In the News
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April, 2024
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National Grid volunteers clean up at trail, neighboring Amsterdam parks
The Recorder
READ MOREAMSTERDAM — Volunteers from National Grid collected around 40 bags of leaves and 20 bags of trash along a 10-mile section of the Erie Canalway Trail and in two neighboring parks Friday morning. Over 60 employees from the utility company fanned out to beautify the trail, South Side Veterans Memorial Park and John Sampone Sr. Memorial Children's Park.
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New York's largest Earth Day celebration starts with Canal Clean Sweep
Niagara Frontier Publications
Community organizations, volunteer groups, businesses and students across New York are making final preparations for the 19th annual Canal Clean Sweep, set for April 19-21. Canal Clean Sweep, organized by Parks & Trails New York and New York State Canal Corp., is an annual cleanup event held across the NYS Canal System and Canalway Trail. More than 190 Clean Sweep events are scheduled across the 400-mile-long Canalway Trail system and the 524-mile-long Canal system, providing opportunities for thousands of residents to give back to their local communities.
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March, 2024
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Amsterdam selected as Empire State Trail Town
The Recorder
AMSTERDAM — The city has been selected to become an Empire State Trail Town and will work with Parks and Trails New York (PTNY) to leverage the benefits of the Erie Canalway Trail, which carries thousands of visitors through Amsterdam each year.
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Rome crowned official Empire State Trail Town
Rome Daily Sentinel
ROME — The city of Rome is now an official Empire State Trail Town after the Common Council voted to recognize a new action agenda brought forth by the city's Trail Town committee, which has spent the past nine months devising ways to improve the many hiking and bicycling trails in the area. Last year, Rome was chosen as one of three provisional Trail Towns by the state Canal Corporation and Parks & Trails New York, which was formed to highlight tourism along the Erie Canalway Trail.
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April, 2023
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Minetto Clean Sweep For Earth Week
Oswego County Today
MINETTO – With Minetto participating in Earth Week, with a Canal Clean Sweep, members of Parks and Trails visited Minetto and took part in the Canal Clean Sweep riverside clean up.
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Canalway Trail System received over 10 million visits during pandemic
Niagara Frontier Publications
The Erie Canalway Trail and the Champlain Canalway Trail continue to receive high levels of use year after year, according to the newly released “Who’s on the Trail 2022: Canalway Trail” report from Parks & Trails New York (PTNY) and the New York State Canal Corp. (NYSCC). PTNY estimates that the Canalway Trail system as a whole receives roughly 3.55 million visits per year, based on longitudinal count data from electronic counters installed at 24 locations along the Erie and Champlain Canalway Trails over the past five years.
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March, 2023
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A Call For Volunteers For The 18th Annual Canal Clean Sweep
Oswego County Today
NEW YORK – Volunteers are encouraged to register today, as groups across New York State prepare for the 18th Canal Clean Sweep, to be held April 21-23, 2023. Canal Clean Sweep is an annual clean-up event held across the New York State Canal System and Canalway Trail.
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Thursday Town Hall: Canal Clean Sweep
WGRZ--NBC Channel 2-Buffalo
PTNY's Executive Director, Paul Steely White, provides a preview of this year's Canal Clean Sweep--New York's largest Earth Day clean up event.
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January, 2023
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Registration open for Cycle the Erie Canal 2023
News Channel 2 -- Utica
ALBANY, N.Y. -- Registration is now open for New York's 25th annual Parks & Trails Cycle the Erie Canal tour. The eight-day, 400-mile recreational bicycle tour runs from Buffalo to Albany and is scheduled for July 9-16. Not to worry though if you don't want to participate in the entire eight-day journey, there is a 4-day option to ride from Buffalo to Syracuse.
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Bike from Buffalo to Albany in Cycle the Erie Canal 2023
News10 ABC--Albany
ALBANY, N.Y. (NEWS10) — Registration is open for Parks & Trails New York’s 25th annual Cycle the Erie Canal Tour. The eight-day tour allows cyclists to bike across NYS from Buffalo to Albany taking in the history and canal that transformed America.
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Best Biking Trail: Erie Canalway Trail
Rochester City Newspaper
The Erie Canal, which was completed in 1825 and greatly accelerated westward expansion and the economic ascendancy of New York, has been called “the nation’s first superhighway.” It is only apropos that CITY readers recognize its namesake recreation trail as the best place to hop on a bike and move. At more than 360 miles long, the Erie Canalway Trail connects Greater Rochester to Buffalo and Albany. Millions of cyclists spend time on the trail, which is almost entirely off-road and paved, according to the advocacy group Parks & Trails New York. READ MORE -
July, 2022
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Here's where Cycle the Erie Canal 2022 is stopping in Rome, Utica
Observer Dispatch
Cyclists on the Cycle the Erie Canal 2022 tour will be passing through the Mohawk Valley as part of an eight-day, 750-mile ride along the Erie Canalway Trail.
Multiple stops will be made at local spots including Utica Coffee Roasting Co. and Heelpath Brewing Co. in Frankfort.
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Cyclists prepare for annual trek through New York along the Erie Canal
WAER 88.3
Cyclists from 40 states are making a 400-mile trek during the 24th Annual Cycle the Erie Canal Bike Tour.
