Multi-use Trails Bill passes Senate and Assembly
Exciting news for multi-use trails in New York State! The Multi-use Trails Network Initiative bill (S.2324b/A9317b) that you helped us support passed both the Senate and Assembly and is awaiting the Governor's signature. The bill, which Parks & Trails New York has been working on for three years, will establish a broad-based, multi-agency effort to plan for the creation, maintenance, and promotion of a statewide, comprehensive network of multi-use trails that will help ensure that New Yorkers are only minutes from a trail or park. Contact the Governor and urge him to sign this important legislation.
Building a Friends Group Constituency
Park and Historic Site Friends organizations play a vital role in supporting the state Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation (OPRHP). Whether it's volunteers working on park improvement projects or hosting a fundraiser, Friends are a vital source of strength and enthusiasm that should not be overlooked. These organizations help make New York State Parks the crown jewels of the State.
To leverage the power of Friends organizations, Parks & Trails New York's Campaign for Parks is building a unified Friends coalition. As part of this effort we are compiling a database of Friends organizations so that we can keep them up-to-date on the latest news from OPRHP, the State Legislature and each other. This is an important step in creating a stronger voice in support of OPRHP.
In these challenging economic times the participation of all the Friends organizations is needed to ensure that future state budgets include the funding necessary to overcome the $650 million backlog in capital spending. Likewise, the enthusiastic and vocal support of Friends organizations can help fend off staff cuts at OPRHP and ensure the adequacy of operational funding for the agency.
If you would like to be added to Parks & Trails New York's database of Park and Historic Site Friends please contact Tim Sweeney, Director of the Campaign for Parks at (518) 434-1583 ext. 210.
Cycling the Erie Canal tenth anniversary is underway!
 On Sunday, July 6th, the tenth annual 400-mile Cycling the Erie Canal (CTEC) tour kicked off from its starting point in Buffalo with more than 500 riders who will spend eight days enjoying the many historic canal villages and rural countryside of upstate New York. They will reach Albany on July 13 where they will be welcomed to the finish line by a host of volunteers, friends, and family. The Cycling the Erie Canal tour is an annual event organized by Parks & Trails New York. Cyclists cover 40 to 60 miles per day on the Canalway Trail route. Like the many styles of bicycles seen on the trail during the tour, there is no "average" cyclist. Ages for the 2008 tour range from 2 to 85 years old. More than one-third of the riders are new to the sport of cycle tourism. Many riders also return year after year to participate in the tour.
 Photos of the 2008 tour, as well as past Cycling the Erie Canal and Great Hudson Valley Pedal tours, can be found online.
There is still time to sign up for Parks & Trails New York's Great Hudson Valley Pedal, but don't delay - space is limited! The 4th annual 6-day, 200-mile ride takes place August 12-17, 2008 through the picturesque and historic Hudson Valley. Register today!
Chittenango hosts ribbon cutting for trailhead kiosk
 The Madison County Village of Chittenango celebrated National Trails Day with the dedication of its first trailhead kiosk built by Eagle Scout Candidate Jacob Burleigh of Chittenango. The project involved the pro bono services of landscape designer Elizabeth Metz, help from 23 community volunteers, who together donated over 600 hours of labor, and discounted materials offered by three local lumber companies. Located close to the Village Main Street at the start of the Creek Walk Trail, the kiosk will be the cornerstone the Creek Walk and Neighborhood Trail System being developed by the Village of Chittenango Construction of Phase One of the Creek Walk Trail is expected to be completed this year.
Dedication of the kiosk was the culmination of three years of work for Scout Burleigh who raised $1785 toward the cost of the project. The project was also awarded a $500 mini-grant from Parks & Trails New York. The Chittenango Creek Walk and Neighborhood Trail is one of the 26 projects receiving technical assistance from Parks & Trails New York through its Healthy Trails, Healthy People program. Healthy Trails, Healthy People is funded in part by a grant from the Healthy Heart Program of the NYS Department of Health.
