Grasse River Heritage Corp. park opens on Sunday

CANTON — The thunk of wood underfoot echoes on the bowstring bridge that leads from Coakley Island to Falls Island, where Dame's Rocket, leafy ferns and mulleins grow. Songbirds and the splash of the Grasse River greet visitors.

On Sunday, the nearly completed interpretive park will open to the public after a decade of work by the nonprofit group Grasse River Heritage Corp.

"It's gorgeous with the river around both sides and older large trees. It's going to be a terrific addition to Canton," Vice President Peter E. Van de Water said. "Maybe we'll do quite a bit more in the next 10 years."

The grand opening will feature an illustrated presentation at 2 p.m. by Allan King Sloan, great-great-grandson of the original builder of the bridge, Zenas King, a native of DePeyster and founder of King Bridge Co. The restored bridge is one of five remaining King bridges in the state.

The dedication and ribbon cutting will begin at 3:30 p.m. on Coakley Island. Speakers will include Grasse River Heritage President Peter K. Wyckoff, St. Lawrence University President Daniel F. Sullivan, and Mr. Sloan. State Sen. Darrel J. Aubertine, D-Cape Vincent, and James W. Wright, former state senator, who have both supported the project, have been invited to speak.

The Canton High School Jazz Band and the Canton Goldenaires barbershop singers will perform.

Visitors can tour Coakley and Falls islands before and after the dedication ceremony.

Falls Island, which is more than four acres, has been cleared of dense brush and several trails have been created. A handicapped-accessible trail leads to a boardwalk and viewing platform at the northern tip of the island. There are informational kiosks and markers to explain the location and purpose of former industrial sites along with the flora and fauna and geology of the islands.

Good walking shoes are recommended and visitors should stay on the paths to avoid patches of poison ivy.

Coakley Island has been planted with trees, shrubs and flowers by more than 200 volunteers led by William R. Murphy, who tried to tick off on his fingers the groups and individuals who have turned out to help.

"I know I'm going to forget someone. I can't say enough about those guys. I could go on and on about that part of it," Mr. Murphy said. "Dick Grover is the landscape architect. This is his design on Coakley Island. Peter Wyckoff has taken the lead on Falls Island."

Grasse River Heritage was an outgrowth of the Canton Community Action Plan developed in 1998. The organization acquired properties on Willow, Coakley and Falls islands and demolished the former Willow Island restaurant and a warehouse on Coakley Island.

Grasse River Heritage has a $35,000 grant from the Sweetgrass Foundation to take down the building most recently used by Traditional Arts in Upstate New York and is working to develop the former Gray Bowling Lanes.

Mr. Murphy lauded the group's work.

"Peter Van de Water had a dream 10 years ago," he said. "I have to give that guy and his board a lot of credit."