Jun 15, 2026
OBSERVER Photo by Gregory Bacon The paving project at Lakeside Park, including installing trails and improving the landing plaza near Chautauqua Belle, is expected to be completed by the end of the month.
MAYVILLE – While there have been a number of complaints from village trustees, Mayor Rick Syper said the paving for Lakeside Park project should be completed shortly.
During the Mayville Village Board’s June meeting, Syper discussed the project. “A lot of progress has been made in the last 30 days. Things are looking really great. We’re looking forward to that. I think he (contractor Rock of WNY) is on target to finish by the end of the month,” he said.
The only thing he foresees being delayed is the installation of the benches and bike racks, which have been ordered but aren’t scheduled to arrive until mid-July.
At both the April and May village board meetings, trustees had expressed concerns about the quality of the work that had been done up to that point. They also complained about having to pay for change orders.
Syper said he would be having the village’s Department of Public Works director work closely with Rock of WNY to address any concerns raised.
Syper also said that legally the village was required to pay the change orders and if they didn’t they could face legal action, arguing they were justified.
During Tuesday’s village board meeting officials approved a change order of $39,900 and another change order of $50,017. In addition, the board approved a decrease change order for $4,017 for supplies that did not need to be purchased.
All change orders were unanimously approved.
So far, all the change orders have totaled around $85,000 more than the original contract.
The original contract with Rock of WNY was for $399,000 to improve the landing plaza near Chautauqua Belle, site furnishings, and install the trails in the park. Of that amount $339,000 was for the landing plaza, $35,00 for site furnishings and $25,000 for the trail work.
Some of the first problems had to do with ash that was discovered while digging in front of the Chautauqua Belle for the landing area. There were also old railroad ties that were uncovered that had to be removed.
Village trustees complained that the ash should have been predicted. They had also questioned the quality of the work earlier in the spring.
During the June meeting, none of the trustees commented on the work done at the park.
Rock of WNY was also contracted to install trails in the park, which ended up being paved instead of other material.
The next step is the installation of a kayak launch.
It was announced at the June meeting that the village had received a $25,000 grant from the Chautauqua County Partnership for Economic Growth, as well as a $20,000 grant from the Chautauqua Region Community Foundation.
The village board authorized going out to bid for the kayak launch.
Original estimates were for more than $100,000. Syper said they’ve scaled the project back to make it more affordable.
He said the village is required to install the kayak launch due to the original $675,000 grant they received back in 2023.
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