Parks usage up as gas prices rise
As gas prices continue to rise, the use of state parks and campgrounds is also increasing. According to Parks Commissioner Carol Ash, in early Spring reservations at state campgrounds were up nearly 16 percent when compared to the same period last year. The agency also reported state campsite reservations at record levels for the Memorial Day weekend. As Commissioner Ash aptly put it, "the secret is out; you don't have to travel far to take a great vacation."
With high gas prices here to stay it's likely that our state parks and campgrounds will be the vacation destination of choice for growing numbers of New Yorkers and residents of nearby states looking for recreational opportunities closer to home. With increased use, however, comes increased stress on our state parks infrastructure which continues to suffer the effects of years of underinvestment and deferred maintenance. Fortunately, with the infusion of $95 million in capital funding in this year's state budget, we have seen the first step in the process of reinvigorating our state park system. And, as New Yorkers begin to realize the economic and quality of life benefits that state parks provide it will be clear that continued investment in our state parks, especially in hard economic times, makes sense.
Hot time on the trail: Canalway Trail Celebration attracts record number of events
Two kinds of records were set across NY State on the first weekend in June. One was the unusually hot weather for so early in the summer. The other was the 43 events registered as part of the 5th annual Canalway Trail Celebration. Reports indicate that the heat did not keep people from participating in the Celebration, which once again coincided with National Trails Day.
 This year's activities ranged from trail work projects and bike rides to concerts, fairs and festivals. In Oswego County, a dozen people built a new trail bridge in the Great Bear Recreational Area adjacent to the Oswego Canal, while in Schenectady 19 hardy souls spruced up the Trail near its eastern end. It was a great time to be at a lakeshore, and more than 600 people joined in the festivities for Onondaga Lake Day, sponsored by the Onondaga Lake Partnership. Farther west, Brockport's concert on the Rose Lummis canal tour boat was well attended.
The Canalway Trail Celebration is organized by Parks & Trails New York, the NYS Canal Corporation and the Canalway Trails Association New York, with financial support from the Erie Canalway National Heritage Corridor, to increase awareness of the Canalway Trail as a world-class recreationway and tourist destination and acknowledge the many volunteers who support the trail throughout the year. If no event took place in your community, consider planning one for 2009! For more information contact Parks & Trails New York (518-434-1583).
Universal Trail Assessment Process (UTAP) Training participants selected
 For the third year, Parks & Trails New York will host a Universal Trail Assessment Process (UTAP) Trail Assessment Coordinator Training at Gilbert Lake State Park, in Laurens, NY. On July 15 and 16, 16 selected applicants from across New York will participate in the training as part of Parks & Trails New York's Accessible Parks & Trails Program.
The goal of the Accessible Parks & Trails Program is to increase the accessibility of New York's outdoor trails for people with physical limitations. A first step in that effort depends upon aquiring standardized, objective information about trail conditions which can be obtained using the Universal Trail Assessment Process (UTAP).
Funding for the UTAP training was provided in part by the NYS OPRHP.
Save the date for a great celebration!!
Parks & Trails New York Award Reception scheduled for November 19
Parks & Trails New York is thrilled to announce that we will be honoring Kent Barwick at our annual award reception on November 19, 2008, in New York City.
Kent is a long-time advocate for New York's public open spaces, as well as historic places and buildings, and a tireless organizer and protector of the fabric and quality of New Yorkers' lives, from the New York City waterfront to Grand Central Station and Central Park to the Erie Canalway and Otsego County landscapes, to name just a few.
Since 1989, Parks & Trails New York has presented an award for outstanding parks and conservation leadership in New York State. In 1993, this award was named for George W. Perkins, a president and long-time member of the Palisades Interstate Park Commission, who worked tirelessly over much of his lifetime to preserve and promote the integrity of New York State's magnificent parks.
The reception will be held on November 19, 2008, from 5:30 to 7:30, at The University Club, One West 54th Street, NYC.
For more information, contact Martha Gershun, Director of Development, at 518-434-1583, ext. 205.
Please join us!
Ulster County legislature launches New York's first trails advisory subcommittee
On July 9 the Ulster County Legislature unanimously passed Resolution 224, establishing the State's first countywide Trails Advisory Committee! The vote followed immediately upon a public comment period in which almost a dozen people spoke about the importance of trails to the County. Ulster County has now become the first county in New York State to form a standing legislative subcommittee dedicated to promoting the construction, integration, and management of trails and trail networks.
