Article Contributed by
Rotary Club of Jamestown
Greg Edwards, CEO of the Gebbie Foundation since 2013 brought the members of the Rotary Club of Jamestown up to date on plans for the Chadakoin River Development. The success of the City’s first urban design plan has prompted a new plan, Urban Design Plan 2.0, with its focus in and around the river basin of the Chadakoin River.
The concept of creating a strategic business plan to guide development along the Chadakoin River was a collaboration of the Gebbie Foundation, the Chautauqua County Industrial Development Agency, the Jamestown Board of Public Utilities, and the City of Jamestown with the goal of activating the River Corridor and downtown Basin areas for greater public use. The initiative intends to build on projects undertaken by the Gebbie Foundation and the City of Jamestown that address public access and use of the River and foresees enhanced navigations of the Basin area to stimulate increased economic activity throughout the downtown area.
A study of the river from McCrea Point to the Warner Dam resulted in recommendations for activities and strategies in the North Basin, the South Basin, and the River Corridor. The North Basin would include areas for recreational and entertainment complementing the National Comedy Center and other downtown attractions.
The South Basin includes the riverbank from Panzarella Park and the Chautauqua Brick property and can afford many recreational and commercial opportunities.
The River Corridor extends from McCrea Point to the downtown basin area at Panzarella Park and offers limited commercial development opportunities but does offer an example of an urban waterway for recreation and tourism.
The river Basin affords a small lake suitable for recreation such as a launch for kayaking, canoeing, and pedal boats, as well as a dock for water taxi service and family-friendly activities and outdoor events, a welcome center and interpretive educational signage.
This exciting plan for usage of the Chadakoin and the downtown river area will allow a wide range of marketing opportunities to all ages and to a wide variety of interests.
Edwards was a founding member of the AM Rotary Club. He is a graduate of Allegheny College and the University of Toledo Law School and is best known for his prior service as Chautauqua County Executive.
