Universal Trail Assessment (UTAP) 2007 UTAP Training With funding from the New York State Office of Parks, Recreation, and Historic Preservation, the New York Community Trust, and the New York State Department of Health Disability and Health Program, Parks & Trails New York organized its second Universal Trail Assessment Process (UTAP) Coordinator training at Gilbert Lake State Park in Laurens, NY on July 25 and 26. The following 16 individuals from accross the state were selected to participate from among 33 applicants: Beverly Allyn – Mid-Hudson Bicycle Club Jim Arey – Elmira-Chemung Transportation Council Jill Barra – Herkimer County Public Health Victor Calise – City of New York Parks and Recreation Joyce Carroll – Columbia Land Conservancy Laura Conner – OPRHP, Saratoga/Capital District Region Andrew Giarrizzo – OPRHP, Western District Paul Hoffman – Finger Lakes Trail Conference, Triple Cities Hiking Club Mary Riley-Jacame – University of Albany Prevention Research Center Richard Schraven – Niagara Frontier Chapter ADK, Niagara Frontier Bicycle Club Al Sosa – Oneonta-Susquehanna Greenway, SUNY Oneonta Physical Education/Outdoor Education Dept. Wendy VanDerBogart – OPRHP, Central Region Matt Van Slyke – Herkimer-Oneida Counties Transportation Study Jan Wines – Croton on Hudson Trails Committee Donald Wyckoff – Catskill Center for Independence Martin Daley - Parks & Trails New York The training was conducted by two American Trails-certified UTAP Master Trainers, Patricia Longmuir of PEL Consulting in Ontario, Canada and Carole Fraser, Universal Access Program Coordinator for the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (NYSDEC). At the end of the training, each participant took a written exam. In return for receiving their training free of charge, they also agreed to assess three miles of trails for Parks & Trails New York. The resulting information will be added to Parks & Trails New York’s web-based Trail Finder Maps. Our Goal Parks & Trails New York's goal is to is to increase the accessibility of New York's outdoor trails for people with physical limitations that affect the quality of thier recreational experience. More than 1,200 miles of multi-use trails exist throughout New York State, yet there is little information on trail characteristics that can be used by persons with disabilities to help them decide if a trail would be suitable for them. Our objective is to build a group of trained, certified, UTAP Trail Assesment Coordinators located throughout the state who will assist in assessing trails within their region. In 2006, Parks & Trails New York launched Accessible Parks & Trails to train trail managers and advocates in the Universal Trail Assessment Process (UTAP). In 2006, sixteen persons received UTAP training, seven of whom have been fully certified by American Trails as trail assessment coordinators. Edward Ahern - Suffolk Independent Living Organization Karl Beard* - National Parks Service, Rivers, Trails, and Conservation Assistance Program Sharon Bryant-Heyboer* – NYS Department of Transportation Howard Cornwall* - Directions in Independent Living Inc. Lauren Dennison - New York State Office of Real Property Services Robin Ferri - Access to Independence of Cortland County Frances Gotcsik - Parks & Trails New York Michael Hellmann - Westchester Residential Opportunities, Westchester Disabled on the Move Wes Lampman - Adirondack Mountain Club Laura Lemire* – New York State Department of Transportation Joy Olson - Rural Health Network South Central NY, Triple Cities Hiking Club Frank Pennisi - Southern Tier Independence Center, Inc. Kevin Prickett* - Wilmington, NY Andrew Rawdon - Compeer Inc., Crescent Trail Assoc., Monroe County. Regional Canalway Trail Group, Genesee Waterways Center Lynda Rummel* – Finger Lakes Trail Conference, Friends of the Outlet, Yates County ARC Irene Szabo* - Finger Lakes Trail Conference, North Country National Scenic Trail *Certified Trail Assessment Coordinator For more information on the workshops contact Martin Daley, Parks & Trails New York Program Director, at mdaley@ptny.org or (518) 434-1583. For more information on UTAP, visit www.beneficialdesigns.com. Home