Healthy Trails, Healthy People Program helps build 250 miles of trail

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In 2004, Parks & Trails New York launched its Healthy Trails, Healthy People (HTHP) program to more effectively promote the health and quality of life benefits of trails and better address the growing need for trail development assistance from communities throughout the state. Because of its efforts, PTNY is recognized as the "go-to" organization for trails in New York State, which has enabled it to secure additional public and private funding for other trail-related initiatives and to support its HTHP program efforts.

strollersFunded in part by grants from the Healthy Heart Program and the Disability and Health Program at the NYS Department of Health (NYSDOH), the HTHP program has helped 38 different communities in 34 counties since 2004 with their trail development efforts. When all projects are complete, more than 260 miles of new trail will be open to the public.

From 2004-2009, PTNY worked with 27 communities to help them develop more active environments and an enhanced quality of life through the creation of multi-use trails. Since 2009 when PTNY was awarded a second NYSDOH grant, PTNY has been assisting additional urban and rural low-income communities not only with trail development but also with increasing the use of existing trails. 

Throughout, PTNY tailors its efforts to the individual needs of each community with the goal of helping them develop the vision, constituencies, and local support critical to the long-term success of trail projects.

PTNY also has responded to the need to assist individuals and communities other than those selected for targeted technical assistance.

Why Healthy Trails, Healthy People?old rail trail
New Yorkers need to be more active! In 2009, 60% of New York adults were overweight or obese. Medical research has shown that being overweight or obese can contribute to high blood pressure, heart disease, diabetes, and an increased risk for some forms of cancer. New York State Expanded Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS), July 2008 - June 2009.

For obese adults in New York State, the health care costs were an estimated $7.6 billion in 2008 after adjusting for inflation. About 80 percent of these expenses were publicly funded through Medicaid and Medicare, a percentage far exceeding the national average of 52 percent. All of this puts an even greater strain on the New York State budget, which is already stretched to its limits.

Walking is one of the easiest ways to become more physically active and control weight. And, what better place to walk than on a local trail? Close to home, multi-use trails can provide free or low cost opportunities for everyone, irrespective of age or fitness level, to increase their level of daily physical activity. Research shows that people who report having access to sidewalks and trails are 28-55% more likely to be physically active.

Trails can also help protect valuable open space; preserve natural and historic resources; increase tourism and recreation-related business activity; provide safe off-road links to parks, schools, libraries, shops, and neighborhoods; and foster public-private partnerships, community investment, and civic pride. In a 2002 survey of recent homebuyers sponsored by the National Association of Realtors and the National Association of Home Builders, trails ranked as the second most important community amenity out of a list of 18 choices.

Capital Region

D&H Rail Trail, Village and Town of Granville, Washington County - Parks & Trails New York is working with the Town and Village of Granville as they develop a multi-use trail on a state-owned former rail corridor along the border with Vermont.  On National Trails Day 2010, the Village of Granville cut the ribbon on a new trail bridge across the Mettowee River. With the bridge in place, residents now can directly access 10 miles of trail in the village and town as well as 10 additional miles of trail within Vermont. The town continues to work on constructing additional trail north of the village.

Hudson Valley

Kingston Rail Trail Connections, Ulster County –Parks & Trails New York is working with the Kingston Land Trust and their Rail Trail Committee to engage the community in exploring the feasibility of connecting existing rail trails outside the city to the mid-town area.  The Land Trust has been awarded several grants and has held two clean up events on the Kingston Point Rail Trail that would connect the city to the waterfront.

 

North Country

Village of Copenhagen Trail, Lewis County – Parks & Trails New York is assisting the Village of Copenhagen and the Copenhagen Community Day Committee with plans for a 1.5-mile walking trail that traverses the village and links the school grounds and a park along the Deer River.

Upper Hudson Rail Trail, Tahawus, Essex County to North Creek, Warren County
Parks & Trails New York is working with the Friends of the Upper Hudson Rail Trail, Inc. as they generate community and government support for the creation of a 29-mile multi-use trail within the Adirondack Park. After several months of debate on the legal issues surrounding the creation of the rail line, potential railbanking and land-use classification, it seems the corridor may be returned to freight rail service.

