HERE’S HOW YOU CAN HELP

 YOUR SUPPORT CAN GET IMPORTANT TRAILS LEGISLATION PASSED

1. Participate in Trails Advocacy Day in Albany on March 18, 2008.  We’ll meet at Parks & Trails New York offices at 10:00 a.m. to finalize plans for the day and then head across the street to the Capitol and Legislative Office Building (LOB) to visit key legislators in their offices.  Having a broad representation of trail groups will let the legislators know how important trails are to citizens across the state.

2. Contact your local Assemblyperson and Senator and the appropriate committee chairpersons by letter, email or phone.  Check to see if your local representative may be a member of one of the key committees.

Senate and Assembly Environmental Conservation Committees – EPF funding

• Senator Carl Marcellino, Chairperson
• Assemblyman Robert Sweeney, Chairperson

Senate and Assembly Tourism, Recreation and Sports Development Committees – Community Trails Initiative bill

• Senator Mary Lou Rath, Chairperson
• Assemblyman Steve Englebright, Chairperson

Senate Finance and Assembly Ways and Means Committees – EPF Funding

• Senator Owen Johnson, Chairperson
• Assemblyman Herman Farrell, Chairperson

3. Join with other trail advocates in adding your organization's name to the letter to key legislators.

4. Familiarize yourself with the legislation being proposed and the suggested talking points below

5. Let the legislators know that you’re a member of the New York State Trails Coalition that includes not-for-profit organizations and local governments across the state that care about making New York a pre-eminent trail state.  In your own words, refer to the vision included in the Plan of Action.

Legislation we're supporting

Environmental Protection Fund - $250 million proposed in the Governor’s budget – same level as last year

• Since its inception in 1993, the Environmental Protection Fund (EPF) has been the backbone of New York’s environmental funding.  Dedicated revenues from the real estate transfer tax have grown over the years to the current $250 million funding level that is included in the Executive Office's budget proposal. 
• Legislation was signed into law by the Governor last summer that ensures the EPF will total $300 million for the 2009-2010 fiscal year.
• The EPF supports a variety of important environmental initiatives ranging from farmland protection to municipal recycling to revitalizing our waterfronts as well as trail development.

This year’s budget bill (S6805/A9805) HAS A NEW CATEGORY WITHIN EPF - AN EXCITING OPPORTUNITY FOR TRAIL GROUPS AND TRAILS IN NEW YORK STATE!

Capacity-building Grants -–A WONDERFUL NEW INITIATIVE WITHIN THE EPF
The Governor has appropriated $500,000 for a competitive grants program that will provide capacity building support to not-for-profit park and trail organizations.  The grant program will be administered by Parks & Trails New York.  This new program will be modeled on the New York State Conservation Partnership Program, a highly successful, pioneering public-private partnership involving the Land Trust Alliance (LTA) and the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation.

Talking Points

• There are more than 1,000 miles of multi-use trails that provide transportation, recreational, economic development, health, economic, conservation, and quality of life benefits for New Yorkers.  Talk about the specifics of your current or proposed trail, the number and type of users, and the benefits it provides.
• Hundreds of volunteer trail organizations are working in partnership with local, regional and state government agencies to develop and maintain New York’s trails.  The efforts of these not-for-profit organizations are often limited because they do not have sufficient resources or staff to develop the programs that can provide important community benefits.  Based on the proven success of the Land Trust Alliance grant program to increase the pace of private land conservation and improve the professionalism of the state’s land trusts, capacity building grants for not for profit park and trail groups will similarly be able to enhance the vitality and sustainability of park and trail organizations and foster enhanced stewardship of the state’s trails and parks.  Cite ways that a capacity building grant may help bolster your organization and its projects.
• Parks & Trails New York is joining with more than 200 organizations in the Friends of New York’s Environment coalition in requesting that EPF be increased to $275 million.  The increase in funding is needed to restore cuts to existing programs and to fund important new initiatives that have been added to the EPF.

Assemblyman/Senator we are asking you to support the EPF at $275 million for the 2008-09 fiscal year, restore cuts to existing programs, and fund important new initiatives including the capacity building grants. 

Community Trails Initiative Bill S02324 Rath/A9317 DelMonte

There are more than 1,000 miles of multi-use trails that provide transportation, recreational, health, economic, conservation, and quality of life benefits for New Yorkers, with many additional miles under development.  Hundreds of volunteer trail organizations and local, regional and state government agencies are working to develop and maintain these trails for use by the public.  With thousands of miles of scenic rivers and streams, lakeshores, canals, historic roadways, and abandoned railroad corridors, plus hundreds of appealing cities, towns and villages, opportunities to create additional trails and connections between existing trails abound in every region of the state.

Talking Points

• NYS faces significant challenges related to physical inactivity, energy prices, traffic congestion, and global climate change. Community trails are an important part of the response to these challenges. Research shows that “if you build it, they will come.”
• In order to advance trail development to the level envisioned in state planning documents, and maximize the various benefits of trails, New York needs a coordinated strategy to design, establish, manage and promote a comprehensive system of multi-use trails consisting of a network of primary corridors linked to and enhanced by regional and local multi-use trails that will ensure that New Yorkers are only minutes from a trail or park.
• Once a vision for a statewide multi-use trail network is created it can inform acquisition and development decisions and funding allocations for trail promotion, development, interpretation, and maintenance.
• Multiple agencies need to be involved along with input from local governments, regional planning authorities, regional tourism agencies, regional advisory groups representing the interest of local conservationists, outdoor and sports enthusiast groups, federal agencies involved with greenways and heritage corridors.

We want New York to be known as the pre-eminent trail state which attracts visitors from across the nation and abroad to experience the historic communities and varied and beautiful landscapes accessible through the state’s trail network. 

Assemblyman/Senator we are asking you to support A9317 DelMonte or S02324 Rath.  For Tourism, Recreation and Sports Development Committee members ask that they move it out of committee.

Build a broad base of support for trails in New York – Join the NY State Trails Coalition

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