For Immediate Release: July 13, 2005
MEDIA ADVISORY/PHOTO OPPORTUNITY:
Canal Corporation Director Carmella R. Mantello to
Welcome Cyclists on the Bike Tour in Syracuse
Newly appointed Canal Corporation Director Carmella R. Mantello will participate in a welcome ceremony to greet cyclists participating in the Cycling the Erie Canal Bike Tour. This event will begin at 3 p.m. today, July 13, in Syracuse at Burnet Park Ice Rink.
Ms. Mantello will be on hand to answer any questions about the Canalway Trail’s success and discuss the new vision and direction for the Canal Corporation and new Erie Canal Greenway initiative. In addition, photo and television footage opportunities will be available.
In late May 2005, Governor Pataki unveiled his vision for establishing the Erie Canal Greenway and, ultimately, the Empire State Greenway, connecting the Niagara, Erie and Hudson River Greenways. The Canal Corporation and an interagency task force will conduct an outreach campaign to gather input and ideas, and develop a comprehensive set of recommendations to create the new Erie and Empire State Greenways and examine certain roles and responsibilities currently assigned to the Canal Corporation. The recommendations will be delivered in a report to the Governor by December 2005.
The New York State Canal System is comprised of four historic waterways, the Erie, the Champlain, the Oswego and the Cayuga-Seneca Canals. Spanning 524 miles across New York State, the waterway links the Hudson River, Lake Champlain, Lake Ontario, the Finger Lakes and the Niagara River with communities rich in history and culture.
For more information about NYS Canals, please call 1-800-4CANAL4 or visit www.canals.state.ny.us.
DIRECTIONS TO BURNET PARK ICE RINK
From the West: Take the New York State Thruway east to Exit 39. Go through toll booth and follow signs to Interstate 690 East. Take Interstate 690 to Exit 8 (Hiawatha Boulevard) Turn right onto Hiawatha Boulevard. Make first left turn onto Erie Boulevard. Turn right onto West Genesee Street. Go about 3-4 short blocks and turn left onto Milton Avenue. Go through 5 intersections and continue straight onto Burnet Park Drive. Follow Burnet Park Drive into Burnet Park. Turn right in park and make a quick left into rink parking lot.
From the East: Take the New York State Thruway west to Exit 34A. Follow signs onto Route 481 South. Take 481 south to Exit 4 Interstate 690. Take I-690 west through downtown Syracuse to Exit 10 (Geddes Street/Zoo). At bottom of ramp, turn left onto Geddes Street. Go through lights at Erie Boulevard and Fayette Street. As you are passing Fowler High School, turn left at the light at Seymour Street. When it deadends, turn right onto South Wilbur Ave. Go past the zoo entrance and make your first left onto Coleridge Ave. Follow it up a hill. At the first stop sign, turn left on Burnet Park Drive. Make a quick right and then a quick left into the rink parking lot.
From the South: Take Interstate 81 North through downtown Syracuse to Interstate 690 West. Take I-690 west to Exit 10 (Geddes Street/Zoo). At bottom of ramp, turn left onto Geddes Street. Go through lights at Erie Boulevard and Fayette Street. As you are passing Fowler High School, turn RIGHT at the light at Seymour Street. When it deadends, turn right onto South Wilbur Ave. Go past the zoo entrance and make your first left onto Coleridge Ave. Follow it up a hill. At the first stop sign, turn left on Burnet Park Drive. Make a quick right and then a quick left into the rink parking lot.
From the North: Take Interstate 81 south to the Hiawatha Boulevard Exit. At the end of the ramp, turn right onto Hiawatha Boulevard. Go past Carousel Center mall. Stay on Hiawatha until it dead-ends. Turn left onto Erie Boulevard. Turn right onto West Genesee Street. Go about 3-4 short blocks and turn left onto Milton Avenue. Go through 5 intersections and continue straight onto Burnet Park Drive. Follow Burnet Park Drive into Burnet Park. Turn right in park and make a quick left into rink parking lot.
-30-