About 750 participants left Buffalo over the weekend for the annual eight-day tour and will be cycling all the way to Albany. Most will only travel about 40 to 60 miles per day.
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Big caravan of cyclists reach Medina on day 1 of canal trek
Orleans Hub
MEDINA – Cyclists, totaling 750 from 40 states, arrived in Medina on Sunday enroute to Albany on the Cycle the Erie Canal Tour.
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‘Cycle the Erie Canal’ passes through Brockport
Rochester First
BROCKPORT, N.Y. (WROC) — Back in the 1800s when it was first built, the Erie Canal revolutionized the travel of goods and people. Fast forward to 2022 and it’s still doing the same thing, albeit with less focus on the water.
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June, 2022
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Canalway Trail saw much use in 2021
The Daily News
ALBANY — The Erie Canalway Trail was visited more than 3 million times during 2021, according to a report from Parks & Trails New York and the state Canal Corporation. The Canalway Trail system as a whole saw an estimated 3.3 million visits during the year.
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May, 2022
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Andy Beers retires from career devoted to the outdoors
Albany Times Union
Parks & Trails New York and the Cycle the Erie Canal Tour are mentioned in this coverage of the retirement of the Andy Beers, the director of the Empire State Trail project.
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April, 2022
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Rome Rotary, Interact Club to partner on cleanup
Rome Sentinel
ROME — Members of the Rome Rotary Club and the Rome Free Academy chapter of the Interact Club are combining efforts for a special Earth Day project, Canal Clean Sweep, at Bellamy Harbor Park from 1 to 4 p.m. Friday, April 24. For the 17th consecutive year, the event is being sponsored by Parks & Trails NY, “the leading statewide advocate for parks and trails, dedicated since 1985 to improving our health, economy and quality of life through the use and enjoyment of green space.”
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Erie Canalway Trail use on the rise
Lockport Union Sun & Journal
ALBANY — The Erie Canalway Trail, the east-west leg of New York’s 750-mile Empire State Trail, was visited roughly 3.3 million times during 2021, according to Parks & Trails New York. Niawanda Park in Tonawanda was among the most visited sites on the canalway trail, logging an estimated 230,000 cyclists, walkers, runners, joggers and others.
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Neither sleet, rain nor gloom can halt this bike ride
Albany Times Union
The events Parks & Trails New York host are mentioned in this article about cycling the Erie Canalway Trail.
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Empire State Trail named top rail trail in the U.S.
Albany Times Union
New York’s 750-mile long Empire State Trail, which runs from New York City to Canada and Albany to Buffalo, bested all others from coast to coast in Outside Magazine’s ranking of the top 25 rail trails in the U.S.
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Orleans county communities prepare annual Canal Clean Sweep
The Daily News
Groups across New York are preparing for the 17th annual Canal Clean Sweep, and Orleans County is no exception.
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March, 2022
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Borrow a Bike and Cruise along the Erie Canal for Free this Year
WIBX FM
There's nothing better than taking a bike ride outside on a nice day. Now you can do it for free with your friends and family along the Erie Canal.
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Brockport picked as pilot for Empire State Trail Town Program
Orleans Hub
BROCKPORT – Parks & Trails New York, the New York State Canal Corporation, and the Village of Brockport are excited to jointly announce that Brockport has been selected as the pilot community for the new Empire State Trail Town program. The program will help Brockport benefit from its location along the Erie Canalway Trail/Empire State Trail.
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August, 2021
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WNY gardeners brighten a stretch of the Erie Canalway Trail
The Buffalo News
Recent rains have been a bane to many during this Western New York summer, but not so much for the volunteers who beautify a 7-mile stretch of the Erie Canalway Trail that starts in Amherst and pushes northeast into Niagara County.
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June, 2021
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Need to fix your bike? Tools, air available along Erie Canal Trail in German Flatts, Ilion
Times Telegram
Bicyclists passing through Herkimer County on the Erie Canal Trail can now stop to make minor repairs and adjustments to their bikes at locations in German Flatts.
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Going Places: New York State makes it easy, fun to get out there!
The Island Now
Our annual Cycle the Erie Canal Tour is mentioned among the many other fabulous opportunities New York State offers this summer.
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May, 2021
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Annual Cycle the Erie Canal Bike Tour a go with less riders and Covid-19 restrictions
Syracuse.com
The 21st Annual Cycle the Erie Canal Bike Tour is a go this summer. Registrations opened at the beginning last month and all the spots were taken within six hours.
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March, 2021
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How to You Roll from Manhattan to Canada?
Rural Intelligence
With the completion of the 750-mile Empire State Trail in December, New York can now claim the longest state multi-use trail in the US. And given that one can now walk or bike from lower Manhattan to the Canadian border or hang a left at Albany and get to Buffalo —mostly off-road — it’s undoubtedly one of the most diverse, freeing us from our cars to experience everything from SoHo to the Erie Canal from whole new perspectives.
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Surge in Trail Use Good News
The Recorder
Between 2019 and 2020, visits to the Canalway Trail increased more than 30 percent, to 3.9 million, according to a new report from Parks & Trails NY and the New York State Canal Corporation. The recreation boom is great news for Montgomery County, which has seen an uptick in visitors to communities and attractions along the Mohawk River.
