This year the City of Oswego will be expanding its recreational projects.

“It’s actually a comprehensive vision that we laid out six years ago and we’re following through on it. It may sound like a lot of investment and it certainly is but it pays off relatively quickly if done right,” Mayor Billy Barlow said.

An indicator of what the city’s “done right” is in the record sales tax the city generated in 2021. Over $17 million was generated, according to the mayor.

Barlow is not surprised that folks decided to spend in Oswego and plans to continue that trend with new recreational projects like Tiki Tours on the Waterfront and a skate park along the East Linear Riverwalk.

 “People I think will come in to use these boats and experience these tours, maybe they’ll grab dinner on their way in and out of town or they spend time here and get a hotel for the night. I think it will end up generating revenue,” Barlow said.

Barlow hopes to include narrated historical tours on the Tiki Tours, a project which will cost more than $100,000. The tours should be up and running by July of this year.

The skate park will be under 24/7 surveillance and is coming in as a $400,000 project. Construction will start late summer and the park should be up and running by October.

American Rescue Plan funding is being used for both projects.

“Two days removed from the speech I think the skate park is the most popular which I’m surprised about but pleased,” Barlow said.

Other project investments include converting traffic lights to LED lights, a fitness court in Breitbeck Park, and revamping the playground.

Despite emphasis on building more attractions in the city, $250,000 will be allocated to creating a City of Oswego Drug Task Force.

“I think while we were doing all these improvement projects and trying to take the city to the next level, sometimes, and there was a certain amount of truth to it as well, sometimes we were overlooking some of the basic problems you were seeing every day,” Barlow said. “I think people are pleased we are allocating resources to a city drug task force which is long overdue.”