August 16th, 2021 by WCBC Radio
There will be a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) signing ceremony to formalize the working relationship with all the parties involved in the Canal Place River Park Project Tuesday, August 17, 2021 at 3pm at Cumberland City Hall. Those signing will include representatives from Allegany County, The City of Cumberland, Canal Place Preservation and Development Authority, Water Land Solutions (WLS) and M2M Ventures. This signing will allow WLS and M2M Ventures to begin the process of designing, permitting and finding grant funds for the project.
Once this signing takes place WLS will prepare a prospectus for submission to the Army Corp of Engineers and the Interagency Review Team (IRT). The prospectus defines the scope and methods of achieving the project goal. This process may take up to 280 days for a review period.
Simultaneously, M2M Ventures will begin the process of applying for Federal and State Grants to assist in funding the project.
The Army Corp and IRT review and hold a public hearing to get public comments.
The goal for this project is to return the river to its natural ecological state and create fish passage upstream, while creating a whitewater park with boat access, as well as overview areas and trails. River mitigation will partially or totally remove the Cumberland Dam under the Blue Bridge. This work will be done by WLS as a mitigation banking firm.
Preliminary Construction Cost is estimated at $12 to $15 Million with matching Funds being estimated at $2 million. Canal Place is also working with a local Non-Profit for collection of donations toward the project and information on how to donate will be forthcoming.
Anticipate first phase of construction late fall 2022.
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