Black Creek Walk, Village of Mexico, Oswego County - Parks & Trails New York is helping the Village of Mexico and local citizens initiate a community trail system by developing a 1.25-mile trail along the banks of Black Creek that links the village Main Street to school facilities. The school has already helped with the construction of some trail segments.

Central NY

Village of Cayuga Recreation Trail, Cayuga County – Parks & Trails New York is advising the Village of Cayuga Recreation Trail Committee on their efforts to create a 2.5-mile walking trail connecting two parks, an elementary school, and the Cayuga Lake waterfront.

Genesee Valley Greenway, Allegany County - work with the Cuba Friends of Architecture to increase usage and volunteer support for a newly-completed one-mile section of Genesee Valley Greenway in the Village of Cuba.

Montezuma Heritage Park Erie Canal Towpath Trail, Cayuga County - assist the Town of Montezuma with creation and promotion of a network of trails linking the hamlet of Montezuma with the Seneca River and several historic Erie Canal sites.

Catskills

O&W Rail Trail, Town of Fallsburg, Sullivan County - Parks & Trails New York is helping the Town of Fallsburg increase usage of eight miles of existing, but presently underutilized, multi-use trail within a small Catskill mountain community.

Andes Trails, Delaware County - help Andes Works!  with the creation of a five-mile trail linking the Village of Andes to the Pepacton Reservoir.

Western NY

Erie-Cattaraugus Rail Trail, Town of Orchard Park, Erie County to Town of Ashford, Cattaraugus County - Parks & Trails New York is assisting the Erie Cattaraugus Rail Trail, Inc. (ECRT) in their efforts to generate public support for the preservation and conversion of an inactive section of the Buffalo & Pittsburgh Railway to a 27-mile multi-use trail connecting the Buffalo suburb of Orchard Park to the Cattaraugus County town of Ashford. ECRT doesn't yet have a trail they can use, but while they're working on that, they have undertaken many efforts to address landowner and elected official concerns and encourage area residents to experience what rail trails are like.

Communities assisted 2004-2010

Capital Region

Albany County Rail Trail – 9-mile rail trail in Albany County
The Friends of The Rail Trail, a committee of the Hudson Mohawk Land Conservancy, partnered with Albany County and the town of Bethlehem to develop a maintenance and stewardship program for the trail and a ribbon cutting took place on June 2, 2011 for two-miles of natural surface trail between Veteran’s Park in Bethlehem and Fireman’s park in New Scotland. Seven miles of this trail has yet to be completed.  The trail was originally slated to cost $3-million but costs have escalated to $7 million because of unforeseen bridge work.

Hoosic River Greenway - 2.5-mile rail along the Hoosic River in Rensselaer County
The Village of Hoosick Falls and the Hoosic River Watershed Association are developing a trail that extends along the Hoosic River within the Village.  The Phase One Master Plan has been completed and people are informally using sections of the corridor.

Hudson Valley/Catskills

Quassaick Creek Trail – 3-mile trail in Orange County
The City of Newburgh and Orange County Planning Department are interested in the development of a three-mile multi-use trail on the north bank of Quassaick Creek in the City of Newburgh and Town of New Windsor.

Delaware and Hudson Canal Trail - 2-mile historic canal towpath trail in Sullivan County
The Town of Mamakating undertook work to further develop, enhance, and interpret the towpath trail along the historic D&H Canal south of Main Street in the Village of Wurtsboro.

New York Metropolitan Area

Rockaway Beach Branch Greenway – 3.5-mile urban trail in Queens
The Rockaway Beach Branch Greenway Committee plans to develop a 3.5-mile urban trail on a former Long Island Railroad corridor now owned by New York City.

Enchanted Forest Pathway Trail – Riverside Park in West Harlem, New York City
Parks & Trails New York staff worked with the West Harlem Arts Fund to engage neighborhood school groups in assisting with site and access improvements to the existing but underutilized Enchanted Forest Path and other areas in the northernmost portion of Riverside Park.

Ramapo River Greenway Trail – 2-mile rail trail in Rockland County that links to New Jersey
The Town of Ramapo received federal funds to assist with development of a rail trail that extends from the New Jersey border through Sloatsburg to the Village of Hillburn but construction has not proceeded because of cost increases.