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Area canalway trail usage increased in 2020
The Saratogian
ALBANY, N.Y. — Use along the Erie Canalway Trail and Champlain Canalway Trail increased last year, according to the 2020 Who’s on the Trail report from Parks & Trails New York and the New York State Canal Corporation.
The Canalway Trail system as a whole saw an estimated 4.2 million visits in 2020, including just under four million visits to the 360-mile Erie Canalway Trail between Albany and Buffalo and approximately 288,000 visits to the 90-mile Champlain Canalway Trail between Waterford and Whitehall.
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Canalway Trail System drew more than 4 million visits in 2020
Niagara Frontier Publications
Use along the Erie Canalway Trail and Champlain Canalway Trail increased in 2020, according to the 2020 “Who’s on the Trail” report from Parks & Trails New York and the New York State Canal Corp.
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Niawanda Park sets all-time record for Erie Canalway Trail use
The Buffalo News
Our Who's on the Trail report has yielded some record-breaking trail use stats from 2020 including this section at the western end of the Erie Canal.
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Shuffle Off to Buffalo: The Empire State Trail is Now Complete
The Chronogram
Our Cycle the Erie Canal Tour is mentioned at the end of this article covering the December 2020 opening of the Empire State Trail.
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January, 2021
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Escape From New York on the Empire State Trail
The Trek
The trail officially opened on New Year’s Eve and connects a network of existing trails along railways and canals. While multi-day use of the trail is best suited for bikepacking over hiking, it’s a feat of urban planning and design that will give New Yorkers across the state a new way to connect with some of the state’s most treasured public lands.
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Why Your Next Trip to New York Should Include Riding the Empire State Trail
Bicycling.com
Your next bike adventure across New York could be sooner than you think. On December 31, New York state opened the Empire State Trail, an ambitious 750-mile trail project that connects hundreds of communities across 27 counties.
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Empire State Trail closes Rotterdam Junction Gap
Schenectady Gazette
PTNY's Project Director, Dylan Carey, is quoted in this article celebrating the closure of one of the more significant gaps in the Erie Canalway Trail.
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November, 2020
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Cyclists can spend days on massive Empire State Trail
Edmonton Journal
The annual Cycle the Erie Canal bike tour is mentioned in this article covering the near-completion of the 750-mile trail through New York State.
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April, 2020
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Going places: Antidote for cabin fever: Road trip to the Great Outdoors
The Island Now
A participant on our 2019 Cycle the Erie Canal tour lists the popular 400-mile tour from Buffalo to Albany among other enticing options as one of the many ways to get out this summer.
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January, 2020
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Registration open for 8-day, 400-mile Cycle the Erie bicycle tour
Rome Sentinel
Registration is now open for Parks & Trails New York’s 22nd annual Cycle the Erie Canal tour, an eight-day, 400-mile recreational bicycle tour from Buffalo to Albany is scheduled for July 12 to 19. “Cycle the Erie Canal participants will experience one of the best trails in America as they cycle through historic canal villages and discover the small-town charm of Upstate New York."
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Registration open for 22nd annual Cycle the Erie Canal tour
News 10 ABC-Albany
ALBANY, N.Y. (NEWS10) — Calling all cyclists and nature lovers! Registration is now open for the 22nd annual Cycle the Erie Canal tour, which lets participants experience New York State’s nature and history from Buffalo to Albany.
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Cycle the Erie Canal participants sought
Lockport Journal
Registration is now open for Parks & Trails New York’s 22nd annual Cycle the Erie Canal tour, an opportunity to bike across New York state and take in the history of the legendary canal that transformed America. The eight-day, 400-mile recreational bicycle tour from Buffalo to Albany is scheduled for July 12-19.
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December, 2019
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New York plans to further connect its vast trail system. What you need to know.
Democrat & Chronicle
ALBANY – With the Empire State Trail scheduled to open next year, New York this week began the process of further connecting the state's vast trail system. Gov. Andrew Cuomo on Monday approved legislation that directs the state's Department of Parks and Recreation and Historic Preservation to create a masterplan aimed at connecting existing non-motorized multi-use trails in the state with one another.
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November, 2019
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Advocacy group glad for trails plan
Adirondack Daily Enterprise
ALBANY — Parks & Trails New York (PTNY) Saturday joined Assemblymember Patricia Fahy to praise Governor Andrew Cuomo for signing legislation, directing the state Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation to develop a coordinated plan for linking existing trails with potential trail corridors.
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September, 2019
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Canalway Trail ‘a game changer’ in German Flatts
Times Telegram
Parks & Trails New York Project Coordinator, Dylan Carey, participated in a combination ribbon cutting/groundbreaking ceremony in Herkimer county acknowledging the newest sections of work on closing the gaps of the Erie Canalway Trail.
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July, 2019
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Cyclists arrive in Albany after pedaling along Erie Canal
WNYT-NBC News Channel 13-Albany
It’s a journey across upstate New York, 21 years in the making. Cyclists logged hundreds of miles along the Erie Canal, before arriving in the Capital Region. 650 cyclists’ road into Albany on Sunday morning. Trekking across New York State via the Erie Canal way trail, starting in Buffalo.
