It's a trend that's seen throughout the United States. With the looming affects of a recession, local community revitalization projects are dying. Several years ago, the village of Massena began a two phase community revitalization plan, but as our Sarah Hagen tells us, the village has now decided to call it quits.

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Village of Massena Mayor Randy DeLosh said, "The funds are just not there right now. Everybody is pinching their pennies so to speak. It is tough times. We acknowledge that, the rest of the country acknowledges that."

With the closure of GM, layoffs at Alcoa and small businesses failing on Main Street, the Massena Village Mayor says big projects are no longer a top priority.

DeLosh said, "The water, the sewer, the trash pickup. It's the small things that, unfortunately, we are working very hard to make sure those services are still being rendered to the residents in the community. But projects like this, unfortunately, we are losing."

But Mayor Randy DeLosh also said when economic development projects fail, there is an opportunity for community development.

"To see if this is a valuable property that maybe we can turn into a recreational type of venture for a community," said DeLosh.

Mayor DeLosh says there's chance the village will keep the parcel as a park and build a temporary skating rink for the public to use this winter.

"Those are wholesome opportunities to spend quality time with your family. And at the same time it is low in cost, it doesn't break the bank and they can enjoy those type of activities," said DeLosh.

The village board has opted to return the project's original $540,000 in state funding and $350,000 of local funding will be returned to the unappropriated funds balance.