More than $1 million approved for Erie County portion of Niagara Greenway

Six projects have been approved for more than $1 million in grants from the Buffalo and Erie County Greenway Fund, the fund’s Standing Committee announced.

The largest award for beautification and improvements along the Buffalo and Erie County portion of the Greenway – $420,000 – will go to Buffalo Olmsted Parks Conservancy for the second phase of its wayfinding and signage project.

An award of $257,792 will be given to the Buffalo Scholastic Rowing Association for the second phase of its Inclusive Rowing on the Buffalo River program.

Also receiving funding were the Cazenovia Community Resource Center, $118,400 for a sailing school classroom; the Buffalo Lighthouse Association, $105,000 for the site stabilization project at the South Buffalo Lighthouse; the Citizen Coalition for Wildlife and Environment, $95,000 for improvements to the Alt Nature Trail and Alt Nature Center; and Buffalo Niagara Waterkeeper, $56,650 for expanding connections between the Greenway and the Buffalo Niagara Blueway.

The Greenway Committee receives $2 million a year from the New York Power Authority as part of the settlement for the federal license for the Niagara Power Project in 2007. Funding goes toward developing and improving trails and green space along the Niagara River.