Long Island

Greenleaf Trail – 15-20 mile trail in Suffolk County
The Tuthills Creek Alliance is working to establish a 15-20-mile multi-use trail that would use existing and proposed trails in the towns of Islip and Brookhaven to connect Bayport, Blue Point, Patchogue, Sayville and Holbrook in Suffolk County.  Landowner opposition has prevented the group from making the progress they had hoped.

Long Island Motor Parkway Trail – 15-mile cross county trail in Nassau County
For years, Motor Parkway historians and other Long Island environmental groups and interested citizens have been advocating for a cross-county trail following the route of the historic Long Island Motor parkway that would link residential neighborhoods, parks, commercial areas, and schools as well as create a place where thousands of persons, irrespective of age, income, or fitness levels, could engage in healthy physical activities such as walking, biking, and jogging.

In 2005, the project was awarded Nassau County Environmental Bond Act funds to develop a plan for the trail and undertake construction of a small segment as a demonstration project.  The plan was completed in 2011. Parks & Trails New York was one of several groups that nominated the Long Island Motor Parkway Trail to receive this funding and served on the citizens committee that provided advice on development of the plan. 

Central New York

Chittenango Creek Walk and Neighborhood Trail - a village trail system in Madison County
The Creek Walk and Neighborhood Trail Committee and the village government are developing 3.3 miles of trails linking village neighborhoods, the village commercial area, the Erie Canalway Trail, and a Village and Town park. An important aspect of the project is the construction of an accessible, 1.09- mile multi-use trail along the banks of Chittenango Creek linking the Erie Canalway Trail and the popular Chittenango Landing Canal Boat Museum with the business district.  The first section of the creekside trail is open.  The trail committee has been very successful in securing private and government funding for the project.

Chenango Canal Heritage Trail –20-mile trail in Oneida and Madison Counties
Chenango Canal Association has not only extended its own Chenango Canal Towpath Trail south to the Village of Hamilton but is spearheading a multi-county effort to create the 20-mile Chenango Canal Heritage Trail that will link various trails along the canal and O&W rail corridors from Utica to Binghamton, NY.

Oneonta-Susquehanna Greenway – 10-mile multi-use trail in Otsego County
The Otsego County Conservation Association is assisting with the development of a 10-mile multi-use trail along the Susquehanna River that will connect two local parks to Riddell State Park as well as link the City of Oneonta to the river. Already four miles of the Oneonta-Susquehanna Greenway have been built by the City of Oneonta and are open to the public.

Chenango River Walk Trail – Shared use path along the banks of the Chenango River in Chenango County
The Chenango River Walk Trail is a path along the Chenango River linking community activity areas and the downtown that serves as a resource for healthy recreation in the community that has been developed by the Chenango Greenway Conservancy.

Delhi River Walk – Village trail along the Delaware River in Delaware County
The Delhi River Walk will be located along the banks of the West Branch of the Delaware River and link existing and planned community resources including a new community swimming pool, canoe launch sites, a handicapped accessible fishing platform, River Walk Park, a community picnic pavilion, Clark Park basketball court, Bridgeside Park, Smith Pond Park, and O’Connor Hospital. The Village received transportation enhancements program funding to construct trail from Bridge Street to the Legion fields.  However, a need for additional funds for the sidewalk component of the project resulted in the trail construction being eliminated.  However, the village is presently seeking funding for development of plans for a small segment of trail between Kingston St. and the county office parking lot.

Southern Tier

Chemung Valley Riverside Trail, Chemung and Steuben Counties – The Friends of the Chemung River Watershed, Inc. is working to develop a16-mile multi-use trail linking the City of Corning with the City of Elmira along the banks of the Chemung River. 

North Country

St. Lawrence River Greenway Trails – 5-mile trail in St. Lawrence County
The Village of Waddington refurbished an existing paved trail and is still in talks with the New York Power Authority regarding an extension of that trail along the St. Lawrence River to connect the Town and Village with Coles Creek State Park.

