The Rotary Club Pavilion was dedicated Tuesday evening with about 30 people in attendance.
Bob O’Connor, Rotary Club of Lockport president, introduced Mayor John Lombardi III, who spoke within the pavilion, in sight of the Adam Street Lift Bridge and mere feet from the Erie Canal’s waters.
“Everything you people touch turns to gold,” he said.
Other speakers included Dave Alexander, District 7090 governor, who was also presented with a check for $2,000.
“Thank you so much for this, it really makes a difference in the world and we know we are winning the fight to end polio,” he said.
Alexander also noted that creating an active, walking space by developing the corridor was a benefit to the community.
Harry Sicherman of Erie Canalway National Heritage Corridor also talked about all the great projects that had been done in Lockport. He noted that the community of Lockport was especially good at creating projects, even stepping up to take matters into its own hands.
Looking back to 1997, Sicherman said there was interest in developing Richmond Avenue. The idea came about to demolish the buildings on what is now Canal Street until finally, “the community stepped up. And first the community stepped up and said, ‘Please don’t.’ and then the community stepped up and said, ‘Don’t!’ and then they put their money where their mouth is and hired a historic preservation architect out of Rochester. … He told us how this property could be saved, how buildings could be saved … and you know what’s there now. It’s a real asset. A fantastic project for the community.”
Knowing all this, Sicherman said when the drawings for the pavilion came across his desk, he was all for it.
Brendan Simon, western regional canal engineer for New York State Canal Corp., also spoke briefly. The agency had acquired a grant to pay for most of the project, he said, estimating $150,000 was put into the pavilion.
“I can’t say much more than has been said here. It’s a great project for the community and we are happy to be a part of,” he said.
Lockport Rotary members sold 92 “bricks” commemorating the names of their donors approaching the pavilion, as well as soliciting donations from small businesses, including Spalding Hardware. Elaine Farchione & Orleans Monument donated the bronze plaque at the corner of the structure. Restrooms are also on site.