Proposed state parks budget: giant step in right direction

Parks & Trails New York lauds Governor Spitzer’s proposed Fiscal Year 2007/2008 budget for the Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation (OPRHP) and calls on the Legislature to support it. We are very pleased that the Governor has recognized the need for increased public investment in parks.

The budget directly addresses several of the priorities outlined in Parks & Trails New York’s recent report on state parks, Parks at a Turning Point—Restoring and Enhancing New York’s State Park System: stabilizing taxpayer support for parks, increasing the level of Environmental Protection Fund (EPF) resources for park infrastructure, and strengthening environmental stewardship.

The Governor’s proposed parks budget is, indeed, a giant step forward. But the needs of the state park system are great and to get ahead of the maintenance and infrastructure backlog will take a major infusion of capital funds, as well as a commitment to making sure that more park fees stay in the State Park Infrastructure Fund to ensure adequate money for stewardship.

Read Parks & Trails New York’s press release and testimony on the proposed Executive FY 07/08 parks budget. Read editorials about state parks stemming from the Parks at a Turning Point report.

Carol Ash named Parks Commissioner

Carol Ash, former member of Parks & Trails New York’s Advisory Council, has been nominated to serve as Commissioner of the Office of Parks, Recreation & Historic Preservation (OPRHP). Ms. Ash served as Executive Director of the Palisades Interstate Park Commission for seven years. Previously, she was State Director of the Nature Conservancy in New York from 1994 to 1999. Ms. Ash also served as Director of the Office of Environmental Policy and Management for the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey and as Regional Director of the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation.

“I can’t think of anyone more qualified or more committed to parks and conservation to take over the helm of State Parks,” said Parks & Trails New York Executive Director Robin Dropkin. “We look forward to working with Commissioner Ash, as well as the NYS Parks Council and parks and trails groups throughout the state, to restore and enhance our magnificent park system and expand the state’s network of greenways and trails.”

Thumbs up to two other environmental appointments: Grannis and Enck

Governor Eliot Spitzer has nominated two long-time and proven environmental advocates to key environmental positions—Manhattan Assembly member Alexander B. "Pete" Grannis to serve as commissioner of the NYS Department of Conservation (DEC) and Judith Enck to serve as Deputy Secretary for the Environment.

LEGISLATIVE AGENDA

Parks & Trails New York releases 2007 Legislative Agenda

Parks & Trails New York has released its Legislative Agenda that highlights bills it will be supporting during the 2007 Legislative session. Top priority is passage of the Governor’s Budget Bill which calls for increased funding for state parks and the Environmental Protection Fund (EPF). We will also be working hard to pass the Governor’s expanded Bottle Bill and advance Parks & Trails New York’s own bill (S02324), introduced by Senator Mary Lou Rath, to develop a plan for a statewide comprehensive system of multi-use trails.

HEALTHY TRAILS, HEALTHY PEOPLE

September ’07 conference to feature New England trails advocate

An energetic group of trails advocates and professionals is meeting monthly to put together a timely and exciting program for Parks & Trails New York’s 2007 statewide Healthy Trails, Healthy Communities conference, September 28 and 29, 2007. Craig Della Penna, Executive Director of Northeast Greenway Solutions, has been selected as the keynote speaker. Della Penna, author of four books on rail-trails, knows trails from both sides. Della Penna served as the Rails-to-Trails Conservancy’s New England Field Representative before founding the trails consulting firm, Northeast Greenway Solutions. He is also a professional REALTOR® specializing in residential properties near to greenways and rail-trails and, with his wife Kathleen, operates a bed & breakfast adjacent to a trail in Northampton, MA. As General Manager of the Central Highlands Conservancy, LLC. Della Penna also buys Massachusetts rail corridors that are in danger of being lost or sold and holds them until they can be purchased by a local land trust.

Nominations sought for statewide Greenway and Trail Awards

Parks & Trails New York is seeking nominations for its 2007 Greenway and Community Trail Awards in the following categories:

• Public Leadership
• Volunteer Service
• Corporate Partnership
• Healthy Trails, Healthy People
• Outside the Box

Visit the Parks & Trails New York website for full award category descriptions and a list of 2005 winners. Nominations must be postmarked, e-mailed, or faxed to Parks & Trails New York by August 3, 2007. Awards will be presented in conjunction with Parks & Trails New York’s two-day statewide trails and greenway conference, Healthy Trails, Healthy Communities, on September 28, 2007.

“Volunteers, local businesses, governments, and not for profits all across New York have been the driving forces behind our state’s extensive trails network. So often these significant efforts never receive the recognition they so richly deserve. We want to celebrate these contributions with our 2007 Greenway and Community Trail Awards. We look forward to the opportunity to recognize the award winners and nominees for all their hard work,” commented Parks & Trails New York Executive Director Robin Dropkin.

Parks & Trails New York awards two trail mini grants

Two Healthy Trails, Healthy People trail projects are the first recipients of Parks & Trails New York’s newly-launched Mini-Grant Program. The Chenango Greenway Conservancy, Inc. will receive $600 to design and print trail brochures and restaurant place mats that will support the group’s efforts to develop a 6.5-mile multi-use trail along the banks of the Chenango River within the City of Norwich in Chenango County. The Town of Gorham was also awarded a mini-grant of $600 toward the cost of materials for a trailhead kiosk for the 1.1-mile Robert Moody Trail southeast of Rochester.

