Mon, Nov 23 2009
|
A vision for Walnut Beach Plan would use breakwall as base for 1.3-mile path to Ashtabula Lighthouse Star BeaconAshtabula City Manager Tony Cantagallo visited a similar breakwater walkway in the Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ontario, region last winter and was impressed.
"Their breakwall is probably 12 to 14 feet wide and has a 10-inch pad on top," says Cantagallo, who walked it New Year's Eve. "It was just gorgeous. It was like a gigantic sidewalk that went to the end of the breakwall." Cantagallo says the concept would be even better when applied to Ashtabula's situation because it would terminate at the Ashtabula Lighthouse, which recently transferred to the Ashtabula Lighthouse Restoration and Preservation Society. Link to the past Built in 1905 and moved to it's present location 11 years later, the Ashtabula Lighthouse has the distinction of being the last manned lighthouse on the Great Lakes - it had a keeper onsite until 1973. The organization plans to use the steel lighthouse for education and eventually open it to public access. However, getting people to the water-locked structure will be a challenge, says Bob Frisbie, the group's historian. Access to the lighthouse over the existing breakwall is extremely dangerous. The breakwater starts out as a fairly smooth, even surface, but soon turns into a "jumbled bunch of rocks from that point on," says Frisbie. "It's very unsafe to walk out there." Without a pedestrian walkway, access to the lighthouse would have to be by boat. "It really is a cumbersome way to get people out to the lighthouse," Frisbie says. The walkway would solve that issue. "I think it's great," says Frisbie. "It's a good way to take the public out, a safe way. I think it would be a great asset." The cost Based upon the preliminary scope prepared by Smolen, the project has been pegged at $6 million with enhancements like a water line, parking lot, lights, signs and boardwalk connection adding another $2 million. Sundin says Alpena's project cost about $800,000, but that was five years ago and a much shorter section. Grippi says they wouldn't dare dream about a project of this magnitude if it were not for the NRD money. Brewer says the fund will be created by parties who have acknowledge responsibility for polluting the river - potentially a dozen firms. They have been negotiating with NRD Trustees to determine an amount, however, no agreement has been reached. Brewer says if an agreement is not reached through negotiations, it could go to court. However, in most cases, legal action is not required. 
More from the Home Page section
Santa hits mall to delight young of all ages |
Print this story
Post to del.icio.us
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
|
 |
|
|
||||||||||
|
||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
© 2009, Ashtabula Star Beacon
P.O. Box 2100, Ashtabula OH 44005-2100 (440) 998-2323, Send news tips and feedback 
|
Popular Business directory links - Ashtabula Apartments | Ashtabula Attorneys | Ashtabula Auto Dealers | Ashtabula Auto Parts | Ashtabula Auto Repair | Ashtabula Beauty Salons | Ashtabula Car Rental | Ashtabula Dentists | Ashtabula Doctors | Ashtabula Flowers | Ashtabula Hotels | Ashtabula Insurance | Ashtabula Loans | Ashtabula Mortgages | Ashtabula Movers | Ashtabula Pizza | Ashtabula Realtors | Ashtabula Restaurants | Ashtabula Storage | Ashtabula Tax Preparation | Ashtabula Travel | Ashtabula Featured | More...
|
|
Community Newspaper Holdings, Inc. • CNHI Classified Advertising Network • CNHI News Service |
