A state grant will help provide playground and other upgrades at Richard O. Hartley Park in the village of Lakewood. P-J file photo

LAKEWOOD — A large, lakeside park in the village will soon be getting a makeover.

Due to a $456,200 grant from the state, Lakewood will be upgrading the playground equipment while also addressing outdated infrastructure at Richard O. Hartley Park, including the installation of rain gardens, shade trees, landscaping with erosion control measures and other improvements. The park is located at the end of Chautauqua Avenue in Lakewood.

The grant was recently announced by Gov. Kathy Hochul as part of $196 million for 488 projects across the state. The funding was awarded through the Regional Economic Development Council Initiative.

Hochul said $525 million in resources from state agencies was made available to support community revitalization and business growth consistent with the REDC strategic plans. Additionally, projects within each region were eligible for a share of $300 million in Industrial Development Bond Cap to support low-cost, tax-exempt bond financing for qualified projects.

“The economic toll of the pandemic has been felt in every corner of the state, which is why we must ensure that our equitable economic recovery does the same,” she said. “This new round of funding, rooted in a bottom-up approach that partners with local leaders and utilizes unique regional strengths, will be another important tool as we work to transform communities across New York State into places where people will want to live, work and visit for generations to come.”

Lakewood Mayor Randy Holcomb said he is glad to see the park project will be able to move forward due to the funding. The playground upgrade will include various play structures and areas including swings, slides and tunnels.

“We are excited for Lakewood and grateful to the LCDC for this project,” Holcomb said, referencing the Lakewood Community Development Corporation. “The new playground will be a valuable community resource for all to enjoy.”

The Lakewood Community Development Corporation is an entity that plans, promotes, coordinates and executes programs to improve the quality of life in the community. The organization does so by promoting rehabilitation and development of residential, commercial and recreational facilities, focusing mainly on downtown Lakewood.

“LCDC is honored to bring this project to Lakewood,” said William Evans III, president of the LCDC. “It will benefit the children in our community, attract young families to our village and help drive traffic to the businesses on Chautauqua Avenue.”

Through the Regional Economic Development Council Initiative, the village also received $250,064 to address storm water management on Fairmount Avenue. This will be accomplished through wetland complexes being engineered, which will include five wetlands. This project will decrease future flooding episodes, slow the release of storm water, reduce erosion and improve water quality in Chautauqua Lake.