Five new trail projects selected for HTHP assistance

Five additional New York communities have been selected to receive trail development assistance from Parks & Trails New York out of an applicant pool of twenty.

The communities were chosen as part of Parks & Trails New York's five-year Healthy Trails, Healthy People program. Healthy Trails, Healthy People, funded in part by a grant from the Healthy Heart Program of the New York State Department of Health, is aimed at helping New Yorkers develop more active communities and an enhanced quality of life through the creation of multi-use trails. Presently, Parks & Trails New York is working with communities in Erie, Ontario, Tompkins, Delaware, Herkimer, Clinton, Chenango, Albany and Nassau counties as well as New York City.

Selected projects include: Grand Loop Network - Nassau County Rockaway Beach Branch Greenway - Queens County Salmon River Greenway Trail - Town of Richland, Village of Pulaski, Oswego County Chittenango Creek Walk and Neighborhood Trail - Village of Chittenango, Madison County The Pendleton Trail - Town of Pendleton, Niagara County

"The applications we received showed us that there is considerable interest in trail development from urban, suburban, and rural communities throughout the state. That a number of places are focusing on creation of a community-wide trails plan rather than just a single trail demonstrates that trails are increasingly being viewed as an integral element of community infrastructure," commented Parks & Trails New York Executive Director Robin Dropkin.

"The ultimate goal is getting trails built, because research has shown that where people have access to trails, they’re generally more physically active. Through Healthy Trails, Healthy People, we want to help communities build the vision, constituencies, and local commitment that experience has shown are critical to the long-term success of trail projects," added Dropkin.

To learn more about the program and how to apply to become a Healthy Trails, Healthy People community in 2007, e-mail Parks & Trails New York or call 518-434-1583.

Community Updates

Peru community turns out for trails workshop and walk

More than 45 individuals attended a trails workshop in Peru on November 19th to learn about the potential for a shared-use trail corridor in their community. Peru is a town in the north country county of Clinton and is adjacent to Lake Champlain south of the City of Plattsburgh. The concept for the greenway is to connect several community parks along the wooded banks and fields adjacent to the Little Ausable River.

Town Supervisor Ken Jahn welcomed the attendees and talked about the trail as a community benefit. Friends of the Little Ausable River Trail founders Rodney Brown and Adele LeRoyer shared their vision and summarized their efforts to date. Parks & Trails New York staff then spoke about the value trails can bring to a community, and the need for facilities that encourage physical activity due to rising obesity rates as well as the common concerns that arise with trail development and ways to address them. The presentation ended with a photographic 'virtual tour' of the proposed trail corridor.

A question and answer session showed strong support for the trail concept, although questions were posed regarding liability and maintenance costs. Several audience members had ideas for additional trail links. Following the meeting, about 30 individuals took a walking tour of the first proposed segment of the trail corridor.

In addition to providing valuable publicity for the trail concept, the meeting generated a list of 24 potential new members of the Friends of the Little Ausable River Trail who could help expand the friends group's trail advocacy and stewardship capabilities and increase momentum for the project.

Norwich Trails Committee drafting concept plan

In central New York, the Chenango Greenway Committee recently drafted a 'plan' for their riverside trail corridor in the City of Norwich. Rather than the detailed technical analysis normally associated with the word 'plan', this is an overview of the Committee's initial findings about the trail's physical potential and options for its development. The brief document will include a summary of trail benefits, route maps, funding ideas, and options for addressing issues that are common to all trails as well as specific to this corridor.

The intended audience for the 'concept plan' is primarily landowners on whose property the trail will hopefully be located, key local leaders, potential partner groups, and prospective new committee members.

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Catskill Scenic Trail uses utility extension to create six new miles

Construction of a new sewer line along the Catskill Scenic Trail linear park in the Town of Roxbury in Delaware County has helped to convert an additional six miles of former Catskill Branch Line rail bed to a shared-use trail. The Town of Roxbury, with financial support from the New York City Department of Environmental Protection, installed the water and sewer line to connect the community to the nearest water treatment facility in Grand Gorge.

