$1.6 Million for Recreational Trails

LT. GOVERNOR ANNOUNCES $1.6 MILLION FOR 22 RECREATIONAL TRAILS
Includes $95,166 for Niagara Riverwalk, Bicycle Trail in North Tonawanda

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Lt. Governor Mary Donohue today announced $1.6 million in grant awards for 22 trail-related projects across the state as part of the federal Recreational Trails Program. The Lt. Governor highlighted a $95,166 grant to the City of North Tonawanda in Niagara County for the construction of a new pedestrian and bicycle trail along the Niagara River. Today's announcement coincides with National Trails Day activities, a time set aside to recognize and promote public awareness of trail systems across the country.

"New York's trail system offers a wide variety of opportunities for recreation and exciting outdoor activities for our state's residents and visitors," said Lt. Governor Donohue. "Our great state is blessed with a network of scenic trails that stretches for thousands of miles, bridging open spaces and communities from Montauk to the North Country to Niagara Falls. Through these grants, we can continue to expand, improve and protect our trails for the enjoyment of outdoor enthusiasts across the Empire State."

The Lt. Governor added that New York has one of the most extensive trails systems in the nation. The state's nearly 17,000 miles of trails extend across wildlife areas, mountain peaks, waterfalls, lakesides, urban and suburban walkways and historic sites. The trail networks provide access to patrons for such activities as hiking, bicycling, birding, cross country skiing, snowmobiling and equestrian rides.

"Trails can enrich the quality of life for individuals and communities and help us showcase all the ecological diversity, natural beauty and historical significance found in New York," she said. "In anticipation of Trails Day, these grants will help strengthen the state's trail network, and provide us with an opportunity to recognize and appreciate the unique natural resources that the Empire State has to offer."

The Niagara Riverwalk and Bicycle Trail project is a two-mile trail following the Niagara River. North Tonawanda's project is located at the convergence of this river and the western entrance to the 524-mile Canal System. The riverwalk will connect the city's two Niagara River parks, Fisherman's Park and Gratwick-Riverside Park, with Gateway Harbor Park and the downtown business district. The trail is the third major riverfront project undertaken by North Tonawanda in six years, providing public access to a total of 62 acres of parkland on the Niagara River and over three miles of riverwalk.

Senator George D. Maziarz (R-C-North Tonawanda), who is also Chairman of the Senate Committee on Tourism, Recreation, and Sports Development, said, "Connecting the North Tonawanda's business district with local parks and the riverfront is vital to developing our recreation and tourism infrastructure. With this trailway in place, local residents and faraway visitors will have another way to explore the Buffalo Niagara region's scenic beauty and welcoming communities."

Assemblyman Robin Schimminger, who represents the City of North Tonawanda, said, "I'm certainly pleased that the final piece of funding is now fully in place to begin work on the Niagara Riverwalk and Bicycle Trail. The monies announced today by the Lt. Governor, together with the $88,000 state legislative grant I secured for this project last year and related state bond act grants, will allow the City of North Tonawanda to proceed on this important recreational project. The trailway will provide residents of the Twin Cities, as well as visitors to our community, with increased and safe access to our scenic Niagara River shoreline."

David Burgio, City of North Tonawanda Mayor, said, "Thanks to Governor Pataki's foresight and driving vision for New York State, along with Assemblyman Schimminger's funding assistance and State Parks' 2002 Recreational Trails Grant program grant, the city of North Tonawanda will link the Buffalo and Erie County Riverwalk with Niagara's, advancing outdoor recreation and supporting the preservation and use of our historic, cultural and natural resources. The city looks forward to working with our partners at the state level on this significant recreational waterfront development initiative."

The project award will be used for the construction of the riverwalk itself, a 10-foot wide blacktop trail that will extend for 10,560 feet, as well as landscaping and the installation of signage, benches and lighting. The non-motorized riverwalk will be used for bicycling, walking, jogging, rollerblading, snowshoeing and cross-country skiing.

