In case you haven’t heard, last month we released our landmark Economic Impact Study on the Empire State Trail (EST). The momentum from this research has energized communities across New York and has us all excited for what’s next!
Three of our beloved Trail Towns, Lyons, Utica, and Portageville, wasted no time in taking action during the Trail Town Workshops held this July. With an overwhelmingly positive response from residents, business owners, and local advocates, our volunteers hit the streets to see firsthand each community’s vision for the future.
Turning Data Into Action
Each year PTNY selects a diverse slate of communities for its two Trail Town programs. The first, the Empire State Trail Town program, is a 10-month hands-on process in which chosen towns receive expert guidance in their efforts to maximize the economic, physical, and social benefits of the EST. The second, the Western New York Trail Town program, follows the same format, but works with towns to capture the value of outdoor recreation in the Genesee Valley regionally.
Both programs kick off with a placemaking workshop and bike-around assessment of each town. This informs an inventory of local assets and challenges, followed by an expert briefing from PTNY on best practices.These workshops combine both community engagement with real data, helping Trail Towns make informed decisions about which investments have the greatest impact.
Building on a $33 Million Trail Economy
As the county seat, the Town of Lyons has seen firsthand the impact of the nearly $33 million the Erie Canalway Trail generated for Wayne County last year alone (interested in your county? Check out the county-level data from the report). Their commitment to trailside stewardship is nothing new.
After a lively workshop, much of the bike-around focused on points of interest and amenities that are already available to trail users but are often overlooked. For Lyons, the next step as an Empire State Trail Town is making sure trail visitors know everything the community has to offer, including water, restrooms, Bike Friendly Businesses, delicious food, fascinating museums, and more, all within five minutes of the trail.
Connecting Trail Users to Downtown Utica
Utica joined the Empire State Trail Town program as its largest Trail Town to-date, seeking to address the disconnection between trail users and the City’s wide variety attractions, cuisine, and affordable overnight lodging. PTNY’s EST Economic Impact Report shows how important accessible lodging is to a strong trail economy, with tourists who stay overnight spending 1800% more per visit. Better connecting Utica’s hotels, restaurants, and bars to the EST will not only offer trail users more amenities, but stands to exponentially increase the financial benefit of the trail to Oneida County. Furthermore, Canal Corp is anticipated to break ground any day now with a project that will improve 1.4 miles of the trail, and detour riders directly into the heart of the city’s historic downtown.
With this in mind, the Trail Town workshops focused on improving wayfinding signage to strengthen the safety and accessibility of connections between the EST, downtown, and the city’s historic sites. This work will help position Utica for the completion of an upcoming NYS DOT project that will create 10-foot shared-use paths along the main corridor linking the trail to downtown.
A remarkable turnout
The Hamlet of Portageville sits at the intersection of Letchworth State Park, the Genesee Valley Greenway, the Finger Lakes Trail, and the Genesee River. It is primed to capture the state’s growing recreation economy and could serve as a key outpost in the future Southern Tier Trail/Genesee Valley Greenway loop through western New York. Strong greenway networks rely on these smaller trail towns being equipped to support the hikers and riders who come through. The EST Economic Impact Report has demonstrated how outdoor recreationists can be a lifeline for these smaller communities.
The enthusiasm for Portageville’s participation in the Western New York Trail Town program was evident throughout the walk-around workshop. For a community of fewer than 650 residents, the turnout was remarkable. Event organizers actually ran out of materials for as more than 20 residents and advocates gathered to share ideas and shape the community’s vision for the future.
By the end of the evening, participants representing organizations and interests from across the county and region had built stronger relationships and identified strategies for improving wayfinding in a small-town setting. PTNY will use these ideas to develop an Action Plan for Portageville that can serve as a model for how other small communities can strengthen trail connections, support local economic activity, and maximize the benefits of a regional trail network. The workshop also demonstrated the community’s strong support for completing the Southern Trail Loop, proving just how powerful local engagement can be in advancing trail connectivity.
What’s Next?
The Trail Town community workshops are just one step in the Trail Town Program. Next, these towns will conduct community-wide surveys to gather additional feedback from residents and trail users. By the end of the year, each community will receive a tailored Action Plan featuring short- and long-term strategies, along with potential funding opportunities.
To learn more about PTNY’s Trail Town programs, click here! If you are interested in how your county fits into the bigger picture, check out the county breakdown of the Economic Impact report here.