Syracuse, N.Y. – Onondaga County has released its report on what a beach on Onondaga Lake would cost and what it might look like.

The feasibility study concludes that it would cost $2.8 million to build the beach and associated buildings at the north end of Onondaga Lake, next to the outlet to the Seneca River.

The beach area would have a bathhouse and concession stand, picnic areas, and “a redesigned play area with nature play elements,” said the study, prepared by Barton & Loguidice engineering firm.

The draft report will be formally presented Saturday at Salina Town Hall. The public meeting will run from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. County officials will respond to public comment, open to April 1, before finalizing the plan.

Onondaga County has released preliminary plans for a beach at the north end of Onondaga Lake, in Willow Bay at the lake's outlet to the Seneca River. Onondaga CountyOnondaga County

The county says the beach study is another step forward in the redevelopment of the lake, which has undergone a cleanup of toxic chemicals and sewage in the past several decades. Test results contained in the study show that the beach would meet state standards, which are primarily water clarity and bacteria levels. The study says the county would conduct all required water testing of the beach before it opened for the season and during the season.

There is no scheduled opening date.

According to the plans, the water at Willow Bay is about 4 feet deep about 70 feet from shore, and up to 6 feet about 100 feet from shore, “which provides a range of water depths for swimming.”

The lake bottom at Willow Bay consists of sand, gravel and shells, but it would be covered with sand “to create a substrate suitable for a swimming beach.” The beach would be 380 feet long, and a total of 32,000 square feet.

Onondaga County has released preliminary plans for a beach at the north end of Onondaga Lake, in Willow Bay at the lake's outlet to the Seneca River. Onondaga CountyOnondaga County

The area already has a 233-space parking lot about 300 feet from the beach site, so little work would be needed for parking, the report said.

The total cost of the beach would be $2,846,042. The study doesn’t estimate operating and maintenance costs.

The beach isn’t a done deal; it would need to be approved and funded by the Onondaga County Legislature. It would also require approval from at least 10 federal, state and local agencies, including the state Department of Health, which oversees beaches.

A citizens group opposes the plan, saying there hasn’t been enough testing of the sediment near Willow Bay to assure the public’s safety. The county, however, says that a health risk study of the area “indicated that no areas in the northern basin of Onondaga Lake exhibited unacceptable risk to children or adults potentially exposed to sediment by swimming, walking or wading in the lake.”

Onondaga County has released preliminary plans for a beach at the north end of Onondaga Lake, in Willow Bay at the lake's outlet to the Seneca River. Onondaga CountyOnondaga County

In an online survey conducted last year, just 22% of respondents agreed the lake is safe for swimming. The county’s consultant combined results from the survey with Onondaga Lake Park attendance data to show that at least 31,800 people would be likely to swim at a beach each year. That’s comparable to the county’s existing beaches at Jamesville Beach Park and Oneida Shores, said Travis Glazier, the county’s environment director.

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