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Confer Column: Maximize the potential of the Erie Canal
The Daily News
Many New Yorkers will tell you the State Canal system is dead. They look at it as a historical remnant, thinking its ship sailed in the late 1800s when rail lines took over as the preeminent economy-driving infrastructure. The Erie Canal and its connecting waterways are still vital to this day.
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Over 650 cyclists will depart from Buffalo on epic trek along Erie Canalway Trail
Cyclists from 39 states, Canada, and Australia, are converging upon Buffalo today, in preparation for Sunday’s epic annual trek along the Erie Canal. Altogether, there will be over 650 cyclists participating in the ride – a 400-mile journey that will last eight days and nights.
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May, 2019
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Three Historic (and Scenic) Bike Trails to Explore
Cincinnati Magazine
America wasn’t settled at highway speeds, and some of the towns that made our country great are now near-forgotten blips. Traveling by bicycle offers an up-close and leisurely look at this history. For a weekend of relaxed family pedaling or an extended bucket-list-worthy cycling adventure, these three long-distance recreational trails are packed with possibilities.
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April, 2019
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Canal Clean Sweep brightens waterfront areas
The Daily Gazette
Despite cloudy skies this weekend and at times, frigid weather, local volunteers headed out to areas on or near the canal waterfront to clear trash for the coming of spring.
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Volunteers take part in annual Canal Clean Sweep event in Fulton
Oswego County News Now
FULTON — More than two dozen volunteers took part Saturday in the annual Canal Clean Sweep event in Fulton. Held two days before Earth Day, the Canal Clean Sweep involved cleaning up the walkway along the east side of the Oswego River from the Oneida Street Bridge to the Broadway Bridge.
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14th annual Canal Clean Sweep to cap off earth week
The Rome Sentinel
ALBANY - The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) is commemorating the 49th anniversary of Earth Day with DEC-sponsored and partner events around the state from April 20 through April 28. These family-friendly activities include opportunities for New Yorkers to connect with nature by hiking, observing wildlife, planting trees, and learning about the importance of protecting the environment.
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Erie Canal Clean Sweep set for this weekend
The Buffalo News
Volunteers will be hard at work this weekend along the Erie Canal and other canals in New York State, during the 14th annual Canal Clean Sweep program, organized by the state Canal Corp. and Parks & Trails New York, as well as local governments and private groups.
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March, 2019
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Parks and Trails NY Pushes to Keep Completion of Empire State Trail on Track for 2020
WAER 88.3 FM - Syracuse
Supporters of multi-use trails went to Albany on Monday known as Trail Advocacy Day. They advocated for legislation that would fund and support a statewide plan to improve and extend it.
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October, 2018
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Amsterdam-Pattersonville bike trail opens
Daily Gazette
A new 5-mile section of the Erie Canalway Trail between Amsterdam and the Rotterdam hamlet of Pattersonville opened Wednesday, filling most of a long-standing gap in the trail between Amsterdam and Rotterdam Junction.
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VIDEO: Winners of Reimagine the Canals Competition Announced
Spectrum News
Parks & Trails New York was one of 2 winners out of 145 entries for the competition to enhance the New York State canal system. Our Project Director, James Meerdink along with Canal Corporation Director Brian Stratton explains the proposal.
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July, 2018
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700 cyclists make 400-mile cross-state bicycle trip in celebration of Erie Canal Bicentennial
Binghamton Homepage
On July 8, more than 700 cyclists left their cars behind to pedal along the historic Erie Canalway Trail from Buffalo to Albany in celebration of the Erie Canal Bicentennial and Barge Canal Centennial. They arrive in Syracuse on Wednesday, July 11, on the fourth day of the 20th annual 400-mile Cycle the Erie Canal tour, organized by the statewide nonprofit group Parks & Trails New York.
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‘Summer camp for adults’: Erie Canal bike ride marks 20th year
The Buffalo News
It’s a 400-mile vacation consisting of aching muscles, history lessons and a winding trail that snakes east toward Albany. The Cycle the Erie Canal bicycle ride kicked off Sunday morning in Buffalo as roughly 700 people hit the road for the event’s 20th anniversary.
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VIDEO: 20th annual Cycle the Erie Canal Bike Tour rolls into Albany
CBS Channel 6 -- Albany
More than 600 cyclists pedaled their way into Albany on Sunday, finishing the last stretch of their 400-mile journey from Buffalo. The ride was the 20th annual Cycle the Erie Canal Bike Tour, which is put on by Parks and Trails New York, in celebration of the canal.
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Cyclists from Near and Far Exploring the Erie Canal by Bike
Spectrum News--Capital Region
For the past 200 years, the Erie Canal has served as an essential waterway connecting the state of New York. In more recent years, it's been made easier for people to travel along the canal by foot or bike thanks to new pathways. This year marks the 20th year of the Cycle the Erie Canal tour, where hundreds of cyclists spend a week making their way across New York along the canal.
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May, 2018
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Canal Events, Tours Generate $1.5 Billion in Annual Economic Impact
Oswego County Today
WATERFORD, NY- As the nation celebrates National Travel and Tourism Week May 6 – 12, a new study of the economic impact of events and tours in the Erie Canalway National Heritage Corridor calls attention to the power of tourism along New York State’s iconic canals.
