Hilton Village Park project receives needed funds

The Village of Hilton has been approved to receive $166,500 in funding for the Hilton Village Park project. The funding was made available under the Land & Water Conservation Fund, according to Senator George Maziarz (R-C North Tonawanda), and Assemblyman Charles Nesbitt (R,C-Albion).

"I am thrilled the Village of Hilton's project has been approved for these important funds," said Senator Maziarz. "The acquisition of the needed land and subsequent development will yield a park the entire community can enjoy for years to come."

The project involves the acquisition of 6.82 acres of land and development of the site by constructing a parking area, a new pedestrian bridge, a canoe launch on Salmon Creek, a year-round picnic shelter, restrooms and a 1500-linear foot wood chip trail.

Created in 1964, the federal Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF) shares the revenues from coastal non-renewable resources with state and local governments for the establishment of permanent recreational facilities. This fund is authorized to provide up to $900 million for federal and non-federal (stateside) programs. The stateside funding was eliminated in 1996.

In 1998, Governor Pataki created the Empire State Task Force for LWCF to increase public awareness and to support Congressional efforts to re-establish stateside funding. Through the success of the Task Force's efforts, since 2000, Congress has appropriated $270 million, with nearly $7.1 million for New York state for the 2002 LWCF program.