See what’s next.

More than 200 trail planners, advocates, government officials and community leaders from every corner of New York State gathered in Kingston last month for the Empire State Greenways Conference. Over three days of field visits, keynote talks and workshop sessions, the message was clear: we are at a pivotal moment for New York’s 2,000 mile greenway network, and how we act now will shape the next decade of trail development.

Here are the major takeaways, and what they mean for the path forward.

1. Dedicated, Reliable Statewide Funding Is Critical

A recurring theme was the need for dedicated, dependable funding in the state budget for greenway trail construction, and that beyond construction, we must think creatively about long-term maintenance funding.

• Many trail projects are shovel-ready, but without a consistent funding stream, connections stall or maintenance budgets lag.
• Conference sessions highlighted the risk of building great trail segments that later fall into disrepair due to lack of upkeep, undermining user experience, safety and overall return on investment.
• The coalition emphasized a push to codify funding mechanisms that aren’t one-off or piecemeal, but sustained, predictable and accessible statewide.
• Maintenance funding was also front and centre: design pays off if we plan for the 10-, 20-, 30-year horizon, not just day one.

Advocates, planners and policymakers must work together now on budget proposals, legislative language and funding models so that when the economic climate allows, the funding structure is ready to roll.

“I met so many amazing people and really felt like it put a lot of pieces together for me with respect to trail development projects.” -Ryan Penny, Camp Catskill

2. Trail Systems Must Be Designed As Part of an Active Transportation Network

Trails are not just destination recreation infrastructure, they are critical components of an active transportation network. That means planning with accessibility, safety, inclusivity, data-collection, and long-term upkeep in mind. 

An active transportation network requires:

• Filling Trail Gaps: Filling gaps in existing trail systems so that users can move seamlessly from one segment to the next, rather than encountering dead ends or unsafe transitions.
• Creating connections to destinations (town centres, transit stops, schools, workplaces, housing) so trails are truly usable for everyday travel and recreation, not just leisure.
• Safe trail crossings: intersections with roads, railroads, utilities and other infrastructure must be engineered with user safety in mind, particularly for users of all ages and abilities.
• Land-use planning / Trail-Oriented Development (TrOD): thinking about how trails serve as corridors of connectivity, and how adjacent land uses can support and leverage trails such as mixed-use development, transit links, community amenities.
• Accessibility & data: ensuring trails are designed for all users of all abilities by gathering data (counts, user behaviour, connections) in order to support planning, funding and maintenance decisions.
  

Trail builders and local governments must adopt a mindset of system-thinking: every segment should be part of the larger network, not a standalone trail. The design/planning phase needs to address connectivity, cross-sector linkages and long-term viability up front.

3. Collaboration Is Essential

One of the strongest messages: you cannot build a continuous, effective greenway network in New York in isolation. Success demands broad collaboration among state agencies, local governments, nonprofits, land trusts, community groups, railroads/utilities, schools/universities and other stakeholders. 

At Kingston:

• Field visits and panels showcased how former rail corridors, municipal infrastructure and grassroots advocacy are coming together to unlock trails. For example, tours included a walk on the O&W Rail Trail and a ride on the Wallkill Valley Rail Trail, underscoring how rail-to-trail partnerships matter.
• Workshops emphasized that maintaining and expanding trail networks means working across jurisdictions, differing funding mechanisms, land ownership patterns and infrastructure systems.

Local trail groups, statewide advocacy organisations and government bodies should formalise partnerships now–mapping roles, responsibilities and aligning on shared outcomes. The time to build institutional relationships is before funding, so that when resources appear, partners are ready.

“The opportunity to chat with people from all over, make new acquaintances and renew old friendships and share experiences and lessons learned. The conversation generated while hiking or bicycling was especially meaningful. The staff did everything possible to make it a great experience for everyone. I wish there were people from a greater geographic area but NY is a big state. And, Peter Harnik and the premiere of the movie. Wow!!”

4. The Federal Outlook May Be Grim in the Short Term, But Momentum at State & Local Level Is Strong

Conference presenters were candid: while federal investment in active transportation and greenways may face headwinds in the near term, there is a surge of momentum at the state and local levels for expanding and sustaining greenway networks.

• With uncertainty at the federal level, state governments like New York are increasingly stepping up to fill gaps through targeted budget proposals, advocacy, and coalition building.
• Local governments and community organizations are primed for action, especially in regions where trail segments are waiting on closing gaps or connecting to destinations.
• The call: don’t wait for the federal level to begin planning. Instead, make sure your plans are ready for implementation, so that when funding becomes available (state or federal) you can deliver quickly.
  

Trail advocates should leverage this moment: refine project pipelines, assemble shovel-ready designs, strengthen local/regional capacity, and align projects with state policy priorities–so when funding arrives, the readiness barrier is low.

So, What’s Next?

Putting it all together, the conference in Kingston signaled that we are entering an imperative phase for New York’s greenway network. The big decisions are shifting from why build trails to how to build them sustainably, equitably and at scale. 

• Advocate: Engage with state budget and legislative processes now to push for the dedicated funding and maintenance mechanisms we discussed above. Join us at Park and Public Land Advocacy Day in February!
• Plan with purpose: Local governments and trail coalitions should audit their land use and transportation plans to identify gaps, plan for crossings, connectivity, TrOD and active transportation integration.
• Build partnerships: Convene the full array of stakeholders–agencies, utilities, railroads, land trusts, community groups, transit agencies–to build shared frameworks for trail development and stewardship at local and regional levels, as well as statewide.
• Prepare projects: Identify shovel-ready or near-shovel-ready projects, ensure they comply with accessibility and inclusive design standards, collect relevant data, align with state and regional strategic plans.
• Foster inclusive design & data: Build into project planning the frameworks for ongoing data collection and ensure design standards for accessibility and safety are built in from the start.
• Focus on maintenance: Don’t let the maintenance question become an afterthought. Plan for long-term stewardship, assign roles, budget for upkeep, and design infrastructure that can be managed, monitored and repaired over time.
• Demonstrate impact: Leverage PTNY’s landmark Empire State Trail Economic Impact Study, to be released spring 2026. We know greenways make sense, but they also make dollars and cents. 

The 2025 Empire State Greenways Conference made it clear: New York is on the cusp of scaling up its trail and greenway system in meaningful ways. If we seize this moment with strong partnerships, smart planning, reliable funding and an inclusive mindset the next decade could bring transformational connectivity for outdoor recreation, active transportation and community vitality.

Looking to get involved? Join the Greenways Coalition: https://survey123.arcgis.com/share/40129700b3e844ab999a14dbf51b28e0 

Thank you to our sponsors for helping to make this future a reality: Trust for Public Land, Open Space Institute, New York Bicycling Coalition, Hudson Highlands Fjord Trail, New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation, Hudson River Valley Greenway, Bedford Reinforced Plastics, LaBella Associates, Barton & Longuidice, BFJ Planning, Verity Engineering, and Areté Structures.