Speaker Heastie and Assemblymember Conrad Visit Paddock Park in Tonawanda and Memorial Pool in North Tonawanda on Speaker's Annual Statewide Tour

Speaker Carl Heastie continued his annual statewide tour today with Assemblymember William Conrad to visit Paddock Park’s new splashpad in the Town of Tonawanda and Memorial Pool in North Tonawanda to discuss efforts to create a new pool for the community. Speaker Heastie and Assemblymember Conrad pledged their financial support for the latter, offering to contribute the balance of what the city needs to complete an $8 million refurbishment of the pool.

“Every community should have easy access to a pool or outdoor green space,” said Speaker Heastie. “I’m pleased that the Assembly Majority could provide the needed funding to build the town of Tonawanda’s new splashpad and I look forward to working with Assemblymember Conrad and our local partners to provide North Tonawanda a public pool once again.”

“I’m honored to have Speaker Heastie join me today to see the incredible impact the Assembly Majority’s support has had on Paddock Park and the community at large, but now our focus is shifting toward Payne Park,” said Assemblymember Conrad. “Memorial Pool was once the very center of the city, allowing generations of families easy access to summer fun. I remain committed to fighting for a future where our children can learn to swim right here in the community once again.”

Speaker Heastie and Assemblymember Conrad visited Paddock Park in the town of Tonawanda with Tonawanda Youth, Parks and Recreation Superintendent Mark Campanella to see the park’s new splashpad. In 2022, Speaker Heastie and Assemblymember Conrad announced $2 million to help the town build the splashpad to create an accessible summertime resource for all ages and abilities.

Speaker Heastie and Assemblymember Conrad also visited Memorial Pool in Payne Park with North Tonawanda Youth, Recreation, Parks and Seniors Director Alex Domaradzki. Memorial Pool has provided North Tonawanda and surrounding communities public pool access for over 70 years, but due to disrepair and safety concerns it has remained closed for multiple seasons. North Tonawanda hopes to provide the community a new pool with a redesign of the site at an expected cost of $8.2 million.

North Tonawanda Mayor Austin Tylec said the city is now pursuing grant opportunities, including at the federal level, for the Memorial Pool site redesign. Once those are announced, Speaker Heastie and Assemblymember Conrad will close any funding gap to bring the project to fruition.