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April, 2018
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Community cleanups were a job well done
Lockport Journal
It took long enough but the weather finally broke this past weekend, allowing dozens of volunteers in places like Lockport, Niagara Falls and North Tonawanda to get outside and do some much-needed spring cleaning. In Lockport, the weekend featured the third annual Lockport Clean Sweep, which coincided with a statewide Canal Clean Sweep effort involving other communities along the Erie Canal, including North Tonawanda.
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NYS State Canal System Celebrates 100 Years with Canal Clean Sweep, Part of Earth Day Observance
WAER 88.3 - Syracuse
The 100th year of the New York State Canal System was celebrated over the weekend with at least 100 Earth Day Events. The “Canal Clean Sweep” had volunteers at sites along the 524 mile canal putting some gloves on and getting to work just ahead of the canal season. Parks and Trails New York Spokesperson James Meerdink said he appreciates their hard work.
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Like the Tour de France, only in kayaks - an Erie Canal proposal
Press Republican
Parks & Trails New York is involved in two projects among the seven finalists for proposals that will spur tourism and visibility for the Erie Canal. This article focuses on a potential kayak/canoe competition that could attract participants nationwide and from overseas.
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Erie Canal House more than just a piece of history
Leader-Herald
Story covering one of the many businesses along the Erie Canalway Trail while pointing out its designation by Parks & Trails New York as a Bicycle Friendly Businesses.
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March, 2018
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OUR VIEW: Make 4/1- 5/31 a clean sweep in our region
Coverage of spring beautification projects throughout the Mohawk Valley featuring our annual Canal Clean Sweep event.
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January, 2018
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Registration opens for 20th anniversary Cycle the Erie Canal bike tour
Rome Sentinel
Registration has opened for the Parks & Trails New York’s 20th anniversary Cycle the Erie Canal tour which will be July 8-15, announced the Parks & Trails organization. The eight-day, 400-mile recreational bicycle tour from Buffalo to Albany includes a stop in Rome to camp at Fort Stanwix National Monument.
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September, 2017
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Bikes Mean Business for Local Economy (VIDEO)
WKTV--NBC Channel 2, Utica
UTICA, NY – PTNY, along with the NYS Canal Corporation presented "Bicyclists Bring Business: Canalway Trail Tourism for your Downtown" at the Thincubator in Utica, Sept 12th & 13th 2017. Local business owners, elected officials, and interested individuals gathered for the presentation receiving tips on how to make the Mohawk Valley more bike-friendly and attractive to outdoor enthusiasts.
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July, 2017
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Erie Canal: if you build it, they will come
The Island Now
To understand how America came to be, you only need to join Parks & Trails NY’s 400-mile ride from Buffalo to Albany following the Erie Canalway — a multi-use trail repurposing the original tow path along the 353-mile canal, with a side trip to Seneca Falls to add in the story of Women’s Rights. It’s 400 miles and 400 years of history.
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Erie Canal cycling tour reaches finish line in Albany
Albany Times Union
Coverage of 19th annual Cycle the Erie Canal Tour finish line at Quackenbush Square in downtown Albany.
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Cyclists Take 'Scenic Route' for Erie Canal's Birthday (VIDEO)
Spectrum News
Coverage during the first day of the 19th annual Cycle the Erie Canal tour at the first rest stop in Tonawanda, NY including interviews with riders and staff.
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Erie Canal Bicycle Tour Marks 19th Year
Daily Gazette
Coverage of the 19th annual tour at its final overnight location in Niskayuna (Schenectady) including quotes from riders and PTNY staff.
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SHORE TO SHORE: Bicycle need a quick fix? Stop in Clyde
Finger Lakes Times
A new bicycle fix-it station was installed at the municipal building in Clyde, NY with the article mentioning the Empire State Trail and the town being a regular rest stop for the annual Cycle the Erie Canal Tour.
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May, 2017
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'Bike Friendly' Program Launched for Erie Canalway Trail
U.S. News and World Report
Parks and Trails New York and officials from the state Canal Corp. introduced the Bike Friendly New York program during an event Tuesday in Schenectady's historic Stockade District along the Mohawk River.
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Schenectady hotel first to gain bike-friendly designation
Daily Gazette
A Schenectady hotel will receive the first bicycle-friendly business designation in the city Tuesday as state officials and trail advocates kick off their effort to boost tourism on the trail network being expanded across the state.
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Canal Clean Sweep, Second Time Around
Madison County Courier
Twenty community-caring people, including a group of freshmen from Hamilton College volunteered over the weekend for 7 1/2 hours to pick up 21 bags of the winter’s trash, tires, paint cans and metal that were thrown on the Chenango Canal Towpath Trail and roadside of Canal Road, Bouckville.
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April, 2017
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Volunteers to clean up New York canal system and trails
CNYCentral.com
The New York State Canal System is getting a spring cleanup. More than 100 volunteer cleanup events have been scheduled Friday through Sunday along the 524-mile (843-kilometer) canal system and its trails.
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Better living through bicycling
Adirondack Daily Enterprise
Figures from a 2014 study by Parks & Trails New York is used in this article to support the economic benefits of cycling tourism in New York State.
