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Fisher Associates was honored to join New York State Parks, Recreation & Historic Preservation and the Three Falls LDC for the official press announcement naming Three Falls State Park on Cayuga Lake. Named for the three waterfalls that flow through the site, the future park will open nearly 90 acres of lakeshore and natural landscape to the public. The name reflects both the site’s striking natural features and its future as a destination for recreation, exploration, and connection to the Finger Lakes region. Once complete, Three Falls State Park will expand public access to Cayuga Lake and create new opportunities for outdoor recreation in one of New York’s most scenic landscapes. Fisher Associates is proud to serve as the lead consultant on this project and to be part of the team helping shape the vision for this exciting new state park.
Congratulations to the Village of Penn Yan on being recognized with the American Public Works Association New York Chapter – Genesee Valley Branch Project of the Year Award in the Structures: Small Cities/Rural Communities category for the Lake Street Park Improvements Project. This award recognizes the Village’s leadership and vision for revitalizing its waterfront. The project transforms this centrally located green space into a more welcoming, accessible waterfront destination with a new playground, dock, landing area, and ADA-accessible walking path. Fisher was proud to support the Village by developing a cohesive design that reflects local materials and ecological themes and strengthens connections between the waterfront, trails, and village core. Congratulations to the Village of Penn Yan and all project partners on this well-deserved recognition!
Zoning reform is one of the most strategic decisions a municipality can make to guide growth, housing opportunity, and long-term resilience. Last month, Fisher Associates partnered with the Town of Stoneham, MA to present draft zoning bylaws at a public forum focused on clarity, engagement, and implementation. Working alongside our subconsultant Ralph Willmer, our team presented a comprehensive update that includes: • New zoning districts and refined boundaries • A corresponding update zoning map • Reorganized and streamlined code structure • Updated uses, dimensional standards, parking, signage, and more Beyond the technical revisions, the process emphasized accessibility. Through an open house format, we translated complex zoning concepts into clear, actionable conversations that encouraged productive community dialogue. We are now incorporating public feedback ahead of the spring Town Meeting. Thank you to Erin Wortman for her leadership and partnership throughout this effort. At Fisher Associates, we do more than rewrite code. We help communities align policy with vision, remove regulatory barriers, and create clear, implementable tools that support smart growth and long-term resilience.
During Women’s History Month, we celebrate a legacy that continues to shape who we are. Fisher Associates was founded in 1984 by Claire Fisher, PE. What began as a certified Women Owned Business Enterprise grew into a thriving, nationally recognized consulting firm built on expertise, resilience, and leadership. Today, under the leadership of our CEO, Roseann (Bills) Schmid, P.E., that foundation continues to guide how we grow our people, serve our clients, and lead with purpose. In this video, members of our team reflect on what it means to build careers within a women-founded, women-led firm. We are proud of our history and the future we continue to build.
The Village of Fairport has officially adopted its new Zoning Code, developed by Fisher Associates. Zoning is one of the most powerful tools a municipality has. It shapes how a community grows and advances shared goals, including addressing housing needs, revitalizing downtowns, strengthening environmental stewardship, and enhancing neighborhood character. Fairport’s new code: 🔸 Organizes districts around established neighborhood character 🔸 Expands missing middle housing options 🔸 Introduces inclusionary zoning to support attainable, inclusive neighborhoods 🔸 Eliminates parking minimums in commercial and mixed-use districts 🔸 Embeds illustrated design standards to ensure clarity, consistency, and compatibility The result is a forward-thinking framework grounded in community input that supports economic vitality, housing choice, sustainability, and long-term resilience. We are proud to help communities turn vision into policy and policy into impact.
Congratulations to TOMPKINS COUNTY on being recognized with the Structures Project of the Year Award by the American Public Works Association – Central New York Branch for the Conlon Road Culvert Replacement Project! This award reflects the County’s leadership in advancing a critical infrastructure project through collaboration, innovation, and thoughtful stewardship of public resources. By partnering with Fisher, the project team optimized the design to improve constructability, control costs, and deliver a durable, environmentally responsible solution that preserves natural stream flow and supports long-term community needs. Thank you to the APWA – CNY Branch and to all our project partners, including Suit-Kote Corporation for recognizing the collaborative achievement. We were glad to be represented by Dana White, PE at the annual awards dinner celebrating the important public works projects happening across Central New York.
Precast shouldn’t feel harder than it needs to be. Disconnected spreadsheets, manual takeoffs, inventory surprises and rework that could have been avoided. That’s why we built PIM - Precast Information Management. A web-based platform built by precast engineers, for precasters, that brings quoting, inventory, production, and shipping into one system with real-time visibility. Launching with: • Instant stack design and validation for manholes and vaults • Production-ready drawings and quantities • Fast, accurate box culvert takeoffs with visual verification
The New York State Consolidated Funding Application (CFA) is one of the most impactful funding tools available to communities across New York State. By aggregating funding opportunities from multiple state agencies into a single, coordinated application process, the CFA helps communities streamline their pursuit of funding for a wide range of innovative and transformative projects. Each year, the CFA aligns state investment with regional priorities, supporting projects that strengthen infrastructure, enhance public spaces, advance sustainability initiatives, and drive long-term economic development. Securing an award requires more than a strong idea. It demands a clear, fundable vision paired with a compelling story that connects local needs to statewide goals. Fisher Associates was proud to support several clients through the most recent CFA round, helping position their projects for success through strategic planning, strong narratives, and careful coordination with state priorities. Collectively, these efforts helped secure hundreds of thousands of dollars in funding for community-focused initiatives. Congratulations to our clients on their CFA Awards. We are grateful to play a role in turning community plans into funded, actionable projects.
We are proud to celebrate another record milestone year, with 24 team members reaching service anniversaries ranging from 5 to 25 years. Our employees are at the heart of everything we do, and their dedication and experience are what make Fisher Associates a great place to work and a trusted partner to our clients. Throughout the year, we will recognize these milestones and thank our team for the care and commitment they bring to our firm and the communities we serve.
Communities can heal—when we design with intention. Over time, many communities evolved around the needs of cars, often at the expense of the places that bring people together. As roads and parking expanded, some of the community assets that foster connection and belonging were gradually lost. Today, we have an opportunity to reimagine those places - reconnecting what feels fragmented, revitalizing neighborhoods and shaping environments that support belonging, vitality, and well-being. At Fisher’s Housing & Community Design Studio, we approach every site as part of a living system. We focus on strengthening connections—between neighborhoods, people, and places—while expanding options for how communities move, gather, and live. Placemaking is about balance. We create thoughtful, livable environments that respect what came before, while shaping spaces that feel authentic, welcoming, and full of possibility today.
