7)
Public Opinion Survey
One
of the primary reasons that the Village applied to the USEPA for a Superfund
Redevelopment Initiative grant was to obtain resources necessary to determine
the needs and desires of Gowanda area residents before decisions were made
concerning the PCG site.
Project personnel
from the University at Buffalo designed a Public Opinion Survey on the Reuse of
the Peter Cooper Gowanda site. The
Survey was designed with the following key considerations in mind.
- Area
residents need to have a strong voice in the redevelopment planning process
due to the importance of the site to the region and in keeping with the
goals of the Cattaraugus Creek Basin Task Force.
- Eventual
acceptance and implementation of a remediation strategy and redevelopment
plan will be greatly influenced by the amount of involvement the community
has had in the planning process.
The
survey was distributed in the local newspaper and at the Village Hall. One
hundred sixty-five surveys were eventually returned to the Village and the
information was entered into an electronic database for analysis.
The overall findings of the Public Opinion Survey are summarized as
follows:
- Gowanda
area residents recognize the important relationship between the PCG site;
the area’s natural assets including Cattaraugus Creek and the Zoar Valley;
and the future of the community.
- A
great number of survey respondents (83%) currently visit Cattaraugus Creek
or the Zoar Valley, primarily for activities related to the enjoyment of
nature such as hiking, walking, sightseeing and fishing.
- Fencing-off
the site and restricting public access is the option most opposed by Gowanda
area residents.
- Gowanda
area residents have a strong desire to see passive and active recreation
opportunities on the site – approximately three-quarters of the
respondents indicated such.
- Gowanda area residents continue to worry about the loss
of employment opportunities in the community; therefore, almost half of
respondents would support reuse of the site for commercial or industrial
purposes.
- Many Gowanda area residents fear the environmental
contamination on the site will be dangerous for years to come.
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