November 1, 2021
The New York State Department of State today announced the completion of improvements at Kirkside Park in the Town of Roxbury, Delaware County. The $283,000 project, which was funded in part with a $135,000 Environmental Protection Fund Local Waterfront Revitalization Program (LWRP) grant, transformed an old barn into a commercial grade, modern kitchen. The kitchen will be used by residents to prepare food products using local farm produce for the local and regional markets.
New York State Secretary of State Rossana Rosado said, “Congratulations to the Town of Roxbury for completing improvements to Kirkside Park as part of the Local Waterfront Revitalization Program. The transformation of the western old barn into a new community kitchen will help support the economic vitality of the area’s many farmers and local entrepreneurs, which will benefit the entire region. The Department of State is proud to help play a role in the restoration of this important regional landmark.”
Kirkside Park is a former 11-acre estate purchased by residents and donated to the Town of Roxbury with the stipulation that it remains a public park in perpetuity. With the assistance of various state, local and federal agencies, private donations and fundraising events, the Town has undertaken a series of restorations to the park. As part of this latest project, the underutilized, western old barn was transformed into a fully equipped commercial kitchen for residents to rent to prepare products for the local and regional food markets.
Senator Peter Oberacker said, “The Kirkside Park project encompasses historic preservation, economic development, and an innovative agricultural initiative all rolled into one. I commend the visionaries with the MARK Project and the Town of Roxbury for spearheading this project that is only the starting point for what lies ahead."
Assembly Member Chris Tague said, “This project is a clever and incredibly productive use of an underutilized structure, enabling residents to use all of the amenities of a modern kitchen to produce professional-level goods, all while making use of our unbeatable local agricultural products. My hope is that this kitchen will serve as a springboard for aspirational individuals in our community to begin small businesses of their own and give them a chance to show off what they can do with the fresh and delicious produce you can only find in rural upstate New York.”
Roxbury Town Supervisor Allen Hinkley said, “The community kitchen in Kirkside Park is a critical component to the infrastructure needed for area Farmers to develop value added product that bolsters their income both during and after the Catskills' short growing season. Many farmers and local producers cannot afford to incur the expense of developing a certified kitchen space, so this shared use space allows for the entire agricultural community to improve their ability to cook and package goods for sale, long after the growing season is over. A true economic engine for area farmers and local producers.”
The Department of State's Local Waterfront Revitalization Program (LWRP), funded under Title 11 of the Environmental Protection Fund, provides matching grants on a competitive basis to eligible villages, towns, cities, and counties located along New York’s coasts or designated inland waterways for planning, design, and construction projects to revitalize communities and waterfronts. This program helps communities breathe new life into the underused assets of the local waterfronts in ways that ensure successful and sustainable revitalization. To learn more about the Local Waterfront Revitalization Program, visit here.
More details about Kirkside Park could be found at http://roxburyny.com/parks-recreation-historical-preservation-tourism/
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