12/04/2025
This is what community looks like. We convened all of the elected officials to recommit to the Tonawanda Regional Charter. Here is the text and those officials at this morning's signing.
Tonawanda Regional Charter
(Town, City, North Tonawandas)
Sponsors
City of Tonawanda
Town of Tonawanda
City of North Tonawanda
Opportunity Definition
The three Tonawanda municipalities share over 14.8 miles of shoreline of the east branch of the mighty Niagara River as well as over 9.6 miles of Erie Canal shoreline. In addition, the confluence of the regionally significant Shoreline, Canalway and Empire State trails occur in our neighborhoods. These communities lie at the western terminus of New York State and form an essential green and blue hub.
Over the past 5 years these 3 communities working collaboratively with each other, with New York state agencies including Niagara River Greenway have made great progress in waterfront renewal and expanding active recreational parks and trails thus improving their economies and quality of life for our businesses, work force and residents.
Now therefore we are renewing this intermunicipal charter as our pledge to continue intermunicipal communication and collaboration in regards to continue the transformation of our waterfronts for public access and active recreational wellness. Each Municipality pledges to work collaboratively to access funding programs and grant ideas and work together to make the Niagara River region stronger and more connected with our Tonawandas as the western New York blueway and greenway hub of the Empire State.
Vision
To support and empower a sub-regional development initiative that moves forward each community’s waterfront revitalization and comprehensive plans. The three municipalities will work together to ensure that seamless and cohesive energies and efforts foster a stronger and healthier community wealth.
Impacts of working together
When the three municipalities, The City of Tonawanda, Town of Tonawanda, and the City of North Tonawanda, work together it demonstrates a stronger regional presence and cohesive effort that will allow us to move forward and strengthen funding applications that maximize the benefit businesses and residents. Our shared efforts further bolster New York’s investments witnessed in Buffalo and Niagara Falls.
Resources
The following is a general list of the different groups and agencies that will agree to work together.
Town of Tonawanda
City of Tonawanda
North Tonawanda
Lumber City Development Corp
COT Local Development Corp
Chamber of Commerce of the Tonawanda’s
Gateway Harbor Committee
Ken Ton Chamber of Commerce
Niagara River Greenway Commission
Buffalo WaterKeeper
New York Department of State
New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation
Regional Economic Development Counsel
Community Service Groups
Work Group
Chair: Jim Jones Tonawanda Rotary President
CoChair Greg Stevens, Niagara Greenway & NYSOPRHP
Mayor John White City of Tonawanda
Supervisor Joe Emminger Town of Tonawanda
Mayor Austin Tylec North Tonawanda
Objectives
This charter forms a foundation for coordination and collaboration necessary to successfully advance our shared vision. Mutual efforts may be used to purposely demonstrate, when seeking funding for specific waterfront and multi-use trail projects, that the highest standards of public interests are ensured.
Renewing this Charter
Now therefore, on today’s date (04Dec25) we hereby renew this charter and pledge our cooperation for another 5 years.
Sponsor Recognition
Town of Tonawanda
Joseph H. Emminger
Town Supervisor
City of Tonawanda
John White
Mayor
City of North Tonawanda
Austin Tylec
Mayor