Ulster County recently completed work on their draft Non-Motorized Transportation Plan. The study provides policy strategies and project recommendations to promote and implement a county-wide non-motorized transportation system.
The draft document for the Ulster Non-Motorized Transportation Plan is now available at the County’s website. The proposed Non-Motorized Transportation Plan includes more than 30 miles of shared use paths, along with on-road bikeways, pedestrian improvements and supporting programs. The plan also includes recommendations for Safe Routes to Schools, Complete Streets Policies and a countywide bike parking program.
Canalway Trail Ambassador pilot project to launch this summer
 A long-term vision of the Canalway Trails Association New York (CTANY) will come to fruition this summer as a pilot project that will put Trail Ambassadors on the Canalway Trail in Schenectady and Albany Counties gets underway. Volunteer Ambassadors will patrol assigned trail segments by bike or on foot to interact with users, answer questions, give directions, pick up litter, monitor maintenance needs, and call for assistance if necessary. CTANY is developing the project in collaboration with Parks & Trails New York, the NYS Canal Corporation, and the Friends of the Mohawk-Hudson Bike-Hike Trail. CTANY board member Howard Halstead and Gillian Scott of the Friends are coordinating the planning. Experience gained this summer will be applied to an expanded Ambassador program elsewhere on the Canalway Trail in the future. To volunteer or obtain more information, contact Gillian.
Legislative Agenda
Legislature passes bill to improve matching fund requirements for Parks' Environmental Protection Fund grant applicants
 For years, municipalities and not-for-profit organizations have cited an inability to raise required matching funds as a deterrent to seeking Environmental Protection Fund (EPF) grants for municipal parks, land acquisition, historic preservation and heritage areas projects. This Session the state Senate and Assembly passed a bill, S.8255-A/A.11586, which would reform the EPF to allow applicants for EPF grants administered by the NYS OPRHP to apply any federal or other non-state funding toward the required match. The bill would also increase the maximum amount of state funding provided from 50 to 75 percent of project costs in areas of the state with a poverty rate of at least 10 percent. Contact the Governor and urge him to sign this important legislation that will result in more EPF dollars being disbursed in a timely fashion to a greater number of grant recipients and reduce the amount of EPF monies that remain unspent and often used as general fund budget relief for non-environmental programs.
Parks & Trails New York opposes attempts to discontinue use of municipal parklands
There have been a number of bills this legislative session seeking, for a variety of reasons, to discontinue the use of municipal parkland. This practice is commonly known as parkland alienation. Parks & Trails New York has begun to take a more active role in opposing such alienations when we determine the bills are not in accord with our alienation policy, particularly with our position that there should be no net loss of parkland as the result of alienation. Recently we have opposed two such bills, S.7546-A/A.019586-A, which proposes to alienate the Toll Road Park in North Syracuse, and S.8573/A.11662, which provides for the alienation of parkland in Clarkstown, Rockland County.
We opposed these bills because neither one provided a specific description of the land that would be substituted for the alienated parkland. In each case the bills state that the municipalities must dedicate substitute land, not identified, which may or may not be of equal fair market value, and/or provide the fair market value of the alienated parkland for improvements to existing parks. These two pieces of legislation are good examples of flawed alienation bills - they offer no assurance that there will be no net less of parkland.
Safe Streets Bill gains sponsorship in House and Senate
 The Federal Safe and Complete Streets Act of 2008 now has a sponsor in the House and Senate. The bill, H.R.5951/ S.2686, would ensure that roads built and improved with federal funds safely serve all users - drivers, bicyclists, transit users, and pedestrians of all ages and abilities.
Funding
National Park Service Rivers & Trails Program Accepting Applications
 The National Park Service (NPS) Rivers, Trails, and Conservation Assistance Program, also known as the Rivers & Trails Program or RTCA, is now accepting applications from citizens groups, non-profits and local or state agencies wishing to conserve rivers, preserve open space, and develop trails and greenways. Through the RCTA program, NPS staff helps communities with goal setting, organizational development, public education and participation, and identification of sources of funding. Applications are due by August 1, 2008 for assistance beginning the following fiscal year.
