By Randy Koniowka
Viewing the second largest waterfall in New York State was, at one time, a perilous task. The brave sightseer would need to climb a barb wired chain link fence, only to wind up knee deep in sumac. Others would dart across traffic and "hug" the concrete wall that lines North Mohawk Street. But those days are now over.
Brookfield Renewable Power celebrated the second year of Falls View Park Sunday afternoon with a community day. The event provided music, ice cream and spectacular views of the Cohoes Falls for the nearly 300 people who attended.
The park, constructed and maintained by Brookfield, has become a major attraction in the City of Cohoes and across the Capital Region. During it's first year in operation, the facility saw 18,000 visitors.
According to Brookfield's Communications Director Julie Smith-Galvin, it was an opportunity to show the company's commitment to the neighborhood and the City of Cohoes. "We want to be good neighbors and the community response has been great. This is something that we are definitely considering doing every year."
Brookfield Renewable Power has just received a 40 year license from the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission to run the School Street power plant. The facility generates 22,000 megawatt hours of electricity, enough to power 3,000 homes.
Many in attendance applauded the park facilities and Brookfield's commitment to Cohoes. "It turned out beautiful," said Kermitt Bossard of Cohoes. "I have come here numerous times. It really shows Cohoes is coming back."
Cohoes Mayor John McDonald said that over the last several years, the city has had a great partnership with Brookfield. "This is fantastic, we needed to improve access to the falls, they have really come through on their commitment to that effort.
This year, Brookfield has provided even greater access to the falls by constructing a staircase, allowing sightseers to travel to the base of the historic waterfall. "It's magnificent," said Herb Hyde of Cohoes. "Standing at the base of the falls and looking up at them is breathtaking."
Also a part of Sunday's event was the presentation of a 5,000 dollar Brookfield United States Foundation grant to the Cohoes Multi Service Senior Center's meals on wheels program. The program provides fresh meals to the home bound at no cost. According to Smith-Galvin, the grant is available to any non profit providing basic needs such as food, clothing and shelter. "It's designed to help neighbors in need."
Falls View Park will be open daily from dawn to dusk from now until November 1st.
Great article...now lets see if, somehow, we can get more water to flow at all times during the year....a fall without water is like a windmill without wind....useless
ReplyDeleteGreat idea, but unfortunately it seems unlikely to happen. The license recently awarded to Brookfield does not require that they significantly increase water flow over the falls. And forty years is a really long time. This is one reason why it is regrettable that the recent decision by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission to award Brookfield the license was made without a thorough and open review process that would have given greater consideration to the public interest. It is supposed to be the Commission's responsibility to act in the interest of the public, not merely to be a bureaucratic rubber stamp for entrenched projects. After all, the waterways are a public resource that should be utilized in a way most beneficial to citizens.
ReplyDeleteThe falls are one of the area's great natural treasures, and having appreciable amounts of water going over them whenever possible would certainly be an asset. They can build all the observation platforms they want, but those are not much good if there's so little to observe so much of the time.
On 5/16/2010 a very fine day, the falls were lower than the opening day and the lower levels were closed to the public even thought the park steward was on duty. According to him his boss is the only one with the key and the authority to open them. It seems Brookfield is too nervous since the idiot fell to his death in Schaghticoke. Another promise broken by Brookfield!
ReplyDeleteI will suggest to Julie Smith Galvin that a method of communicating to the public on the conditions of the lower levels be implemented. Web cam would help the steward do his job and could easily be accessed by the public too.
Brian Peters