In The News

December, 2016

Grant paves way for rail trail completion

Granville Sentinel

A letter of support from Parks & Trails New York helped the town of Granville receive a grant to help fill in the “missing links” of the Delaware and Hudson Rail Trail. The trail will extend from Salem in New York to Castleton, Vermont, when it’s finished.

November, 2016

Harlem rail trail opens new section

Register-Star

The Harlem Valley Rail Trail Association broke ground on a new 1.5-mile section in the town of Copake Thursday, November 17, with an anticipated completion date slated for Memorial Day 2017.

October, 2016

New map program provides friendliest bike routes in Albany

Albany Times Union

The Albany Bicycle Coalition is working with Parks & Trails New York to develop an online map that would allow users to insert their starting point and destination and be directed to the most bike-friendly route throughout the City of Albany.

September, 2016

Preserve federal-state partnership that shaped Onondaga Lake Park

Syracuse.com

A commentary supporting the Land Water Conservation Fund. The author, Bob Geraci, is one of our board members who was commissioner of Onondaga County parks from 1995 to 2009

2nd competition launched for state park funds

Press Republican

Friends groups of state parks are eligible to apply for $500,000 in competitive grants through the State Park and Trail Partnership. This, a second round of competition, is funded through the State Environmental Protection Fund.

Sonnenberg Gardens and Mansion State Historic Park receives Parks and Trails NY grant

Wayne Post

Sonnenberg Gardens and Mansion State Historic Parks recently received a $75,000 grant to hire a full-time manager of corporate fundraising and major gifts from Parks and Trails New York and the New York State Office of Parks, Preservation and Historic Preservation.

July, 2016

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.

Tent city pops up at JCC as canal bike tour rolls in

Daily Gazette

The Schenectady Jewish Community Center in Niskayuna was awash in a sea of 400 tents Saturday night as the 18th annual Erie Canal Bike Tour made its final stop before completing the 400-mile journey in Albany this morning. Meegan Finnegan, director of development at Parks & Trails New York, which organizes the tour, said the goal is to raise funds for the 360-mile Erie Canalway Trail, which is about 80 percent complete. Parks & Trails is hoping to have the trail completed by 2025 in time for the Erie Canal’s bicentennial that year.

700 bicyclists finish 400 mile ‘Cycle the Erie Canal’ ride in Albany

ABC News 10 - Albany

600 cyclists roll into Syracuse on Erie Canal tour, camp in Burnet Park

Syracuse.com

The tents are home for nearly 600 bike riders who are participating in the 17th annual Cycle the Erie Canal Tour, an eight-day, 400-mile bicycle tour from Buffalo to Albany. Syracuse is the midpoint. To celebrate making it half way, the riders held a reception at the Rosamond Gifford Zoo, which is in Burnet Park. On Thursday, the bicyclists will leave Syracuse, passing through DeWitt and stopping in Chittenango at noon before ending the day in Rome.

More than 650 Bicyclists Headed to Rome

Rome Sentinel

The 18th annual Cycle the Erie Canal, a 400-mile, eight-day cycling tour, began in Buffalo Sunday and arrives in Rome Thursday. It 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 Andrew M. Cuomo said.

Regional State Parks Receive Funds for Trail and Access Improvements

New City Patch

State parks in Rockland, Putnam, Westchester, and Orange counties will receive funding funding through the NY Parks 2020, according to an announcement by Governor Andrew Cuomo’s office. The governor’s office announced $1.3 million in funding for 17 projects around the state to improve and expand hiking trails and outdoor recreational access projects in state parks.

Cyclists Pedal from Buffalo to Albany

WGRZ-Buffalo

Video news segment from NBC in Buffalo covering this year's Cycle the Erie Bike Tour.

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.

June, 2016

Letter: Grateful to See State Parks Revived

Newsday

A letter contributed by Richard Remmer, PTNY's Vice Chairman, in response to a May 29th piece in the Long Island-based publication stating that "New York is 'well on the way' to making its state park system a model for the nation."

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.

May, 2016

Letter: Dedicate State Funding for Biking, Walking Plans

The Buffalo News

A letter to a Buffalo, NY newspaper from PTNY's Executive Director, Robin Dropkin, praising the city's plan to paint 300 miles of bike lanes and the importance of cities adopting Complete Streets policies.

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.

$40 million needed to complete Erie Canalway Trail

WRVO

Feature from a Western New York NPR affiliate covering the press conference hosted by PTNY Project Coordinator, Greg Francese. According to Francese, there is money to complete 20 unfinished miles of the gap, but funding is needed for the remainder. He estimates that would cost about $40 million.

Hundreds of Volunteers Positively Impacted the Valley Stream Community on "I Love My Park Day"

LongIsland.com

Assembly Member Solages (Elmont-D) partnered with Parks & Trails New York and Valley Stream State Park to host “I Love My Park Day: A Day To Volunteer.” Over 130 volunteers worked on a wide-array of projects such as painting benches, planting flowers, cleaning the stream, and building park tables.