American Hiking Society expands trails grant program
 The National Trails Fund, sponsored by the American Hiking Society, provides annual grants to grassroots organizations working to establish, protect, and maintain foot trails. Deadline for applications is August 15, 2008.
This year two different grants will be awarded:
- American Hiking Society Trail Grants - Awards will range from $500-$4,999.
- Nature Valley Trail Grants - $5,000 awards. Twenty applications requesting $5000 will be selected as prospective grant recipients and featured on Nature Valley's website. Award winners will be chosen by public vote from October 1 through 31, 2008. The top 10 projects will each receive $5,000.
Trail grants available for Hudson River Valley Greenway communities
 The Greenway Conservancy for the Hudson River Valley has announced its 2008 Conservancy Small Grant Program. Funding is available for trail planning, design, construction, rehabilitation, education, and interpretation. Requests can range from $1,000-$5,000 or up to $10,000 if more than one municipality is involved. This is a matching grant program requiring 100% match of funds awarded. Applications are due September 8, 2008. For more information, contact the Greenway office at (518) 473-3835.
Trail and Health Resources
New Walkable Communities Guide Available
 The Federal Highway Administration Office of Safety has released a new guide, A Resident's Guide for Creating Safe and Walkable Communities (FHWA-SA-07-016), to help residents, community groups, and others make their communities better environments for walking. This 70-page, user-friendly resource includes information, ideas, and references to help residents learn about issues that affect walking conditions, prevent or find solutions to pedestrian obstacles, and promote pedestrian safety. It also presents a step-by-step action plan for enhancing walkability, including several community success stories that highlight successful pedestrian safety projects and programs. In addition, the guide includes eleven resource sheets on topics such as "Ten Things Your Pedestrian Group Can Do" and "Safety Tips for Pedestrians and Drivers," along with references to other resources and materials.
Trail Spotlight
Westchester's Colonial Greenway
Expanded trail to connect Westchester communities and parks
It began two decades ago as the Westchester Greenway, a 6-mile loop trail connecting several area parks in four municipalities: the Town of Mamaroneck, Village of Mamaroneck, Scarsdale and New Rochelle. Unfortunately, over time, the connections were lost due to dumping of debris and a loss of legal access on private lands.
 In 2004, local officials decided to not only reconnect and restore the original greenway trail but also add a second, western loop to create more than 15 miles of soft-surface trail for hikers, runners, and equestrians linking nine parks and six municipalities. A committee was formed to guide the effort with representatives from the Towns of Mamaroneck and Eastchester; City of New Rochelle; the Villages of Scarsdale, Mamaroneck, and Larchmont; Westchester County Parks and Recreation; and the Sound Shore Runners Club. Municipal employees with the help of many volunteers, including local scouts, worked with each of the parks departments to repair existing trails, construct and repair board walks, solve drainage issues, and build new trails where necessary. The project also received a $12,000 grant from the Hudson River Valley Greenway Conservancy.
 Because the trail had doubled in size, it was decided to rename it the Colonial Greenway for the many colonial-era points of interest that it passes. Town of Mamaroneck Environmental Planner Elizabeth Paul expects the trail will be used not only for recreation but also for children to get to school and adults to commute to local businesses. "The creation of the Colonial Greenway would have never been possible without inter-municipal cooperation and the efforts of a great many volunteers. We now have a regional recreational resource that can be utilized by all of our residents instead of nine individual parks. Until I walked the Colonial Greenway, I always thought New Rochelle was too far away to walk to, but now I realize it is only right down the trail from us here in Mamaroneck," commented Paul.
An official opening is scheduled for September 28th. |
With the Canalway Trail expanding across the state and the renown of the Erie Canal growing, more and more cyclists are choosing to visit Upstate New York. To help local business people discover how to make the most of this emerging opportunity, Parks & Trails New York and the NYS Canal Corporation recently held the seventh in a series of "Bicyclists Bring Business!" roundtables in Brockport. 
The Third Annual 