The mini-grant program is open to those communities already receiving technical assistance from Parks & Trails New York through its Healthy Trails, Healthy People program. The mini-grants are designed to help a community undertake a specific task or program that will further advance its trail project.

Healthy Trails, Healthy People Community receives Recreational Trails grant

In the last few days of 2006, the NY Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation (OPRHP) announced the recipients of the Recreational Trails Program Grant Awards, a matching grant program for the acquisition, development, rehabilitation and maintenance of trails and trail-related projects. A $100,000 grant from the program will go to the Rensselaer County Village of Hoosick Fall's Rails-to-Trails Greenway project, one of Parks & Trails NY’s Healthy Trail, Healthy people communities. "The money will be used to acquire property or easements and complete necessary surveying," said Margaret O. Casey, Deputy Mayor for the village.

The Village of Hoosick Falls will create a historic walking and biking trail that extends for two miles along an abandoned rail corridor. The trail runs through the village, abuts the river in many places and provides abundant opportunities for scenic views, canoe access, picnicking, public information displays and parking. "The village board and the community have been very instrumental in this project and are excited about the economic development it will bring to the community," stated Casey.

The Village of Hoosick Falls was one of five communities chosen this year to receive trail development assistance as part of Parks & Trails New York's Healthy Trails, Healthy People program.

Queens greenway awarded grant for community visioning

The Rockaway Beach Branch Greenway Committee, another Healthy Trails, Healthy People project has received a $2,200 Challenge Cost Share Grant from the National Parks Service Rivers and Trails Program. The money will be used to conduct a series of community meetings to discuss use of the abandoned Rockaway Beach Branch rail right-of-way between Rego and Ozone Parks in Queens. The meetings will bring together area stakeholders to explore how this abandoned rail corridor could best service the community’s needs and to provide a forum for residents with varied perspectives to work together.

E-News Survey provides valuable feedback

Thank you to everyone who filled out our E-News survey. More than 200 of you took the time to respond. Here’s what we learned.

Funding, maintenance and operation, and design and construction were the trail topics of greatest importance to you. Similarly, you felt that the Funding and Legislative Updates features of the E-News were most important for helping you get trails built in your communities. You also told us you liked our stories about New York’s parks and trails. Others provided suggestions for story ideas and let us know some of the parks and trails projects they're working on. We will be adjusting the content of our E-News to reflect those survey responses and suggestions. The full survey report is now available at our website.

TRAIL SPOTLIGHT

Chautauqua Rails-To-Trails

In Chautauqua County, the westernmost county of New York, members of the Chautauqua Rails-to-Trails are celebrating the opening of three miles of the Portage/Trolley Line Trail, dedicated in memory of Bill Sharp, a local naturalist and educator. This segment, located within the Village of Mayfield, offers visitors elevated woodland views, an active beaver pond, and bird and wildlife viewing. The Portage/Trolley Line Trail began as a Native American portage route between Lake Erie and Lake Chautauqua. In the early 1900’s a steam-powered rail line was developed there. In 1910, the line was converted to electric power and eventually became the last inter-urban trolley operating in New York State. Now the corridor is used by hikers, horseback riders, bicyclists, cross country skiers, snowshoers, and naturalists.

The nonprofit Chautauqua Rails-to-Trails, founded in 1991, manages 32 miles of dirt-surfaced rail trails in Chautauqua County. Recently, in partnership with the Chautauqua Lake snowmobile Club Inc., the group was awarded a Recreational Trails Program Grant (RTP) for $37,600 to purchase a tractor and accessories for trail maintenance. Together, the two clubs maintain 160 miles of trail in Chautauqua County.

Efforts to preserve and expand the abandoned rail corridors in the area for recreation continue as Jim Fincher, trails manager for Chautauqua Rails-to-Trails, is planning improvements to five miles of the Alison Wells Ney Trail, from the Village of Mayville north to the Village of Brocton.

Regarding other long-term trail plans, Fincher said, “I hope that the organization will be able to successfully gain right-of-ways around Lake Chautauqua so we can have a ring around the lake. We would also like to tie into the Pennsylvania North Country Trail Association's right-of-ways by extending our trails to connect with theirs. This would establish a regional tie-in.”

Funding

Kodak American Greenways Awards Program offers help for trail projects

The Kodak American Greenways Awards Program a partnership project of the Eastman Kodak Company, The Conservation Fund, and the National Geographic Society, is providing awards up to $2,500 to stimulate the planning and design of greenways in communities throughout the U.S. Applications must be submitted online by June 1, 2007.

Preserve New York Grants available for preservation of historic transportation corridors

The Preservation League of New York State and the New York State Council on the Arts announce the 2007 Preserve New York Grant Program for municipalities and not-for-profit organizations to fund historic structure reports, historic landscape reports, and cultural resource surveys. Grants generally range between $3,000 and $10,000. Applications must be postmarked no later than Tuesday, May 1, 2007. Contact Tania G. Werbizky, Director, Technical and Grant Programs, at (607) 272-6510 or Shelley LaClair at (518) 462-5658, ext. 13 to discuss a potential application and receive an application form.