The Catskill Scenic Trail now boasts 26 miles of cinder and dirt surface used by cyclists, hikers, equestrians, cross-county skiers, and snowmobile riders. With the recent addition, the trail is nearly continuous along its whole length between Roxbury and Boonville, with only a few sections less than 1000 feet long still requiring improvements. As it winds through the valleys of the western Catskills, the trail corridor connects the hamlets of Grand Gorge, South Gilboa, and South Kortright and the Villages of Hobart and Stamford.

The remainder of the 45-mile long recreational corridor hosts the Delaware & Ulster Rail Ride scenic railroad, a regional tourist attraction, which ferries passengers between the Village of Arkville and the hamlet of Roxbury from spring to fall. The Catskill Revitalization Corporation (CRC) owns, operates, and manages both the trail and the tourist rail line. In the near future an extension will link both uses on the corridor with a short rail-with-trail segment in Roxbury. Potential exists to extend the trail along the rest of the active scenic rail line and connect to other communities along the former Catskill Branch Line.

Throughout the Catskill watershed, New York City has been supporting water quality enhancement projects like this treatment plant link to help delay or avoid construction of a massive filtration plant while ensuring the water supply for its eight million residents continues to meet federal clean water standards. Significantly for the trail, the easement for the placement and operation of the water line includes a license fee that goes into the general operations fund of the CRC to support rail and trail management and maintenance.

Early in the life of the project, prospects for such a well-established recreational corridor did not look so promising. When Conrail chose to abandon the corridor in 1976, many adjacent landowners challenged those who sought to preserve the corridor for public use by claiming reversionary rights or adverse possession of segments of the right of way. Seeing that a unique regional resource was on the verge of being lost through segmentation, seven towns along its length banded together. They formed the CRC to help acquire the corridor and pay for basic overhead costs such as property liability insurance.

Like many rural trail corridors, the Catskill Scenic Trail received uninvited ATV use by youths tearing up and down the trail. Besides the obvious damage to the trail surface, ATV activity presented a significant risk to users from senior housing and day care facilities along the trail. Support from the Delaware County Sheriff and State Police in enforcing existing state ordinances helped the trail managers convince the ATV users to stay off the trail.

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Grants round for TEA / Transportation Enhancements
Program expected soon

The NYS Department of Transportation is preparing for a long-awaited round of Transportation Enhancements grants. The exact schedule may be announced this month so check the NYS DOT's Enhancements Program website.

Based on past rounds, it is likely that the schedule will include a multi-month application process beginning in the early spring of 2006. The evaluation and rating of applications will probably go through the fall with award announcements made by November. This round may possibly combine several years worth of allocations from the Federal Highways Surface Transportation Program, which could result in a total pool of funding awards of more than $50 million, nearly double the funds awarded in the last round.

Potential applicants should organize ideas and information and identify/secure local match resources. They should also consider reviewing the previous round's application form on the DOT Enhancements Program website for ideas on what information will be required as the new application will likely be fairly similar. You may also want to consult the U.S. DOT Federal Highway Administration's updated guidance to state transportation agencies for Transportation Enhancement (TE) Activities if you are concerned about project eligibility or program administration changes resulting from the recent passage of SAFETEA-LU, the new Federal Highways Law.

It is also advisable to contact your NYS DOT regional Bicycle/Pedestrian Coordinators and Enhancements Coordinators with questions.

Grants Action News - A monthly source of information on grants

Another good source for information on funding is Grants Action News, a free, monthly publication of the New York State Assembly. The four-page newsletter presents information on eligibility, funding, deadlines, and where to go for more information for a variety of federal, state, foundation, and organizational grants. A calendar of grant-writing training workshops is also often included. Visit the New York State Assembly website to access the latest edition. To subscribe, send name, address and e-mail to Grants Action News, LOB 945-A Albany, NY 12248.

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Comments sought for 2006 Draft NYS Open Space Conservation Plan

On November 10th, the NYS Department of Environmental Conservation, Office of Parks, Recreation, and Historic Preservation , and Department of State announced the completion of the draft 2006 update to the state's Open Space Conservation Plan. New York's Open Space Conservation Plan serves as the blueprint for the State's land conservation efforts, which during the past ten years have protected from development more than 924,000 acres of land using more than $586 million in state funding.

