PLAN STRESSES PASSIVE USES FOR NEW STATE PARK

Buffalo News,   April 24, 2001  by Thomas J. Dolan

        Amherst officials Monday unveiled a master plan for the new Amherst State Park that proposes to restore landscape and wildlife areas and add walking paths and passive recreation.

       A new wrinkle, meanwhile, developed in plans to reuse the St. Mary of the Angels motherhouse, located in the center of the state park. The Catholic Diocese of Toronto has offered to turn the massive 1927 building into a retreat center and religious shrine, according to town officials.

       In all, seven would-be developers offered competing ideas for the motherhouse, with two proposing to convert it into a new Amherst Town Hall and four offering to develop it as senior citizen housing, officials said.

       The proposed blueprint for the park calls for 41 parking spaces and a network of crushed stone paths that are designed to encourage walking and other passive activities favored by advocates and area residents.

       The master plan was handed to Town Board members during a Monday work session.

       "The idea is to keep the site (natural) without a great deal of change," Amherst Planning Director Eric W. Gillert said.

       Hiking, bird-watching, gardening and picnicking are among the uses encouraged by the plan, according to officials. Automobile traffic would be discouraged by limiting roads and parking on the 77-acre site, which straddles Ellicott Creek between Glen Park and Sheridan Drive.

       Gillert said park planners wanted to emphasize "getting out of the auto safely and then using the park on foot."

       "It's not conducive to rollerblading or to bikes with narrow tires," he said.

       Amherst Supervisor Susan J. Grelick called it "a very good beginning step" in need of more details.

       Grelick said she hopes for more public discussion and debate as the plan becomes more refined.

       "Ultimately, it will be the public that will decide . . . because the park belongs to everybody," she said.

       Main features of the master plan include:

       A system of main and secondary hiking and biking paths stretching from Sheridan Drive to the Glen Park bridge -- running alongside the creek for much of the way. Other paths would run from Mill to Reist streets, bridging the creek at the center of the park.

       Restoration of the Reist Mill, an orchard and other nature areas, which would be used as wildlife refuges.

       Modifying the main entrance on Mill Street to preserve brick walls and providing 25 parking spaces behind the motherhouse, where restrooms and other public amenities, including a canoe-launching area, also would be added.

       Acquiring about 20 adjacent acres from several owners to expand the wildlife refuge areas.

       The state and town purchased the land and motherhouse in 1999 for $5 million. Once developed, the park will be operated and maintained by the town.