The trail will also extend the longer 13-mile Buffalo and Erie County Riverwalk into Niagara County. Trail users will be able to walk or bike along the river corridor from North Tonawanda to Fort Niagara on Lake Ontario. Additionally, the trail system will link the Herschell Carrousel Factory Museum, the Carnegie Cultural Center and the Riviera Theater, all three of which are listed on the state and national Registers of Historic Places and included on the Cultural Heritage Trail.

Bernadette Castro, Commissioner of the New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation, said, "These awards will help communities enhance recreation opportunities for New Yorkers through the improvement and expansion of trail systems. The Niagara Riverwalk and Bicycle Trail project builds on our commitment in the region to reconnecting local communities to the Niagara riverfront. Thanks to Governor Pataki's steadfast dedication to preserving our environment, we can all share the wealth of scenic beauty and open space that New York's picturesque trails have to offer."

Of the remaining 21 project awards, grants will be used for such projects as increasing access to waterfront areas, constructing trail bridges, purchasing trail grooming equipment, and linking larger trail networks. Trail development plans must emphasize providing access for the disabled and minimizing environmental impact.

State Parks administers the federal matching grant program providing funding to state and local governments, not-for-profit organizations, corporations, and partnerships for the maintenance, renovation, development, acquisition and construction of trails and trail-related facilities. Funding is provided through the Federal Highway Administration's Transportation Equity Act for the 21st Century (TEA-21), Recreational Trails Program.

This year National Trails Day is being held June 7, 2003. The annual event is held on the first Saturday in June and is designed to promote public awareness of trail systems and appreciation for trails in all 50 states. In New York State, community and recreation organizations from all regions are hosting events including new trail openings and dedications, specially designated hikes, trail maintenance and river clean up activities, canoe festivals, wildflower interpretive walks, educational workshops and exhibits, and horse rides.

The grants awards are listed below by county and/or region:

MULTIPLE COUNTIES
Lost Trail Snowmobile Club, Inc., Groomer Acquisition, $100,000. Lewis and Oneida Counties This project is for the purchase of a trail groomer for snowmobile trails.

Seneca Trail Resource Conservation and Development Council, Recreational Trail Timber Bridge Project, $73,606. Chautuaqua, Cattaraugus, Allegany Counties This project is for the building of trail bridges at eight locations within the multi-purpose trails systems of these counties.

Friends of the Genesee Valley Greenway, Genesee Valley Greenway - Purchase of Trail Development and Maintenance Equipment, $71,621. Monroe, Livingston, Allegany Counties This funding will be used for the purchase of a tractor with various attachments and a fully enclosed cab. The Genesee Valley Greenway is a multi-purpose trail.

BRONX
Bronx River Alliance, Bronx River Cement Plant Bikeway, $100,000. The Cement Plant Bikeway project seeks to provide safe access for the residents of the six-acre Cement Plant Park to the Bronx River waterfront.

City of New York/Parks and Recreation, Crotona Park Greenway, $20,000. This project is for the maintenance and beautification of the Crotona Park Greenway, a one-mile loop that provides a link to the Bronx Greenway of the East Coast Greenway.

DUTCHESS
Town of Hyde Park, Hyde Park Heritage Greenway Trail, $100,000. This project seeks to restore an existing 26.6 mile trail and create a new 8.3 mile trail. This multi-purpose recreational trail will link various local trails, historic sites, and preserves as well as Margaret Lewis Norrie State Park.

ERIE
Town of Newstead, Newstead Connector Trail, $38,147.
This new, multi-purpose trail will connect Akron Falls Park and Buell Street Park, and eventually to state and county trail systems.

FRANKLIN
Franklin Snowmobilers, Inc., Trail Grooming Equipment, $100,000. This project is for the purchase of specialized trail grooming equipment to maintain snowmobile corridor trails.