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Volunteers sought for Canal Clean Sweep
Lockport Union Sun & Journal
To celebrate Earth Day and the kick off of the canal navigation season, volunteer groups and individuals are invited to participate in the 12th annual Canal Clean Sweep, the spring cleaning of the New York Canal System and Canalway Trail, scheduled for the weekend of April 21 to 23.
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March, 2017
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Volunteers sought for statewide park cleanup day
Watertown Daily Times
Volunteers are being sought for the upcoming “I Love My Park Day” taking place on May 6, a statewide event featuring dozens of state parks from around the north country. The event, in its sixth year, is seen as a way for community members to improve local parks and raise awareness of their needs.
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Locals concerned with canal proposal
Eagle News Online
This Finger Lakes online source covers some of the pros and cons of the proposed 750-mile Empire State Trail, particularly issues involving paving and maintenance by municipalities.
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February, 2017
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750-mile Empire Trail holds promise across New York state
Democrat & Chronicle
This extensive coverage of the proposed Empire State Trail and closing the gaps of the Erie Canalway Trail features multiple quotes from Parks & Trails New York staff, businesses who have benefited from the tourism, as well as legislators and other organizations in support of the east-west, north-south, 750-mile endeavor. READ MORE -
Biking through hardship kept Spencerport couple going
Democrat & Chronicle
A touching story of a couple who spent their last years together cycling the Erie Canalway Trail.
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The completion of a major trailway in New York state could have benefits for Onondaga County
The Daily Orange
New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo has proposed $200 million in funding to complete the Empire State Trail, a 756-mile off-road trailway for walkers and cyclists that would be the largest of its kind in the country.
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January, 2017
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Canal Clean Sweep 2017: Join us Earth Day weekend
Madison County Courier
Celebrate Earth Day & the Erie Canal bicentennial organize an event for the 2017 Canal Clean Sweep April 21 through 23. Event registration is now open for the 2017 Canal Clean Sweep.
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Registration open for Cycle the Erie Canal 2017
Madison County Courier
Registration is now open for Parks & Trails New York’s 19th annual Cycle the Erie Canal tour, an unforgettable opportunity to bike across New York State and take in the rich history of the legendary canal that transformed America. The eight-day, 400-mile recreational bicycle tour from Buffalo to Albany is scheduled for July 9-16, 2017. This year also marks the beginning of the bicentennial celebration for the Erie Canal.
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Trail project aims to expand tourism, recreation opportunities
WBFO
When Governor Cuomo trekked to Western New York this month to deliver one of his State of the State speeches, he discussed the proposed Empire State Trail. The three-year project would create an additional 350 miles of paved trails across the state, linking existing trails.
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Cross-state biking-hiking trail pitched; Erie Canalway would be used
Niagara Gazette
New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo is proposing to complete and connect two greenway trails crisscrossing the state from Manhattan to Canada and from Albany to Buffalo to create a 750-mile paved biking and hiking route that will be marketed as a national tourist destination.
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NYS Proposes Completing 750-Mile Long Empire State Trail by 2020; Erie Canal Designated National Landmark
Moral Compass Travel
This travel blog post covers details about Gov. Cuomo's proposal to complete a 750-mile intrastate trail by 2020 and an accompanying website and mobile app. It also touches upon the resent designation of the New York State Barge Canal as a national historic landmark and the 19th annual Cycle the Erie Canal Tour.
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New York eyes largest state-run trail in U.S.
Press Connects
New York wants to have the largest state-run, multi-use trail in the nation by 2020. The trail would be 750 miles when it is completed, running from New York City to the North Country and from Albany to Buffalo, Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced Tuesday.
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Cuomo pitches 750-mile biking-hiking trail plan for NY state
Fox News
ALBANY, N.Y. – New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo is proposing to complete and connect two greenway trails crisscrossing the state from Manhattan to Canada and from Albany to Buffalo to create a 750-mile paved biking and hiking route that will be marketed as a national tourist destination.
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September, 2016
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Five great scenic bike rides before the leaves start falling
The Buffalo News
While advocacy groups have worked to make Buffalo and other areas of Western New York biking-friendly, sometimes cyclists just want to get off the main roads. Entering the autumn season, there are plenty of trails to explore throughout the region – from off-road mountain bike trails to historical paths to the burgeoning rails-to-trails program. There’s something for every level and every bike. Here are five bike paths and trails to try for fall:
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July, 2016
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Fahy becomes first legislator to cycle the Canalway
Albany Times Union
Assemblywoman Patricia Fahy, D-Albany, an avid cyclist, became the first state legislator to complete the annual Cycle the Canalway ride from Buffalo to Albany. Fahy completed the weeklong ride Sunday, journeying 400 miles across upstate New York. She was accompanied by her daughter, Eileen Bequette, and her two sisters Bernadette and Marian Fahy.
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Cycle the Erie Canal stops in Palmyra, Lyons
Wayne Post
More than 650 riders made their first water stop at the Port of Palmyra, where they were welcomed by members of the Palmyra-Macedon Kiwanis Club and Palmyra Harbor Hosts. In Lyons, the riders stopped at the Peppermint Museum for water, air conditioning and tours.
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650 cyclists embark on 'Cycle The Erie Canal' tour
WHAM Ch. 13 -- Rochester
Brief news segment covering the 2016 tour as it passed through the city of Rochester.
