Riverwalk, Regional Dock and Pavilion

The Town and Village of Clayton, NY has taken on the challenges of the 21st century – to embrace economic change and further enhance the Thousand Islands region as a highly desirable place to not only visit but to live, work and play. To achieve its goals, the Town and Village of Clayton have turned their energy and resources to one of the region’s most unique and valuable assets – its broad and diverse waterfront on the Saint Lawrence Seaway.

Over the course of 12 years, the Village has executed numerous improvements to the waterfront to enhance public access to and from the river. The Professional Services provided by Aubertine and Currier (A&C) for the Clayton Riverwalk include architectural, civil & structural engineering, land surveying, bidding, construction administration, and inspections for the final three (3) Phases of the project. A&C’s design involvement included a great deal of public outreach and meetings.  From acquiring the easements required by each of the businesses bordering the waterway to public workshops to showcase the project and conduct public discussions and incorporation of the public’s views and concepts.

Phase 1 received funding from the Department of State (DOS) and the Saint Lawrence Seaway Development Corporation (SLSDC) and was completed in 2006 which consisted of replacing the deteriorated dock structure along the St. Lawrence River and the design and construction of a new seawall, dock structure, and concrete sidewalks adjacent to the dock.  A new entertainment pavilion and gateway structure for public concerts was also designed which included a built-in amphitheater and lawn seating.

Some notable features of Phase II and IIB include handicap-accessible walking surfaces, replacement of existing site lighting to match other portions of the Riverwalk, replacement of existing sidewalks with colored concrete to match other portions of the Riverwalk, and the Regional Dock and replacement of existing deteriorating seawall at the Regional Dock.  A&C obtained NYS DEC, OGS, Dept. of State, and US Army Corps of Engineers permitting for the seawall replacement as well as a new pedestrian walkway over the St. Lawrence River.  An NYS OGS Easement for Grants of Lands underwater was secured for a pedestrian walkway that covers the existing shoreline.  Coordination and accommodation for property owners affected by the new pedestrian walk were also provided.

In addition to Professional Design Services, Phase III also consisted of the development of a conceptual feasibility study and cost estimates.  Considerations included making all portions of the Riverwalk readily accessible with direct access routes to it, developing a vacant lot into a park area featuring an accessible viewing area and ramp down to the level of the Riverwalk, upgrading and brightening narrow, dark areas that lead to the Riverwalk, and reconstruction of deteriorating and unsafe concrete seawalls with more durable steel sheet piling.  A&C also served as a local representative during construction and assisted the land acquisition specialist with communication with the property owners to help the project proceed smoothly.  The conceptual study was used by the Village of Clayton to apply for and receive a federal grant that was awarded through the NYS DOT Enhancement Program, which paid for 75% of the project.