Million dollar pavilion raises eyebrows

TONAWANDA, N.Y. (WIVB) - A new pavilion in the City of Tonawanda came with a hefty price tag. And though some say it will be a great place to enjoy the Niagara River, you'll have to hand over hundreds of dollars to use the facility.

The 32,000-square foot Niawanda Park Pavilion cost more than one million dollars. It has brand new amenities, including a freezer, refrigerator, gas range, heat and air conditioning. Some city taxpayers say the money spent on the pavilion could have been used more wisely.

Ruth Tarasek said, "I think there's a lot of other things around here that could have been done. Not down there because I don't think the people are going to be happy once they start partying down there. So I don't think it's a good idea."

The pavilion cost $1.25 million to build, and $867,000 of that came from the NY Power Authority. The rest was paid for with bonds.

City of Tonawanda Mayor Ronald Pilozzi says he stands by the decision to build the pavilion, arguing it's the only publicly-owned facility like this.

"I had a guy up at a City Council meeting that said this is the ultimate in stupidity. Look at it now and you tell me the same thing. I think you're wrong. And I'll defend that to the day I die," Mayor Pilozzi said.

The mayor says the facility will be available for anyone to rent for an event. He wants the pavilion to be an educational and historical place for children to go. When the facility officially opens in March, Pilozzi plans to have artifacts from the Erie Canal on display.

"I want to be able to take school age children like 4th, 5th grade, bring them there... Because that's where the canal came through," he said.

The mayor says if people rent the facility as much as he thinks they will, the pavilion should pay for itself in 25 years. But if it isn't rented frequently, the bill to pay back the bond falls on the taxpayers.

Pilozzi says the prices aren't set in stone yet, but in order for people to reserve it they have to put down a $300 security deposit and $250 for one day's rent. He says if 260 people rent out the pavilion each year, the city will make $65,000, which would pay for the cost of upkeep and bond payments.

When the pavilion isn't occupied, it will be closed.

"I think as we go forward and it's being used to its fullest extent, people are going to realize that it's the new jewel on the Niagara," Pilozzi stated.