HERKIMER
Ilion Snowdrifters, Inc., Trail Maintenance Project, $100,000. This funding will be used to purchase a new trail groomer to allow the clearing of a parking area for handicapped trail access to snowmobile corridor trails.

LEWIS
Southern Tug Hill Sno-Riders, Inc., Purchase of Trail Groomer and Drags, $77,220. This project is for the purchase of a trail groomer and drags to maintain corridor trails.

MADISON
Central New York Chapter, North Country Trail Association, Link Trail/North Country National Scenic Trail: Section Development and Access, $15,450. This project is for the repair of badly deteriorated drainage systems, fencing and the addition of barriers and parking for two state-owned sections of the Link Trail/North Country Trail. This recently opened corridor is a multi-purpose trail connecting the Finger Lakes Trail to the Old Erie Canal State Park.

NIAGARA
City of North Tonawanda, Niagara Riverwalk and Bicycle Trail, $95,166. This two-mile long trail along the Niagara River will link the downtown business district with several area parks.

ONEIDA
Penn Mountain Snow Riders, Inc., Oneida County Safe Trails Project, $100,000. This grant will be used to purchase a groomer to enhance safety and recreational opportunities. This club maintains 100 miles of multi-purpose trails in five Oneida County towns.

Village of Boonville, Erwin Park Covered Bridge Project, $100,000. This project involves the building of a covered pedestrian and motorized bridge across the Black River Canal. This safe crossing will connect Erwin Park directly to the Canal towpath.

ONTARIO
Town of Naples, Naples Community Park, Connectivity Plan, $71,280. This funding will be used to construct handicap and non-motorized accessible trails between Naples Community Park, the Finger Lakes Trail, and the Village of Naples. Development in this project will include 3,600 feet of multi-purpose trails and the installation of bridges

ORANGE
NY-NJ Trail Conference, The 1777 Trail Restoration Project, $67,568. This project will involve the construction of a pedestrian bridge, the hardening and enhancement of Twin Forks Trail, and the installation of signage to interpret the Revolutionary War history of the trail.

Town of Montgomery, Town of Montgomery Trail Property Acquisition, $23,221. This project is for the acquisition of 2.7 acres of trail land, the last remaining section of the Wallkill Valley Railbed to be obtained before a contiguous trail can be created. This trail will provide a link to Wooster Grove Park and access to the Village of Walden.

OSWEGO
Kasoag Trailblazers, Inc., Groomer Purchase, $99,577.
This project involves the purchase of a new groomer and drag in order to provide safe snowmobile trails. The Kasoag Trailblazers groom 61 miles of trails along the New York State Snowmobile Corridor.

Redfield Sno-Rec Club, Inc., Corridors 4 & 5 Snowmobile Groomer, $100,000. This project is for the replacement of old equipment with a new snowmobile groomer. This club maintains 47 miles of snowmobile corridor trails in Redfield.

SARATOGA
City of Saratoga Springs, Railroad Run - Phase II, $100,000. This project proposes to extend the existing Railroad Run, Bike and Pedestrian Trails and connect it to the Saratoga Spa State Park. 2,500 feet of multi-purpose trails will be constructed.

SUFFOLK
Town of East Hampton, Trailhead Improvement Project, $49,762. This grant will be used to renovate access points to the Paumanok Path, a multi-purpose125-mile long regional Greenbelt Trail.

WAYNE
Wayne County Planning Department, Wayne County Northern Corridor Rail Trail Project, $70,000. This project is for the renovation of a 162-foot railroad bridge that links two portions of the Wolcott (Hojack) Trail. This grant will also be used to purchase equipment for the application of stone dust to prepare the Hojack Trail and the Wallington Trail. These multi-purpose trails link the Seaway Trail with tourist attractions on Lake Ontario, including Fairhaven Beach State Park. ###

www.state.ny.us/governor/ltgov/ (PRESS RELEASES 2003)

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