Peekskill?s former mayor, George Pataki (R-NY), was back in the city Friday to announce the state?s dedication of more than $8.3 million for waterfront development.

The state grants will fund a total of nine projects, connected to what will be Lincoln Plaza on Peekskill's waterfront. The historic Centennial Firehouse, where Abraham Lincoln once spoke, will also be developed and connected by pedestrian bridges to the city's existing Riverfront Green Park. Peekskill officials say that plans for the Lincoln Plaza project have been on the drawing board for several years.

Pataki says providing access to the Hudson River for this and other Westchester river towns has been one of his main goals since taking office. Peekskill's current mayor, John Testa, says he expects work on the project to begin next spring.