Environmental Protection Fund awards $1.545m in grants

A state grant fund totaling $1.545 million was awarded to major projects in the downtown area, Fayetteville and the Rosamond Gifford Zoo. The Environmental Protection Fund will be utilized for the following: * A $400,000 grant for the zoo's enhancement project. The $7.7 million project will expand the zoo's Asian elephant exhibit. * A $500,000 grant was awarded to Adapt CNY, the nonprofit group. The funds will go towards the $5.5 million Wilson Building restoration project, located on the 300 block of South Salina St. The vacant building will be transformed into apartments and commercial space. * A 261,000 grant will be used to rehabilitate the Onondaga Park firehouse, a $791,000 project. The building will be converted into an environmental education center. * A $250,000 grant for the construction of a new park on an abandoned brownfield along Limestone Creek, Fayetteville. The project cost is $500,000. * A 93,250 grant for the town of Fabius and village of DeRuyter to upgrade a two-acre swim park on DeRuyter Lake. The total project cost is $120,000. * A $41,588 grant for the connection of two trails along Lake Neatahwanta with a 0.4-mile trail link, making the trail a total of 1.8 miles. The project cost is $83,175.