Groundbreaking Held for Donald F. Miller Park Improvements in North Tonawanda

The Nor-Ton Red Jacket Club held a groundbreaking event Saturday for the improvements at the Donald F. Miller Park on Sweeney Street in North Tonawanda.  Niagara County Legislators Rich Andres, Randy Bradt and Jesse Gooch were part of the event, having helped secure $190,000 in Niagara County Greenway funding for the project.

The planned improvements will expand opportunities for individuals of all ages and abilities to enjoy the park while strengthening a longtime community resource that has served North Tonawanda and organizations throughout Western New York for decades.  Plans include the development of an inclusive sensory walking trail modeled around features designed for individuals with autism and other special needs, as well as new accessible restroom and changing facilities serving the park’s cabins.

“Donald F. Miller Park is a unique outdoor gem in the heart of North Tonawanda and is exactly the type of investment our Greenway funding should be supporting,” said Legislator Rich Andres, Chairman of Niagara County’s Greenway Ad Hoc Committee on Parks, Recreation and Tourism. “Randy, Jesse and I were proud to work with the Nor-Ton Red Jacket Club to continue add to a place where North Tonawanda residents can enjoy a genuine outdoor experience without leaving the city.”

Nor-Ton Red Jacket Club Board Member Karl Heilemann, who attended the groundbreaking and provided legislators with a tour of the property and planned improvement areas, said the expansion will allow the organization to better serve the wide range of groups that utilize the park.

“Our goal has always been to provide peaceful, natural setting for our community and make that experience available to as many people as possible,” Heilemann said. “These improvements will allow us to better accommodate individuals with different needs while expanding the programs and opportunities we can offer. We are extremely grateful to Niagara County and the Greenway Commission for recognizing the value of this park and helping us make this vision a reality.”

“The Nor-Ton Red Jacket Club has operated outdoor recreational and educational programming at Donald F. Miller Park for more than four decades,” said Legislator Bradt. “The volunteer-run park is the gold standard when it comes to hosting scouts, schools, and organizations serving individuals with developmental and physical disabilities, among many others.  We appreciate everything these volunteers do to serve our community.”

Pictured from l to r:  Legislator Rich Andres, Senator Rob Ortt, Legislators Jesse Gooch and Randy Bradt, and Nor-Ton Red Jacket Club Board Member Karl Heilemann.)