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Welcome, cyclists — watch for cars
Rochester Democrat & Chronicle
A Rochester blogger reports on how a bridge construction project over the Erie Canal and the trail is having an effect on local riders in addition to this year's Cycle the Erie Canal bike tour.
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Vacation: Perfect time to hit the Trail
Daily Gazette
A husband/wife duo decides to cycle the Erie Canal trail as their weeklong vacation and pose a few questions to Parks & Trails Executive Director, Robin Dropkin. According to the author, although neither one of them were "hardcore cyclists" and she was happy to sleep in her own bed again at the end of the week, she wishes to return.
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Gov. Cuomo announces 18th annual “Cycle The Erie Canal” bike tour
WIVB News 4--Buffalo
The eight-day, 400-mile cycling tour begins in Buffalo on Sunday, July 10 and concludes in Albany on Sunday, July 17. “Apart from its breathtaking beauty, the Erie Canal corridor plays a vital role in this state’s history and present economy and we’re proud to showcase all these aspects in our 18th annual cycle ride,” Governor Cuomo said.
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June, 2016
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What You Need to Know about the 18th Annual Cycle the Erie Canal Bike Tour
NewYorkUpstate.com
The latest information about the fast-approaching tour on July 10-17 including deadline dates, itinerary, and a slideshow from 2015.
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May, 2016
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Capital Region Bike to Work Winners Announced
Troy Record
The highest percent (86 percent) participation for a small organization goes to . . . you guessed it . . . Parks & Trails NY!
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Design Competition Finalists Focus on Closing a Gap in the Erie Canalway Trail
WAER 88.3 - Syracuse
For many people there's little connection between Erie Boulevard and the Erie Canal in Syracuse, NY. But a design competition - and some creative future thinking - are trying to change that.
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Parks & Trails, Canalway Trails Association release annual report
Wayne Post
Parks & Trails New York and the Canalway Trails Association New York recently released their sixth annual report, “Closing the Gaps: A Progress Report on the Erie Canalway Trail 2015,” detailing progress made in completing the statewide Erie Canalway Trail as a continuous, off-road route.
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Erie Canalway Trail 80 percent complete, work continues
CNYCentral.com
Parks & Trails New York reports that the planned 360-mile multi-use trail is 80 percent complete, with 288 miles open to the public. When the remaining gaps are closed, about 200 communities along the canal's route will be connected by an off-road trail.
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Closing the Gaps: Advocacy Groups Want Erie Canalway Trail on Path to Completion for Bicentennial
WAER 88.3 - Syracuse
A coalition of local and state advocacy groups gathered at the Camillus Erie Canal Park Thursday to push for closing the remaining gaps in the 360-mile canalway trail in time for its bicentennial next year. Progress has been made, but the most challenging gap appears to be right here in Syracuse.
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Medina volunteers do a village-wide cleanup
The Daily News of Wyoming, Orleans, and Genesee Counties
On Saturday, a group including Lions members; Medina and Lyndonville Boy and Cub Scouts; Medina Masons; and Iroquois Job Corps students began their cleanup efforts as part of the 11th annual Canal Clean Sweep weekend.
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Canal Clean-Up Day brings out community
Wayne Post
The Canal Corporation and Parks & Trails New York established Canal Clean Sweep as part of Earth Day on April 22. The village of Macedon and Macedon Village Pride held the event. Thirty-seven volunteers from Monroe, Ontario and Wayne counties came to help the Village Department of Public Works staff and help clean Canal Park-Lock 30 to welcome all visitors to enjoy the amenities that surround the place.
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Fairport volunteers participate in Canal Clean Sweep Weekend along Erie Canal
Fairport-East Rochester Post
The Office of Sen. Rich Funke and The Fairport Perinton Partnership for a Better Community hosted a Canal Clean Sweep Weekend clean-up April 22-24 in the Village of Fairport. Over 130 residents joined together to remove trash, refresh landscaping and otherwise beautify several locations throughout the Village of Fairport and Town of Perinton in support of Canal Clean Sweep Weekend.
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April, 2016
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Canal Clean Sweep Thursday
Whitehall Times
More than 100 events have been scheduled across the 524-mile-long canal system, providing nearly unlimited opportunities for residents to give back to their local community and to show pride in a unique cultural and recreational resource.
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March, 2016
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Outdoors: A look at the Capital Region's multi-use trails
Albany Times Union
A link to our Trailfinder Map is featured as an additional resource in this article listing a hand-full of bicycle and rail trails located within an hour drive from Albany.
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October, 2015
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Charting a new course for Erie Canal's future
Albany Times Union
"New York has been trying to figure out what to do with the Erie Canal for more than a century." This commentary piece covers a brief history of the canal and its current funding and support status.
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September, 2015
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Cycle the Erie: Fort Stanwix, Rome, Brings Revolutionary War Era to Life
Examiner.com
The Cycle the Erie bike tour, 400 miles from Buffalo to Albany organized through Parks & Trails NY, takes us back to the very beginning of the United States, to its colonial days and its emergence as an independent nation.
