Proposals to re-water portions of the Erie Canal in downtown Rochester are surfacing again along with ideas on how to turn it into a recreational waterway and tourist focus.
The Canal Society of New York is preparing for a statewide forum a week from Saturday.
Tom Grasso, chairman of the group says he'll put the proposal on the table next month because it could provide a significant boost to economic development and job creation in Rochester, although he warns it could carry a $100 million price tag.
Grasso says the project is feasible, and a case can easily be made to funding sources in Washington and Albany that it would be a strong economic investment.