In This Issue

Building a Friends Group Constituency

Cycling the Erie Canal tenth anniversary is underway!

Chittenango hosts ribbon cutting for trailhead kiosk

Parks usage up as gas prices rise

Hot time on the trail: Canalway Trail Celebration attracts record number of events

Universal Trail Assessment Process (UTAP) Training participants selected

Parks & Trails New York Award Reception scheduled for November 19

Ulster County legislature launches New York's first trails advisory subcommittee

Canalway Trail Ambassador pilot project to launch this summer

Legislative Agenda

Funding

Trail Spotlight - Westchester's Colonial Greenway

Trail and Health Resources

Parks and Trails in the News

Calendar

New and Noteworthy

Parks & Trails New York honored for park advocacy work

Parks & Trails New York and Parks Commissioner Carol Ash were honored by Scenic Hudson as "visionaries who are helping New York again claim the mantle of having the best state parks in the country" at a dinner at Blue Hill at Stone Barns on June 25. The recognition celebrated the work of Ash and PTNY, which led to the state's largest-ever investment in park improvements.

Bicyclists Bring Business! roundtables spark exciting ideas

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. Read a summary of ideas offered by local business people, tourism professionals, elected officials, and interested citizens to further accommodate and build awareness of the importance of the Canalway Trail tourist.

Waterfront Revitalization grants fund new park and trail projects

The state recently announced $24.9 million in matching grants from the State Environmental Protection Fund’s Local Waterfront Revitalization Program (LWRP) for 97 planning, design and construction projects that focus on economic, community, environmental and recreational improvements. Many of this year’s awards will help New York's cities and hamlets develop land and water trails, riverwalks, and waterside parks.

Third annual Canal Splash set for August 8-10

The Third Annual Canal Splash, a celebration of the beauty, culture and recreational appeal of New York State's Canal System, will take place August 8 - 10. Consisting of a coordinated series of locally-organized events ranging from guided walks, bikes and cruises to museum and gallery exhibits, canoe and kayak paddles, and canalside festivals, the Canal Splash is organized by the NYS Canal Corporation in partnership with the Erie Canalway National Heritage Corridor.

Call for nominations! Erie Canalway Heritage Award of Excellence

The Erie Canalway National Heritage Corridor seeks nominations through July 15 for a new award to honor and celebrate the significant places of the Corridor and recognize excellence in the implementation of the Erie Canalway Preservation and Management Plan. The Erie Canalway Heritage Award of Excellence will call attention to those places where people have come together to make their part of the Canalway Corridor a vibrant place to live, work, or play. Contact Jean Mackay or (518) 237-7000, ext. 222.

See your photo on the 2009 Erie Canalway Calendar

Amateur and professional photographers are invited to submit prints and digital images for the 2008 Erie Canalway Photo Contest.Entries will be accepted through September 15, 2008 in four categories: For the Fun of It, Canal Culture, Historic Architecture and Engineering Marvels, and The Nature of the Canal. Winning photos will be displayed in the 2009 Erie Canalway calendar produced by the Erie Canalway National Heritage Corridor.

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Parks and Trails
in the News

New Rochester-area trail guide benefits cyclists, hikers— Rochester, NY

Hundreds of bicyclists pass through area on Erie Canal tour— Monroe County, NY

Groups raise early support for Southtowns rails-to-trails— Orchard Park, NY

Historic agency can't save its neighbor—Waterford, NY

Town seeks $1M grant for trail —Malta, NY

Ossining gets $175K for Riverwalk— Ossining, NY

Trail vote divides Caroline town board —Caroline, NY

Unprecedented funds from Albany mean many state parks will be upgraded

Changes at baths proving popular — Saratoga Springs, NY

City Unveils Final Plan on First Slice of the High Line — New York, NY

Difficulty of Work Blamed for Delays Replacing Park Space Lost to Yankee Stadium — New York, NY

Traveling the canal with wheels, pedals — Troy, NY

Group hopes to save Hoyt House's crumbling wall — Staatsburg, NY

Ideas flow on plan for Spa park — Saratoga Springs, NY

Saving the Putnam Rail Line right-of-way still pays dividends — Greenburgh, NY

Hikers Celebrate Madison County Trails — Madison County, NY

Mount Kisco man building 350-mile trail — Mount Kisco, NY

Hudson River Waterfront Projects Funded for 400th Anniversary — Albany, NY

Opinion: Expand state's heritage areas

Canal event to spotlight waterway — Greece, NY

Bryant Park Braces for a Tidal Wave of Traffic — New York, NY

City puts bigger focus on recreational trails for bicycle enthusiasts — Watertown, NY

Opinion: Celebrate National Trails Day in Rochester area — Rochester, NY

Comprehensive Parks Upgrade Plan — Poughkeepsie, NY

Trust wants more trails — East Greenbush, NY

New timeline for park pool— Berne, NY

Ruling Favors Surfers, but Ban Stands — Montauk, NY

County Presses Proposal for Bike Trail — Westchester County, NY

City floats new idea: a water map to paddle by — Queens, NY

Tupper Lake moves toward paying for trails — Tupper Lake, NY

Opinion: A Wilderness, Lost in the City — New York, NY

Vacationers fight fuel costs with fire — Moreau, NY

BUSINESS: Artpark extends pact with state — Niagara, NY

Spa State Park cuts mowing to save on fuel, labor critics blasts decision to let some acres go wild — Saratoga Springs, NY

Renovations begin at Rockland Lake State Park — Rockland Lake, NY

Calendar

July

12 - Tour de Per-RY bike ride through Letchworth State Park. (585) 237-6709 for more information.

15 - The Erie Canalway National Heritage Corridor Award of Excellence nomination deadline. For more information Contact Jean Mackay or (518) 237-7000, ext. 222.

19 - North County Access Program. All-abilities water sports recreation event to take place on the shores of the St. Lawrence River, Clayton, NY. Email for more information.

August

1- Application deadline for National Parks Service Rivers, Trails, and Conservation Assistance Program

6-13 - Join us for the Great Hudson Valley Pedal

8-10 - 3rd annual Canal Splash

15 - Deadline for American Hiking Society National Trails Fund applications.

September

8 - Application deadline for Hudson Valley Greenway 2008 Conservancy Small Grant Program

15 - Deadline for Erie Canalway Photo Contest 

Ongoing Events

Governors Island Alliance releases summer events schedule

Summer in the city is sizzling! Bring your family and friends out to beautiful Governors Island. Rent a bike and enjoy a car-free spin, hear great music, catch a striper, see New York's history come alive, or just relax on the shady green waterfront. For a full schedule of events click here.

Parks & Trails New York is a member of Earth Share of New York, an alliance of leading nonprofit environmental organizations. Please look for Parks & Trails New York and Earth Share in your workplace giving campaign brochure. For more information about giving through Earth Share, or to learn how you can help your office set up a workplace giving campaign with Earth Share of New York, check out Earth Share of New York´s web site, www.earthshareny.org.

Parks & Trails New York is a leader in efforts to improve the quality of life of all New Yorkers through the expansion, protection, and promotion of a network of parks, trails, and open spaces throughout the state.

HEALTHY TRAILS, HEALTHY PEOPLE

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.

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.

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.