HEALTHY TRAILS, HEALTHY PEOPLE

Statewide Trails and Greenways Conference around the corner

Register now for Parks & Trails New York's Healthy Trails, Healthy Communities Conference to be held September 28 and 29 in Rochester at the R. Thomas Flynn Campus Center at Monroe Community College, only a short walk to the Erie Canalway Trail.

Conference Highlights

Special keynote addresses by:

• Craig Della Penna, Executive Director, Northeast Greenway Solutions
• Carmella Mantello, Director, New York State Canal Corporation
• Carol Ash, Commissioner, New York State Office of Parks, Recreation, and Historic Preservation

Field workshops — Friday afternoon visit the Genesee Riverway Trail, the Pittsord section of the Erie Canalway Trail, the Genesee Valley Greenway, or the Lehigh Valley and Auburn Trails to learn first-hand what others are doing to design terrific trails, raise funds, overcome challenges, and motivate volunteers.

Workshops and panel discussions — Saturday interact with a dynamic mix of speakers presenting the latest research, interesting case studies, and successful implementation strategies aimed at designing, building, maintaining, and promoting trails that support active living, tourism, and economic development.

Greenway and Community Trail Awards dinner — Friday evening network with friends old and new and join in honoring the outstanding contributions of trail advocates across the state.

Accommodations: A block of rooms has been reserved at the Hampton Inn, 717 East Henrietta Road, Rochester, at the special conference rate of $89/night plus tax. Rooms must be reserved before September 13, 2007 to receive the special conference rate. The Hampton Inn is located directly across the street from MCC. To reserve a room, call 585-272-7800.

To receive a registration brochure, e-mail Parks & Trails New York or call 518-434-1583.

The conference is being organized by Parks & Trails New York in partnership with the Healthy Heart Program of the New York State Department of Health and the New York State Canal Corporation and with the support of many generous sponsors.

Get your trail on the big screen

Even if you can’t make the September conference, make sure your trail is represented at the Friday evening Trails Photo Revue. Send us inspiring photos of your trail in high resolution format. During the conference awards dinner, we´ll use large screens in the banquet room to showcase the wealth of New York´s trails. Parks & Trails New York reserves the right to use the photographs, with credits, to support its trail advocacy efforts.

Join the Statewide Trails Coalition – Help set an agenda for trails in New York State

Be part of building a strong base of support for trails in New York. Join Parks & Trails New York’s newly formed Statewide Trails Coalition. Members include trail groups, educational institutions, nature centers, local development agencies, land trusts, historical organizations, and village, town, and county governments from all regions of the state. Coalition membership is free.

Participate in developing the agenda and strategies that will guide the work of the Statewide Trails Coalition during the closing plenary session of the September statewide trails and greenways conference. What issues should the Coalition be tackling? If we haven’t heard from you, let us know what you think.

Second Training held on assessing trails for accessibility

On July 25 and 26, Parks & Trails New York held its second Universal Trail Assessment Process (UTAP) training at Gilbert Lake State Park near Oneonta NY. As part of its Accessible Parks & Trails Program, 16 individuals from across the state learned to assess trails for their level of accessibility using the UTAP process. The goal of UTAP is to provide standardized, objective information on major trail conditions that affect access, grade, cross slope, surface type, obstacles, and trail width so that everyone can decide for themselves whether a trail meets their interest and abilities. This information can be included on trailheads signage, websites, maps, or guides.

In return for the free training, each participant will assist Parks & Trails New York by conducting UTAP assessments for three miles of trails listed on Parks & Trails New York’s web-based Trail Finder Maps. Parks & Trails New York’s goal is to include UTAP information on trail conditions for each of the multi-use trails listed on its Trail Finder maps. Anyone wishing to learn more about the UTAP process by assisting the new UTAP Coordinators with trail assessment, should contact Parks & Trails New York

Safe Routes to School National Partnership Comes to New York State

The Federal Safe Routes to School (SRTS) Program, established in 2005, is meant to make walking and bicycling to school a safe and routine activity by not reinventing the wheel but making it spin again. The program makes funding available for a wide variety of programs and projects, from building safer street crossings to establishing programs that encourage children and their parents to walk and bicycle safely to school.

The SRTS National Partnership, recognizing that the potential for SRTS is much broader than the $612 million in federal funding; launched the State Network Project in March 2007. By linking existing leaders associated with health, bicycle, pedestrian, youth, education, disadvantaged communities, and smart growth organizations, the State Network Project is working to help the SRTS federal program succeed while leveraging additional resources for Safe Routes to School, removing barriers to walking and bicycling to schools, and creating an institutional framework for generating long-term policy changes.

Be Active New York State has been selected to be the State Network Organizer for New York State. The current objective is to establish a Network of organizations with an interest in Safe Routes to School, research current policies, and develop a state action plan that will guide the network’s efforts. Network members may help with outreach and promotion, education, advocacy and the ongoing refinement and implementation of the state action plan. If you would like more information or would like to be on the mailing list for the Safe Routes to School State Network Project please contact Be Active New York State at (716) 851-4052 or email Justin Booth. The sustainability of Safe Routes to School in the U.S. and New York State may well be influenced by how well this SRTS State Network Project succeeds in making those wheels spin again.

