ALBANY, N.Y. -- As the summer wraps up in the Capital Region, U.S. Senator Charles Schumer hopes perhaps by next year, Albany's signature downtown concert series "Alive at Five" will be bigger and better. He is touting a new bill that would bring federal funding to community parks like the Corning Preserve.
"It's one of the many wonderful and special events here in downtown Albany, that allows residents and visitors alike to take advantage of the waterfront, but we're standing here today because there's much more we can do," Schumer, D-New York, said on Tuesday.
Schumer's proposal would open up millions in federal funding for community parks. As it stands, that money mostly only goes to state and national parks.
"Those of you who located within the City of Albany know that national parks can be pretty far away to reach," said Schumer. "And while New York state has beautiful parks, the ones in the hometown are the ones we should be and would be visiting the most."
Schumer says that if the city was given money to improve the preserve, it would in turn boost revenue and attract more people to the area, but he as well as city leaders think there are transportation and connectivity issues at the public park.
"The issues are due to the fact that we got a 12-lane highway that cuts down the preserve from downtown Albany," said Schumer.
City leaders are already looking at a plan to create bike and pedestrian paths, improve access to five boating locations and update access from the Maiden Lane connection downtown. They welcome the plan and say the funding would definitely help.