BY JIMMY LAWTON
North Country This Week

OGDENSBURG – Mayor Jeffrey Skelly wants a ‘Regional Recreational Facility’ included in the city’s plan for the Downtown Revitalization Initiative grant application.

Skelly envisions a recreation center that would transform key sections of the city along the St. Lawrence and Oswegatchie Rivers into a hub of opportunity and activity for the youth of the city and region.

“For far too long city residents traveled to Canton, Potsdam and Watertown for modern recreational facilities, and sadly, many parents cannot provide those opportunities for their youth – the city will act decisively to change this so all our youth in this region have access to world-class facilities,” Skelly said in a prepared statement.

Skelly said the city has long struggled to find development for it’s vacant waterfront properties and while past councils have had ideas, he’s ready to act.

“Talking about things for years doesn’t move the ball forward. I’m ready to take action and take it now,” he said.

His plan calls for the design, construction and opening of a new large multi-purpose regional recreational facility that will be complete with indoor and outdoor sports equipment, a state-of-the-art concrete skateboard park, and outdoor picnic areas for public use.

The Mayor’s proposal also calls for the complete overhaul of Morissette Park with improvements such as a new pavilion that will be the centerpiece of activity for family gatherings, a place to celebrate special events and the focal point for visitors arriving here by water.

“A beautiful riverfront pavilion that can be used for outdoor music and food festivals and cultural events is just what is needed to invigorate our park,” he said.

The park would also see the replacement of Kids Kingdom, tennis, pickleball and volleyball courts, as well as a larger horseshoe pit venue.

Skelly wants to expand the facilities available at the Lockwood Arena with a new outdoor skating rink, modernization of the current indoor skating facility and four new boat ramps near the twin bridges.

Mayor Skelly is hopeful his colleagues will support him in seeking funding for the multi-million-dollar project through the state Downtown Revitalization Initiative (DRI), Federal and State Grants.

He says the local share of the project would come from money saved through the ongoing restructuring of city government and consolidation of services.

Skelly plans to pitch his proposal to the full city council in the coming weeks and he intends to seek funding immediately for planners to begin the design of these improvements and new facilities in 2022.