Updated every three years, the Plan outlines priority project areas that are eligible for State acquisition funding from the Environmental Protection Fund and other State, federal and local sources. Park and greenway projects are included as priority projects in a number of regions (view the priority locations in your region of the state through a new on-line map on DECs website.) The Plan also makes policy and program recommendations to guide the State's open space protection program for the future.

Grassroots participation is an essential part of the Plan's development. Nine regional advisory committees play a significant role in helping the State develop the Plan. Committee members are appointed jointly by the State and County governments and are selected for their knowledge of conservation issues facing their regions.

Public hearings on the draft Plan were held during November and December in locations throughout the State. A public comment period will run through January 18, 2006. Written statements and questions concerning the Plan or the DGEIS may be submitted via e-mail or sent to:

Changes proposed to National Park Service management policy

The National Park Service has released draft changes to its management policies that serve as the guidelines by which park managers oversee day-to-day operations in the nation's national parks. The policies would apply to all 11 National Park Service units in New York State.

Environmental groups such as the National Parks Conservation Association, the Wilderness Society, Sierra Club, and Natural Resources Defense Council have raised concerns that the proposed changes do not ensure the overarching importance of resource conservation in park decisions.

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Facing a tough trail problem? Get professional advice on-line

Do you have a design issue that you aren't sure you know how to handle? Do you want to get a solid cost estimate for a trail bridge or other trail construction tasks? Do you want to educate yourself about the range of trail building equipment tools and materials? Then visit the Professional Trailbuilders Association website.

It provides a number of useful resources and want ad pages in addition to an on-line form allowing trail project managers to submit requests for quotes, requests for proposals, and serious inquiries about trail project costs.

Formed in 1976, the Professional Trailbuilders Association (PTBA) is North America's largest private sector group of trail specialists, professional trail contractors, designers, and consultants. PTBA members have extensive experience in the specialized skills of trail design, construction, and maintenance in settings that range from backcountry hiking trails to urban bike paths. PTBA's activities support sustainable quality trail design, construction, and maintenance for all types of trails in all types of locations. PTBA also organizes an annual conference in March to present the latest in trail construction techniques and equipment.

Council of Community Services helps make New York non-profits more effective

The Council of Community Services of New York State, Inc (CCSNYS) is a 501(c)(3) membership-based, association of more than 925 diverse charitable New York non-profit organizations. CCSNYS is dedicated to strengthening its members by providing them with products, comprehensive board and staff training, and technical assistance.

CCSNYS also strives to be the information and advocacy clearinghouse for the New York nonprofit sector while providing members a strong collective voice. In partnership with GrantStation, CCSNYS also delivers a weekly, email, GrantStation Insider, that contains the latest information on new funding programs, upcoming grant deadlines, conferences, trainings, and relevant information for grant seekers.

Through it subsidiary, Council Services Plus, CCSNYS offers professional, employment practices, directors and officer's, fiduciary, and commercial general liability insurance. CCSNYS membership fees are based on organizational operating budgets. For example, membership is $50/year for organizations with budgets less than $50,000.

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"Money is nothing more than grease for the bearings of a trail project. The key secret ingredient, the catalyst, that gives a project life, legs and commitment to succeed...is people! Organizations, agencies, and businesses do not succeed, only people do. Remember, in your group, that success is no orphan. Share the credit. It takes many hands to do the heavy lifting of a trail project. Each person can have a role, large or small, long term or short term. Think of the many volunteers in a project as water flowing into a pond. As long as there is flow in and out there is life in the project, when there is no flow, the project is stagnant."

Rick Lefeber, Executive Director
Cattaraugus Local Development Corporation

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Email your events related to multi-use trails and greenways for the next edition of Parks & Trails E- NEWS. Entries should include: 1) Name and date of event, 2) Brief description, 3) Where to go for more information. Submit items to: ptny@ptny.org. All listings are at the discretion of the editors and as space allows.

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Parks & Trails New York is the only statewide organization dedicated to making New York's parks and trails bigger, better, and more accessible to all. For more than 20 years, Parks & Trails New York has been ensuring that all New Yorkers - in cities, suburbs, and rural areas - enjoy the outdoors close-to-home.  Become a member today or visit our website to learn more about our services.

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