Some of the projects the Public Spaces committee is supervising are:

Griebel Park Restoration Project
The Liberty CDC is administering a $101,000 matching grant awarded by New York State Parks & Recreation. In May 2005, George Franz and students from Cornell's Landscape Architecture Dept presented four proposed designs for this work, and a working plan has been formulated based on the design of Melissa Crane. It is anticipated that preliminary work can begin in spring, 2006.

The Main Street Parking Project includes the parking areas from Church St. running north to LaPolt Park. The Cornell students also showed their designs for this project, and the committee is reviewing these to create a final design, which will include pathway restoration (alleyways connecting parking lots to Main Street), unified signage, stream landscaping and walkway, and restoration and lighting. The aim is to complete the project in time for Liberty 's Bicentennial in 2007.

Mill Street Gateway Project
In fall 2005, Liberty CDC sent applications for matching grants for façade or storefront renovations to merchants along Mill Street. Funds are available (matched by the building/business owner) from the Beautification Initiative Grant (awarded by Sullivan County). A number of business owners have applied and work will be starting on their projects in Spring 2006. The grant also includes funds for design of the inner rings of the roundabouts included in the current NYS Dept. of Transport project. A request to the public for design ideas brought in a number of creative proposals, which are being considered by the Public Spaces Committee.

The Swan Lake Main Street Revitalization Project is underway. A class in the Cornell Department of Cities & Urban Planning created a design proposal for the revitalization of Swan Lake 's Main Street, as part of Cornell's Land Grant Program. The students visited Swan Lake in September to research the project and meet with residents, and the proposal was presented in December at a public meeting attended by about 40 Swan Lake residents. The full report and plans were completed in January 2006, and a pdf file can be downloaded from the link opposite. In April 2006, Swan Lake Renaissance were awarded a Category C Grant of $5,000 by Sullivan Renaissance to begin a three year project based on the recommendations in the plan. In August 2006 they won the 2006 Golden Feather Award of $50,000 through Sullivan Renaissance, towards the completion of this goal. In the coming months Swan Lake residents will be invited to public meetings to establish a list of projects, priorities and a time-line.

The lake at Griebel Park
zoom view

Liberty Downtown Historic District

Liberty Sign Law Guildelines

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Commercial & Industrial Development

Downtown Revitalization

Entrepreneurship

Tourism