BY PAUL MITCHELL
North Country This Week

CANTON – There is no question Willow Island/Canton Island Park is a beautiful piece of property.

The question lies what to do with it?

On Thursday night, a dozen or more village residents chimed in on what should and should not be done to enhance the property.

On hand to listen were representatives from Whitham Planning Design and Landscape Architecture, Ithaca, consultants hired by the village to analysis property features and public input then produce a conceptual plan.

A major component of the enhancement project centers around a covered outdoor performance space. But that concept was met with negative comments.

Village resident Mark McKenna cited heavy traffic and flooding as detriments to such a venture. He noted that a study indicated that 16,090 vehicles per day travel between Gouverneur Street and Riverside Drive.

“A better place for a bandshell is Bend in the River Park where there’s plenty of parking,” McKenna said.

Michael Crowe brought up the idea of a portable stage.

Richard Grover said parking is an issue.

“If you start expanding for parking then it’s not a park but a parking lot,” he said. “I cannot visualize a bandshell. It’s a great idea but in the wrong, wrong, wrong place.”

Village resident Sean O’Brien disagreed with a traffic problem.

“Traffic is not a deterrent but an asset. All these people in all these cars is a wonderful opportunity,” he stated.

Others commented that a permanent structure in the park would sacrifice the property’s natural beauty.

“It’s a beautiful park that should be kept as a beautiful little park,” said Mike Scriminger, a local musician who fully supports some sort of venue for concerts.

Concerns were also expressed of maintenance costs associated with a permanent structure in the park. And one resident said mosquitos would be a problem.

Canton’s Director of Economic Development Leigh Rodriguez said there is no master plan in place and the public informational session will assist the consultants in their conceptual designs.

“The information gathered will help the consultants to develop concepts which will then be shared, discussed and publicly vetted prior to any implementation,” she stated earlier.

The current sculpture garden on the island is owned by Grasse River Heritage; the remainder of the island property is owned by the village.

Michele Palmer, the project lead for Whitham, presented an overview of the design process.

She said her team has a goal to present a draft to the public in early 2023 with a small implementation project possible later in the 2023.

Palmer also said a definitive plan could generate future grant funding.