Glen Park Falls
Further study is needed on collapsed wall
by ELIZABETH TAUFA Reporter

After collapsing last July, a section of wall in Williamsville's Glen Park Falls area is finally being addressed.

Engineers from the Village and Town of Amherst have conducted a preliminary study into repairing or replacing the 12- by 15-foot section of the wall from Main Street to the top of the falls that has prevented residents from accessing the park from the Main Street entrance.

However, further study is needed to determine the best course of action by the village and town, as the park is joint property.

An engineering study, to be done by a private engineering firm, will determine how much of the wall needs to be replaced, as well as predict future problems related to the wall and the waterways, according to Village Trustee Brian Geary.

"It's going to be a lot of work," he said. "The debris has to be cleaned out, and then you have to dig down to the foundation, and then there's the equipment that has to fit in a 17-foot-wide pathway. It'll be interesting to see what they recommend."

Geary noted the estimated cost of the engineering study is $22,200, for which he is trying to get funding from elected officials, along with money for the repairs.

Village Mayor Mary Lowther said the engineering report "should help us seek and obtain grants to do a proper repair to the wall."

The estimated timeline, according to Geary, has the engineering study beginning about mid-May and hopefully construction by August, weather permitting.

As far as the cost of repairing the wall, Geary noted that sound figures would have to be obtained before further funds could be sought from the elected officials.

Lowther added, "A lot of high numbers have been thrown around, and I think this report will help us move forward to be certain the entire stretch of wall is sound and to understand what it may cost to repoint, replace and/or reinforce any areas that may need it."

She noted that while the wall is being studied, an alternative solution has been proposed so that residents can enjoy the park, even from the Main Street entrance.

"I am aware that volunteers are working to get a piece of chain- link fence installed so we may reopen the Main Street entrance," she said.

While the immediate problem is the one section of the wall, Geary noted that many more issues in the Glen Park area need to be addressed.

"So many things have been under discussion for so long, it usually takes something collapsing to get anything done," he said. "And it costs more on an emergency basis."

Since taking office two years ago, Geary said that he has seen several problems in the same area as the collapsed wall, including the deterioration of other parts of the wall and the dam, that have been talked about by village and town officials for several years.

"The waterways are going to kill us if we don't address them soon," he said. "We need to get it done."

e-mail: etaufa@beenews.com