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Schenectady roundtable focuses on growing bicycle tourism market
Organized by Parks and Trails New York and the New York State Canal Corp., the meeting’s aim was to find ways to help Schenectady capitalize on the growing bicycle tourist market. About 30 people attended the meeting, including cyclists, bicycle salespeople, a representative from the hospitality industry, representatives from Schenectady’s planning and engineering departments, the economic development supervisor for Schoharie County and a transportation planner from the Capital District Transportation Committee.
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Cyclists pedal Schenectady like tourists
Albany Times Union
Parks & Trails staff participated in a Bike-a-Round through the streets of Schenectady as part of this year's Bicycling Brings Business event. The ride intended to provide a feel of what tourists will experience while riding through the city.
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Letter: Paving Erie Canal Trail Provides Access for People of all Abilities
Syracuse Post Standard - Syracuse.com
Doug Hamlin of Our Ability Inc. writes in support of the increased accessibility of the Canalway Trail and its availability to those who participate in the "Journey Along the Erie Canal"--an End-to-End tour designed to raise awareness for those with disabilities.
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Going Places, Near & Far: Cycle the Erie Canal Tour Affords Extraordinary View of 'Real America'
This Island Now
Karen Rubin, one of over 600 riders on this year's Cycle the Erie Canal Tour, published this colorful account of her experience in this online Long Island news source. Her detailing of the canalway's vibrant history and tourism combined with her personal interactions with the diverse other riders is very encouraging for anyone considering cycling any length of the trail.
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June, 2015
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Erie Canal Bike Tour Attracts Those Who Want Leisurely Ride
Ithaca.com
This year’s “Cycle the Erie Canal” bike tour begins in Buffalo on July 12 and ends eight days later in Albany on July 19. Over the tour’s course, 500 riders cover nearly 400 miles with plenty of time to take in the sights along the way.
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May, 2015
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Cyclists Wake Up At Burnett Park
News Channel 9, Syracuse
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See 500 Cyclists Biking 400 Miles Across New York For Cycling The Erie Canal
syracuse.com
On July 13, more than 500 cyclists began pedaling along the historic Erie Canalway Trail from Buffalo to Albany. They arrive in Syracuse today, July 16, halfway on the 16th annual 400-mile Cycling the Erie Canal tour.
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Group Bicycling Along The Erie Canal
News Channel 9, Syracuse
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Orleans Rolls Out Red Carpet For Cyclists
orleanshub.com
After a big welcome reception in Medina on Sunday night, about 500 cyclists on the Erie Canal are being treated today to refreshments and greetings in Albion and Holley. The top photo shows a group of cyclists by two welcome tents in Albion.
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Oneida Reaches Out To Erie Canal Bike Riders (VIDEO)
Oneida Daily Dispatch
Thirty miles into their fifth day of riding, more than four hundred bikers on the Erie Canal Trailway Tour were greeted by members of the Greater Oneida Area Chamber of Commerce, Oneida Rail Trail Committee and Parks and Recreation just outside Oneida.
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Erie Canal Cyclists Ride Through Northern Madison County
Madison County Courier
More than 500 cyclists will be coming through Chittenango, Canastota, Wampsville, and Oneida on Thursday, July 17 as part of the 16thAnnual Cycling the Erie Canal Bike Tour. This is an opportunity to roll out the welcome mat and showcase our local businesses and area attractions.
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Erie Canal Bike Tour Makes A Pit Stop In Rome (VIDEO)
WKTV News
The annual “Cycling the Erie Canal Bike Tour,” brought cyclists through central New York, Thursday. Some 500 bikers are spending eight days traveling 400 miles across New York State, starting off in Buffalo and riding through towns along the canal until they get to Albany.
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Cyclists Set To Arrive In Area Thursday
Rome Sentinel
More than 500 cyclists kicked off the 16th annual statewide Cycling the Erie Canal Sunday, a 400-mile bicycling
tour from Buffalo to Albany concluding this Sunday. Riders will arrive in Rome Thursday and depart Friday morning.The Rome Area Chamber of Commerce has issued its annual guide for cyclists. It outlines the schedule, attractions, where to eat and details for the shuttle bus service offered. Riders will camp on the west lawn at Fort Stanwix National Monument
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1st Or 6th Time, Riders Enjoy Erie
Rome Sentinel
Here’s the long and short of it on the 16th annual Cycling the Erie Canal—for some like the first-timer 9-year-old from Brooklyn it’s a big thing and for others, well, not so big. Although some got caught in rain Thursday, most were enjoying the sunshine in Rome as they set up camp on the lawn at Fort Stanwix
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Local Bicyclists Ready To Finish 400 Mile Trek
WXXI News
400-mile bicycle tour along the Erie Canalway Trail from Buffalo to Albany is scheduled to wrap up this weekend. More than 500 cyclists began the 16th annual statewide trip last Sunday, covering between 40 and 60 miles a day. They are scheduled to finish this Sunday at the Albany Visitors Center.
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Eight-Day, 400-Mile Bike Tour Ends In Albany (VIDEO)
Time Warner Cable
An eight-day, 400-mile bicycle tour along the Erie Canalway Trail from Buffalo wrapped up this weekend in Albany. More than 500 cyclists began the 16th annual statewide trip last Sunday, covering between 40 and 60 miles a day. The trip came to an end Sunday at the Albany Visitors Center. Cyclists making the trip ranged in age from 9 to 90, and came from far away as Australia and Israel.
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