230221 Rotary Pavilion 1
Lockport, NY - Steven Cotten with the Rotary Club of Lockport points out the location of a future picnic pavilion to be built next to a comfort station along the Erie Canal next to the Adam Street Bridge.

Press Release
12/14/22
Rotary Pavilion on the Erie Canal

The Rotary Club of Lockport has announced a major fundraising effort to erect in 2023 a new picnic pavilion adjacent to the comfort station located on Market Street near the Adam Street Lift Bridge crossing the Erie Canal. To raise funds for the 20’ x 40’ open air pavilion, the Club is selling engraved paver bricks for installation near the pavilion. In cooperation with the City of Lockport, the addition of a pavilion will be a major contribution to create an attractive new amenity for long-term use by both local residents and visitors. Project fundraising is conducted through the Lockport NY Rotary Foundation, a 501(c) 3 non-profit organization

The pavilion is one element of the Lockport Club’s participation in the Niagara River Rotary Greenway Initiative of 12 Rotary Clubs in Erie and Niagara Counties. In May 2020, the Rotary Club of Lockport initiated a major community service project to restore and improve the ¾ mile-long series of four City mini-parks paralleling the Erie Canal from the top of Market Street hill to the Market Street intersection with Vine Street. Portions of these parks had deteriorated over the 40 years since they had first been developed. With the approval and authorization of the Lockport Common Council, the Club designated these parks as its Greenway Initiative target area to upgrade waterfront access and recreational facilities as well as offer community wellness program opportunities.

Subsequently in 2022, the City received a NYS Canal Corporation Canalway matching grant for “Lockport Lowertown Loop Phase 1” development which encompasses several of the linear parks paralleling the Erie Canal along Market Street. Scheduled for completion in 2023, Phase 1 will focus on improving the trails that loop the neighborhoods on either side of the canal and re-opening the comfort station adjacent to the Adam Street Lift Bridge. The bridge is currently locked in its elevated position and closed to pedestrians. Future completion of the entire Lowertown Loop project with improved landscape, streetscape, and bridge enhancements is intended to create a more walkable, connected, livable community, while leveraging existing Lockport’s historic and cultural institutions, such as the Erie Canal, to also bolster tourism and economic development.

With City support, the Rotary Club of Lockport has conducted, to date, ten park clean-up and maintenance efforts and purchased for installation 6 blue metal park benches and 4 rugged trash receptacles. Erection of a large pavilion adjacent to the renovated Adam Street comfort station is envisioned by the Club as its major infrastructure contribution to revitalization of the Market Street parks. Revitalization is consistent with the Club’s Greenway Initiative objective of promoting overall community development through greater use and enjoyment of these resources both now and well into the future.

The initial Rotary Pavilion on the Erie Canal fundraising effort is the sale of engraved, personalized paver bricks to be embedded either in a walkway leading to the new pavilion or other dedicated location immediately adjacent to the pavilion. 4-inch by 8-inch bricks are available for $100; 8-inch by 8-inch bricks (ideally suited for purchase by organizations or businesses) are available for $225. All brick purchases are tax-deductible. Lockport Rotary Club members have brick order forms or bricks may be ordered online at: https://www.bricksrus.com/donorsite/lockportrotary. Additional pavilion project information and brick order information can be found on the Club’s web page, http://www.lockportrotary.com, and Facebook page. Other, pavilion-related questions can be sent to lockport.pavilion@gmail.com. The Club is also accepting other general tax-deductible donations to support pavilion construction. All checks should be made payable to “Lockport NY Rotary Foundation” and can be mailed to P.O. Box 1199, Lockport, NY 14049 or given to any Club member.


Site of the new Rotary Pavilion on the Erie Canal adjacent to the Adam Street comfort station to be rehabilitated by the City of Lockport in 2023.



Representation of the 20’ x 40’ Rotary Pavilion on the Erie Canal to be erected in 2023.