BUILDING TACTICAL REVITALIZATION PLAN DOWNTOWN

LAKEFRONT MANAGEMENT AND
DEVELOPMENT STRATEGY
VILLAGE OF WATKINS GLEN
SCHUYLER COUNTY, NEW YORK
In 2009, the Laberge Group was commissioned by the Schuyler
County Partnership for Economic Development (SCOPED) to develop
the Village of Watkins Glen Lakefront Management and Development
Strategy. Watkins Glen is situated at the southern tip of Seneca Lake,
in the heart of the Finger Lakes region of New York State.
The great waterfronts of the world share a stubborn insistence on
quality design with a vision for grand public spaces that are often
attached to neighborhoods that act as a intimate places to escape the
crowds. Through this Strategy, Watkins Glen hopes to capture “the
magic” of waterfronts and to pave the way for a new vision that builds
on the Village’s history and unique character.
Implementation of the Strategy will allow the Village to not only
imagine itself as a place where living, working and playing are linked
to the unique natural resource of Seneca Lake, but to consider the
possibility that this resource can be experienced as a continuous
waterfront system. From vibrant public spaces, fresh-water beaches,
tree-lined, and pedestrian scaled trails, the waterfront vision will
achieve a future new image that is a priceless asset, capable of
generating an immeasurable return for generations to come. As a result,
five focused elements with specific goals and strategies were created
for the Village. These five focused elements included:
Physical Improvements (Seneca Lakefront Improvements,
Clute Park/Tank Beach Improvements, and Seneca Canal
Improvements)
Access & Connections (Regional Access, Local Access &
Improvements, and Water Transportation Improvements)
Signage & Streetscape (Signage, Streetscape, and Design
Guidelines, Site Planning & Land Use Regulations)
Economic Development (Tourism, Recreational & Cultural
Activities, Economic Development Opportunities, and Land
Use Recommendations)
Sustainability & Environmental Quality (Reduce, Reuse &
Recycle, Natural Resources, and Education & Policy)
Contact: Brian Williams, Economic & Community Development
Specialist at (607) 535-4341
ENG INEERING A RC HITEC TURE SURV EYING PLANNING
3.26
Albany Office
4 Computer Drive West
Dover, Albany, NY Kohl 12205 & Partners et al
(518) 458-7112 Fax: (518) 458-1879
clientservices@labergegroup.com
www.labergegroup.com
Utica Office
5718 Cavanaugh Road
Marcy, NY 13403
(315) 768-6220 Fax: (518) January 768-2432 11, 2013