much support from the MCS Superintendent, were solicited to begin working on designs for the southern parcel of this site, including a number of creative designs such as outdoor classroom space (kiosks) for MCS environmental students, an ADA compliant fishing platform, public trails connecting to Village sidewalks and the Village creek walk as well as additional trees (arboretum) for residents as well as tourists alike to enjoy. Environmental students and staff at Marcellus Central School presented their designs to the Village Board during the 2018-2019 school year, and it is expected that their efforts will continue into the 2019-2020 school year as well.
The Village Board made a proposal to purchase the former mill site property from the County for public use and to establish what became known as “The Green Gateway.” The Board also presented the Gateway Project to the Onondaga County Executive to solicit his support. Our local County Legislator, Julie Abbott, acted as our spokesperson, advocating for approval from the County Legislature to purchase the former mill site. On August 6, 2019, the County Legislature unanimously approved the transfer of the tax delinquent property at 71 North Street to the Village of Marcellus for park purposes; and, that any and all unpaid interest and penalties on such parcel shall be discharged.
Thus continues a vision that began a number of years ago during the administration of former Mayor Fred Eisenberg, one that is not only very practical and environmentally sound, but also enhances and make a much more attractive gateway to our Village.
https://www.syracuse.com/news/2019/08/marcellus-plans-creekside-village-park-with-trails-fishing-on-site-of-demolished-mill.html
Green Gateway Project
July 2021 Update
July 2021 Update
Fall 2022 Update
