TOWN OF TONAWANDA, N.Y. (WKBW) — Town of Tonawanda leaders discussed plans for the first major project in the town in nearly 30 years during a meeting Monday evening.
The project includes an overhaul of three areas of the Town of Tonawanda including Brighton Pool, the area around it and Lincoln Arena.
The details of the project were both criticized and applauded by residents in during a packed town board meeting.
“This means we are losing a pool where children are able to learn how to swim and to have unstructured play time,” said one neighbor. Another neighbor commented, “I just want to commend everyone on the town board for sticking with this project.”
Brighton Pool is set to be demolished in place of an ice arena. Town officials expect architecture engineering firm Carmina Wood Morris to begin work on the project in August or September and be completed by August 2020.
A splash pad is being planned for the area next to the ice arena, which will accommodate up to 200 people open to all ages and abilities. Down the road, the Lincoln Arena is expected to be converted from an ice rink to an all-purpose field house.
“We have a project that we believe is not only going to break even, it’s going to make money,” says Town of Tonawanda Supervisor Joe Emminger.
The project will cost an estimated $8.5 million. Town officials say they hope to bring down the cost with grants.
