Emily DeWindt with Barton & Loguidice talks about some of the options for Lakeside Park in Mayville. The project is expected to go out to bid in the fall and begin the following spring. P-J photo by Gregory Bacon

MAYVILLE – Village leaders are hoping to break ground on Lakeside Park’s improvement project a year from now.

On Tuesday, Barton & Loguidice held a public forum updating Mayville residents on the plans for park, which include improving the landing plaza near the Chautauqua Belle, installing a handicapped-accessible kayak launch, and installing a waterfront pedestrian and bicycle trail.

Back in 2022, the village, with the help of Barton & Loguidice, created a master plan for the park, which sits on Route 394. There were seven possible improvements and the village decided to move forward with three of them – the landing plaza, the kayak launch and the trail, at a combined cost of around $900,000. The remaining four were all higher in costs.

The three projects were sought and approved for state funding, with the village required to pay a 25% match, $175,000. The county’s Partnership for Economic Growth also contributed $50,000 to the project.

On Tuesday, Nicole Cleary and Emily DeWindt with Barton & Loguidice gave an update on the project and also invited those at the meeting to vote on the “theme” of the park – Lakeside, Railroad Industrial, Park Rustic, or Nautical Industrial. The theme selected will determine sculptures, colors and bicycle racks chosen for the park.

Cleary said the goal is to wrap up plans and then go out to bid in the fall, with work beginning in the spring of 2025.

There were around 40 people in attendance at the meeting. While there were few comments or objections made regarding the path or the landing zone, many people questioned the location of the kayak launch.

In the plans presented, the kayak launch would be installed near the Carlson Community Center.

Mike Kingsley with Evergreen Outfitters, which is located on Route 394, said he would prefer to have the launch on the northern end of the park.

He said there is a lot of activity near the community center and users would have to carry their kayaks further to launch them.

Mayor Rick Syper said while he agrees, he said the current location was selected because of the ability to make the launch compliant with the Americans with Disabilities Act. He said installing a launch at the far end of the park would double the cost of the launch, because of the terrain.

Several people at the meeting disagreed with the proposed location, saying it would be difficult for kayers to get to when children programs are going on or when weddings take place at the park.

After the meeting, Syper said the Lakeside Park Committee will discuss audience members’ concerns and see what other options are available. He said from his perspective, he doesn’t want to add to the cost of the project, saying this year his department heads were asked to keep a flat budget and he still had to raise taxes because of the planned park improvements. “It could increase it by $100,000,” he said.

Another concern of Syper’s is what will happen to the property formerly owned by some members of the Webb family. That land was going to be used to build a 34 unit, $17 million condominium project, but was scrapped back in 2022.

The property was purchased by Erie Bank of Warren and is currently on the market for $995,000.

Syper said if a kayak launch is installed at the northern end of the park property, it could be impacted by a developer of the vacant property.