 The Chamber of Commerce of the Mahopacs purchased a 1.6-acre piece of undeveloped land along the shores of Lake Mahopac in the downtown area of Mahopac and has given the property to the Town of Carmel. The Chamber is now completing the development of the property into a passive park that will include a wetlands education area, children’s play area, fountain, gazebo and benches. Much of the initial development was done by Chamber members in the form of in kind services, which included clearing the property, grading and the installation of electric lines. We very much appreciate the time they have given this project.
Through the efforts of Governor George Pataki and State Senator Vincent Leibell, the Chamber received a matching grant in the amount of $137,500 from the New York State Office of Parks, Recreation, and Historic Preservation, toward the purchase of the property. We then needed to raise the matching amount to complete the purchase. The matching amount was raised in six months through various fund-raising events, programs and outright donations, primarily coming from Chamber members and residents. We would like to also thank New York State Park Commissioner Bernadette Castro for her help and support. In 1996, Mark Fraser, then a member of the Chamber’s Board of Directors, pursued the idea of purchasing and developing the property into a park. What seemed like an almost overwhelming task at that time has now become a reality through the work and effort of a great many people. Commissioner Castro stated that, “In all of New York State, I have not come upon a plan where the Chamber of Commerce has completely taken on a project of such magnitude.” Through the hard work of Town of Carmel Supervisor Frank Del Campo and the efforts of Congresswoman Sue Kelly, the town received a grant of $343,000 for the development of the park. The work started in the spring of 2002 and the first phase will be completed by the end of July. The park was officially opened with a ribbon cutting ceremony on July 13, 2002. | 