2007 Great Hudson Valley Pedal Bike Tour

The Third Annual Parks & Trails New York Great Hudson Valley Pedal was a great success! The Great Hudson Valley Pedal kicked off from the Sage College Campus in Albany on August 14th as 150 riders departed for New York City. Over the course of six days, tour participants from as far away as Alaska and The Netherlands enjoyed the sights of the scenic and picturesque Hudson Valley. Throughout the ride, cyclists were treated to sweeping views of the Hudson River, pastoral landscapes, idyllic towns, vineyards and orchards.  Pedal highlights included a sunset cruise, a guided tour of West Point Military Academy, and visits to Olana, Montgomery Place, Wilderstein, and Poet’s Walk. Participants also toured the mansions of Franklin Eleanor and Roosevelt, Ogden Mills, and Alfred Vanderbilt. After crossing the George Washington Bridge, cyclists made their way down Manhattan’s West Side via Riverside Park and Hudson River Park into Battery Park, finally ending the tour at the South Street Seaport. For pictures of the event, check out our tour photo album. Tour dates for the 2007 Great Hudson Valley Pedal will be announced soon!

Trail Spotlight

City of Rochester’s Genesee Riverway Trail offers history, entertainment, recreation, and natural wonder

Experience the trail yourself. Register for the statewide trails conference and choose the Riverway Trail as your field workshop!

Twenty years after its original conception, the Genesee Riverway Trail stands as a shining example of a diverse trail system that combines the best of urban living and the natural environment. The 18-mile, paved trail occupies a 13-mile-long corridor that stretches through the City of Rochester along the banks of the Genesee River from the shore of Lake Ontario to the heart of downtown and south to the Erie Canalway Trail.

This recently designated National Recreational Trail provides not only opportunities for walking jogging, cycling, and roller blading, but also access to the river for fishing, canoeing, kayaking, rafting, and bird watching. The trail passes through residential neighborhoods including several historic districts, forever wild preserves, and 11 different parks, four of which were designed by Frederick Law Olmsted. It is this connectivity that offers city residents easy access to the beauty of the natural environment as well as many of the city’s cultural and historic attractions without having to rely on an automobile.

Current priority for the City of Rochester is to complete the few remaining gaps to achieve a continuous riverside trail. However, because of the river’s sheer banks and wetland areas, making these trail connections is not an easy task. In one place where cliff faces and wetlands prevented land-side trail development, the City recently located a 2/3-mile section of trail on a boardwalk built within the Genesee River. During the conference’s Friday field workshops, you will have a chance to visit this impressive board walk.

The trail is owned and maintained by the City of Rochester with support from the Friends of the Genesee Riverway Trail, the University of Rochester, Rochester Gas & Electric Co., and the County of Monroe.

Funding

Hudson River Valley Greenway Conservancy Small Grants Program

The Hudson Valley River Greenway announces the availability of $65,000 in small grants assistance for trail planning, design, construction and rehabilitation, education and interpretation. This annual program offers technical and financial assistance to municipalities and not-for-profit organizations within the designated Hudson River Valley Greenway area. Emphasis is placed on trail projects that seek to implement the goals of the Draft Greenway Trail Vision Plan, fill in identified gaps in the Greenway Trail System, and make improvements to currently designated Greenway Trails. Applications are available online or may be requested by calling the Greenway at (518) 473-3835. Applications must be received or postmarked by 4:00 pm, September 7th, 2007.

Southern Tier Nature Center Receives National Trails Fund Award

In May, the American Hiking Society awarded the Pfeiffer Nature Center nearly $3000 from the National Trails Fund to construct trail signage, develop topographic trail maps, and design and build a trailhead kiosk along a three mile nature trail. The Pfeiffer Nature Center is a non-profit organization with the purpose of building a foundation of knowledge, understanding, and appreciation for the intrinsic value and aesthetic qualities of our natural world.

To be considered for the 2008 National Trails Fund grant, submit an application by November 1, 2007 (postmark date). Grants will be awarded in spring 2008.

Trail & Health Resources

Bikes Belong Launches New Website

Bikes Belong has launched a new website. A key feature of the site is a searchable map of all the community grants that the organization has awarded since 1999. Bikes Belong is a nonprofit organization dedicated to increasing cycling awareness and ridership.

Access Board seeks public comment on guidelines for outdoor developed areas

The US Access Board is seeking public comment on newly released Guidelines for Outdoor Developed Areas. The accessibility guidelines cover new or altered trails, outdoor recreation access routes, beach access routes, and picnic and camping facilities managed by the Federal government. Comments should be received by October 18, 2007. While the guidelines only apply to Federal facilities, it is another step in the process to establish clear requirements for building trails to accessible standards.

Legislation

Governor Spitzer Signs Two Important Bills

Environmental Protection Fund

Governor Spitzer has signed a bill that will increase the New York’s Environmental Protection Fund from $225 million to $250 million in 2008 and to $300 million thereafter. Programs provided by the fund include farmland preservation, park and trail development and aquisition, water quality management, landfill closures, pollution prevention, and the protection of threatened natural environments. The signing drew applause from environmental groups and citizens alike.

Hudson Valley Community Preservation Act

New York Governor Eliot Spitzer signed the landmark Hudson Valley Community Preservation Act into law. The legislation will give municipalities in Westchester and Putnam counties the power to create funds to protect their natural and historic heritage when and if local voters choose to do so. The Governor also signed stand-alone preservation measures for the towns of Chatham and Fishkill, granting these areas the same funding tool.

Federal

No Child Left Inside Act (NCLI) Proposed in Congress

Many schools have been forced to abandon environmental education programs so they can invest more time and money in math and language arts as mandated by the federal No Child Left Behind Act (NCLB), enacted in 2002. In an effort to reconnect more childern with nature and address critical environmental challenges, legislation has been proposed for the No Child left Inside Act of 2007. The proposed act will provide the opportunity to bring environmental education back to the forefront of classrooms nationwide. Congressman John Sarbanes of Maryland and Senator Jack Reed of Rhode Island recently introduced these bills, each entitled the No Child Left Inside Act of 2007, in the House (H.R.3036) and the Senate (S.1981).

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. THANK YOU!!