120 years after the Lake House hotel was demolished, the park that replaced it is slated to receive some of its most significant upgrades ever. Shepard Park – named in honor of the Brooklyn philanthropist and politician Edward Morse Shepard, whose Lake George home is now an inn and banquet hall –will receive a lion’s share of the $10 million in revitalization funds which New York State promised Lake George in December, 2023.
Of the $9.7 million which the state will spend in Lake George ($300,000 of the $10 million was paid to the consultant hired to assist the community develop its revitalization plan), $1.5 million will be devoted to refurbishing Shepard Park and its outdoor theater, Governor Kathy Hochul announced on May 20.
“Through the Downtown Revitalization Initiative, we are empowering local leaders, driving smart growth, and creating vibrant, resilient downtowns where people want to live, work, and visit. This is how we build a stronger New York — one community at a time,” Governor Hochul said.
The project comprises the replacement of the 1980 bandshell destroyed by fire in June, 2024, new audio/visual/ infrastructure and the restoration and expansion of the park’s original native stone amphitheater, as well a new playground, pathways, lighting and links to utilities.
The Local Planning Committee, which was organized to vet projects proposed for funding, requested $1.5 for Shepard Park. Funds from the insurance claim submitted after the June 29 fire, as well as a $2.9 million grant from the New York State assembly, will enable the community to complete the project, said Dan Barusch, the Director of Zoning and Planning for the Town and Village of Lake George.
According to Andrew Allison, whose firm, AJA Architecture and Planning, is responsible for the design of the new timber frame and steel truss bandshell, the footprint of the building will remain roughly the same as its predecessor, although the stage itself will be approximately 20% larger.
Allison said the bandshell will be sized and situated so as to not obstruct views of the lake from Shepard Park or Canada Street.
“What makes this space truly unique is not the performances, not Shepard Park, even though the park is a refuge in the middle of one of the busiest villages in the Adirondacks, it’s the view,” said Allison. “There is nothing like this anywhere in the country. We chose a roof configuration that would not detract from that.”
The shape of the stage was designed to enhance the park’s acoustics, amplifying sound as it travels toward the audience, Allison said. Boaters anchored off Shepard Park will also have the ability to hear and see performances, as the glass wall behind the stage can be opened.
AJA’s design also triples the amount of space available for storage and incorporates the addition of a Green Room for entertainers.
According to Allison, a Green Room was among the recommendations of a committee assembled by Mayor Perry to help plan a new bandshell to replace the one destroyed by the 2024 fire.
“All these improvements, which include the upgrades to the amphitheater’s sound and lighting technologies and better backstage access for tech crews, will make for a much better venue for performers and audiences,” said Allison.
“The architect listened to us, digested what people said and incorporated our concerns into the design,” said Village Trustee Jose Filomeno.
AJA is also responsible for designing the restoration of the park’s grass and native stone amphitheater, a project that includes ambient lighting, a new dance area, paths, additional seating, stormwater retention areas and a playground.
The Shepard Park Lakewalk
Another $2.3 from the pool of $9.7 million will be spent on the development of a “Shepard Park Lakewalk” and an “Accessible Observation Deck.” The new Lakewalk will replace a former beach area with a complex subsurface biofiltration system, designed as a visual and ecological expansion of Shepard Park.
According to Mayor Ray Perry, the project has already received funding through the New York State Water Quality Improvement Project (WQIP) program, which reimburses municipalities for projects that improve water quality.
Perry said that most of the sandy beach that would be replaced by the eco-park receives little use because its swim area is considered unsafe, given the steep drop close to shore.
“Given the depth, the swim area does not meet the state’s safety guidelines,” said Perry. “But it’s valuable real estate, nonetheless. Let’s utilize it.”
As the beach area has fallen into disuse, it has become unsightly and a magnet for vagrants, said Dan Barusch.
According to Barusch, the new park would capture and infiltrate the storm water that flows through Shepard Park before it reaches the lake. It would incorporate public amenities such as walkways and benches, he added.
The Lake George Association is expected to contribute to the cost of the storm water project, said Barusch.
Of the $2.3 million allocation in funds, a portion would be spent on an observation deck above the Shepard Park restrooms, a substitute for a proposed expansion of McDonald Pier, a project that earned little support from the public or state officials.
As envisioned, the extended pier would have become something like a water-based “High Line,” a source of passive access to the lake, accommodating pedestrians, sunseekers and anglers.
The observation deck will “afford better views of the lake and the mountains than the pier extension, and will be less expensive,” said Barusch.
The total cost of the eco-park and the observation deck is expected to be $2.9 million, said Barusch.
According to Mayor Perry, the construction of the new bandshell and the restoration of the amphitheater is expected to begin in late 2025 and be ready for performances by Spring, 2026.
Other Projects Funded
According to a press release from Governor Hochul’s office, $519,000 has been allocated to “the Repose of the Fallen,” the Lake George Battlefield memorial to the 44 individuals who are believed to have perished in the summer of 1776, when the area was the site of a smallpox hospital which treated soldiers of the Continental Army. It is expected to be dedicated in July, 2026 – the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence and of the Lake George military hospital.
Other projects to be awarded funding include: winterizing the Village Mall; improving accessibility at the old County Courthouse and the Caldwell-Lake George Library; accessorizing Canada Street with an Art/Canoe trail, heritage wayfinding signs and bus shelters; and creating an audio/visual infrastructure for year-round entertainment.
A former Canada Street restaurant will be converted to workforce housing and the long-dormant project to connect Canada Street with the Route 9 Gateway will be completed, resulting in a unified, visually appealing approach to Lake George from the south. $600,000 has been allocated to upgrade facades and improve the appearance of buildings.
Of the projects recommended for funding by the Local Planning Committee, only one – an urban forestry project – was rejected by state officials. But that project may be eligible for funds from other programs, said Mayor Perry.
According to Perry, contracts with the state were expected to be signed by the end of this week, permitting Lake George Village to be reimbursed for whatever funds are spent.
“Once the contracts are signed, we can start spending the money,” said Perry.