Salmon River Greenway Trail – 3-mile multi-use trail along the banks of thepulaski Salmon River in Oswego County
Preservation and Revitalization of Pulaski (PROP), the Town of Richland, and the Village of Pulaski plan to develop a 3-mile multi-use trail along the banks of the Salmon River. Eventually this trail will connect to 12 additional miles of trail to be built along the river linking the towns of Redfield, Orwell, and Altmar to Richland and Pulaski. The Village of Pulaski and the Town of Richland received a $25,000 grant from the Department of State's Division of Coastal Water Resources for planning and visioning of Pulaski's Salmon River Trail.

Little Ausable River Trail – 3.5-mile trail in Clinton County
The Town of Peru and Friends of the Little Ausable River Trail are developing a 3.5-mile multi-use trail using a former rail bed and the scenic banks of the Ausable River. The trail will link Peru’s three existing parks, the village center, the central school, and an historic mill site. Through the efforts of the Friends and the Town, the Town was awarded $524,745 from the Transportation Enhancement Program (TEP) for trail construction.

Salisbury-Dolgeville Greenway – 2.8-mile rail trail in Herkimer County
The Salisbury-Dolgeville Greenway would connect the Village of Dolgeville and hamlet of Salisbury Center using the former New York Central Railroad corridor, much of which is now owned by the Town of Salisbury and Village of Dolgeville. For years there was little progress on this project as the community could not decide what uses to allow for the corridor.  Recently, Dolgeville received funding from the NYSDOH Creating Healthy Places Program and has begun to undertake some trail construction work.

Finger Lakes

Lakeville-Livonia Trail – 6-mile rail trail in Livingston County
The Town and Village of Livonia considered development of a 6.4-mile mile rail trail that would link the Village with the hamlet of South Lima and the Conesus Lake community of Lakeville in the western Finger Lakes. A feasibility study has been completed with funding from the local Metropolitan Planning Organization but landowner concerns and lack of funding have slowed progress.

Robert E. Moody Trail – 1.1-mile rail trail in Ontario County
The Robert Moody Trail is a 1.1 mile rail trail open to the public in the rural Finger Lakes town of Gorham.  Entry points are in the Village of Rushville (population 500) and Blodgett Road, a rural road in the town. This historic and scenic trail follows the West River and is named in honor of Robert E. Moody, the man who donated the corridor to the town.

Dryden-Freeville Trail – 2.8-mile rail trail in Tompkins County
The Town of Dryden intended to develop a trail on a 2.8-mile section of former rail bed that links the Tompkins County villages of Freeville and Dryden. Because of multiple issues, including landowner concerns, only a very small section of this corridor has been opened.  This open section connects to the existing 3.5-mile Jim Schug Trail that runs between the Village of Dryden and a town park on Dryden Lake.

Western New York

The Pendleton Rail Trail – a 7-mile rail trail in Niagara County
The Town of Pendleton plans is continuing to establish additional sections of a 6-mile trail linking the community to the Erie Canalway Trail using a former Lehigh Valley Railroad bed. Three miles of trail are open and three additional miles are planned.

North Buffalo-Tonawanda Rail Trail – 6-mile rail trail in Erie CountyRail trail example
In 2001, the City of Buffalo and Erie County received federal Congestion Mitigation Air Quality (CMAQ) funding to construct a nine-mile greenway on a former Lehigh Valley rail line connecting North Buffalo, the City and Town of Tonawanda, and the Erie Canalway Trail. If developed as a trail, the corridor would intersect nine Niagara Frontier Transportation Authority (NFTA) bus routes and a light rail metro station as well as provide safe access to multiple city, county and town parks, the Amherst bicycle path, Erie Canalway Trail, and Buffalo’s Riverwalk.   Unfortunately, NFTA sold sections of the corridor before trail could be developed.  Despite efforts by PTNY and many interested citizens and elected officials, the City has not moved forward with any trail development work.

Tonawanda Rails to Trails Project – 3-mile rail trail in Erie County
The Wellness Institute of Greater Buffalo is urging local leaders to construct a six-mile rail-trail in the City and Town of Tonawanda that will extend from the North Buffalo Greenway on the south to the Erie Canalway Trail in the north.  Funding was approved for the project years ago, but work has been stalled while elected officials decide whether the corridor should instead be used for a future light rail project. 

  

 
           
 

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