For Immediate Release: July 27, 2005
NEW YORK STATE CANAL CORPORATION LAUNCHES
“CANAL CONNECTIONS TOUR”
Community Collaboration Sought in Shaping the Erie Canal and Empire State Greenways
Seeking community input in shaping the Erie Canal Greenway
CANAJOHARIE, N.Y. -- Carmella R. Mantello, Director of the New York State Canal Corporation, today launched the new Canal Connections Tour, meeting with local officials, community and business leaders, and other canalway organizations. The community outreach initiative will seek input from groups interested in the Canal's future and Governor George E. Pataki’s proposal for the Erie Canal Greenway and the Empire State Greenway.
“Mapping a successful future for the Erie Canal Greenway depends on community involvement and collaboration,” said Ms. Mantello. “This is a perfect opportunity to share and seek input on the Governor's vision of an interconnected greenway that stretches from Niagara Falls to New York City with communities along the Canal. I look forward to hearing first hand from these communities about their vision for the Canal’s future development. Together, we can develop a waterfront that best benefits local residents and businesses.”
As director of the Canal Corporation and under direction from Governor Pataki, Ms. Mantello has already established the New York State Canal Corporation Interagency Task Force. In addition to establishing the Erie Canal Greenway, and ultimately the Empire State Greenway, the task force will evaluate certain duties of the Canal Corporation.
The Canal Connections Tour is just one of the steps in the Task Force’s extensive outreach effort to gather input and ideas from federal, State and local planners, as well as from Canal interest groups. The first meeting of the Tour was held today at the Arkell Conference Center in Canajoharie.
Information collected on the Tour will be used in developing recommendations for creating the new Greenways. The Task Force will submit recommendations to Governor Pataki, who will use them in drafting legislation to establish the Erie Canal Greenway next year.
Through the Erie Canal Greenway, the Canal Corporation and the Task Force seek to incorporate a regional approach to land-use planning, tourism, recreational trail development and other local initiatives. The Canal Corporation’s long-term goal is to link the Erie Canal Greenway with the Niagara and Hudson River Greenways, forming the Empire State Greenway. Stretching from Niagara Falls to Albany and south to New York City, it would comprise one of the largest Greenways in the nation.
“The Canal Corporation and Mohawk Valley Heritage Corridor Commission, as well as Hudson River Greenway and Heritage Area, have done magnificent work for years,” said Fred Miller, executive director of the Mohawk Valley Heritage Corridor Commission. “Now, through the Erie Canal and Empire State Greenways, we will once again create partnerships that will put New York State on the world stage.”
“I applaud Governor Pataki for his dedication to the environment and especially for his keen insight in improving our Canal System, which will certainly bring tourism and economic benefits to the Mohawk Valley,” said City of Amsterdam Mayor Joseph R. Emanuele III. “We are also very fortunate that the Governor has appointed Carmella Mantello as Director of the Canal Corporation. Her wisdom and leadership in initiating the Canal Connections Tour adds to the Governor’s exciting plans for this historic region.”
In the coming months, the Tour will make stops at 10 locations throughout the Canal System. The next regional meeting will be Thursday, August 4 at 10 a.m. at Lockport Locks & Erie Cruises, located at 210 Market Street in Lockport, N.Y.
An email address has been set up so community members can submit their input, ideas and concerns regarding the Erie Canal Greenway. Comments should be sent to: eriegreenwayfeedback@canals.state.ny.us.
The Task Force is comprised of the: New York State Thruway Authority; New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation; Empire State Development Corporation; New York State Office of General Services; New York State Department of Transportation; New York State Department of Environmental Conservation; New York State Department of State; and the Erie Canalway National Heritage Corridor, a program of the National Park Service.
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 tourism attractions along the New York State Canal System, please call 1-800-4CANAL4 or visit www.canals.state.ny.us.
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