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5-17-2007 By JIM AUSTIN Editor The statement came Friday morning during another in the ongoing series of planning meetings about how to handle what could be a record-breaking crowd coming to Cooperstown to see Cal Ripkin Jr. and Tony Gwynn inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame. Nicols said news that closing the streets was under consideration drew a number of complaints from residents, particularly in regard to how they would get to church that morning. It was decided that closing village streets would most likely create more problems that it would solve, she said. As in the past, the only streets that will be closed are Main Street from the traffic light to Fair Street and Pioneer Street from Lake Street to Pioneer Street. Nicols also reported on the progress in locating land for remote parking lots for the 10,000 to 15,000 vehicles which may arrive that Sunday. She believes that so far they may have commitments for enough land for about half the cars. Nicols said the committee is hoping the parking fee will be enough to compensate the landowner and also pay for charter buses to shuttle people from the lots into the village and the porta-jons which would have to be available. If parking was $10, the chief said, the land owner might receive $5 and $5 would go toward the bus and porta-jons. Landowners would have to sign an agreement with the Hall of Fame, said Nicols, but June Dohlum, of the Hall of Fame, replied that it hadn’t been decided yet. Trustee Paul Kuhn, who chaired the meeting, said he didn’t believe it would be an agreement between the village and the landowners. Eventually, the committee agreed the landowners would have to enter into an agreement with the bus company to provide the shuttle service. Parking for the more than 200 tour buses expected for the induction has been taken care of by the Hall of Fame which plans to use Iroquois Farm on River Road. Deb Taylor of the Otsego County Tourism Department reminded committee members that this is the middle of May and the clock is ticking. ``Parking needs to be resolved as soon as possible,’’ she said. ``We have to get parking nailed down we can move forward.’’ Taylor explained that somehow the information where to park has to be provided to the visitors before they arrive in the village. She said there were plans to produce a booklet that would contain maps for parking and other pertinent information, but in order for it to be ready on time, decisions about parking must be made. Representatives from the New York State Department of Transportation attended the meeting and said their agency may be able to help with portable signage. They said it should be possible to set up portable signage to alert people to parking options as they approach the village, particularly from the exit onto State route 28 from I-88. Trustee Eric Hage asked what the contingency plans are for parking if it rains and the remote lots become muddy and can’t be used. ``Would they park on route 28?’’ he asked. That would take 50 miles of linear parking, said DOT Regional Engineer Mike Adams. The agency wants to avoid parking along the highway because of the hazards it creates. ``If it rains and we can’t use the parking, it’s going to be a mess,’’ Kuhn commented. The DOT’s Adams and Mancuso recommended that they become more involved so that if there are traffic problems, alternate routes or options would be available. Kuhn told committee members that if may be necessary to begin meeting more frequently the closer it gets to July 29. The next meeting will be held Friday, June 1, at 10 a.m. |
Copyright 2007, Cooperstown Crier, Cooperstown, NY All rights reserved