For Immediate Release: August 23, 2005
CANAL CONNECTIONS TOUR STOPS IN ALBANY
Community Collaboration Sought in Shaping the
Erie Canal and Empire State Greenways
Erie Canalway Trail link to Albany is Announced
ALBANY, N.Y. -- Carmella R. Mantello, Director of the New York State Canal Corporation, today met with local officials, community and business leaders, and other canalway organizations as part of a community outreach initiative seeking 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 at the Bank of America building downtown.
“Community involvement is a key component in generating a successful future for the Erie Canal Greenway,” said Ms. Mantello. “This is an opportunity to share the Governor’s vision of an interconnected greenway that stretches from Niagara Falls to New York City and to seek input with communities and partners along the canal system.
“I look forward to hearing from communities in the Capital Region about their vision for the future of the canal system,” continued Ms. Mantello. “Working together and balancing our economic and environmental resources will revitalize the canal corridor, a national treasure.”
Ms. Mantello today also announced the Canal Corporation will be installing Erie Canalway Trail signs, marking a new route from the end of the bike trail at Alexander Street in Cohoes to the Hudson River Walkway Bridge in Albany’s Corning Preserve. The trail blazers will guide bicyclists and other trail users from the current Erie Canalway Trail’s end to the start of the Hudson River Valley Greenway Trail, thus linking the two trails.
“Linking the Erie Canalway Trail with Albany and the Hudson River Valley Greenway Trail will benefit tourists and New Yorkers alike,” said Ms. Mantello. “This project further demonstrates the important improvements that can be accomplished when the State, local officials and community groups collaborate. This is what building a Greenway is all about.”
The Canal Corporation, the City of Albany and Albany County are collaborating to mark the route. Combined, the Erie Canalway Trail and the Hudson River Valley Greenway Trail provide more than 500 miles of trails for cycling, hiking and other recreational activities from Buffalo to New York City.
“The Canal System has made significant strides under the stewardship of the NYS Thruway Authority," said Michael Fleischer, Executive Director of the New York State Thruway Authority. "Under Governor Pataki's leadership, we are proud of the accomplishments of the past decade which include a total investment of $208 million in canal system infrastructure and revitalization, guided by the goals of preservation and enhancement outlined in the New York State Canal Recreationway Plan and Revitalization Program. Building on the success of recent development, we encourage canalside communities to embrace the Governor's vision of an Erie Canal Greenway.”
“Connecting the Erie Canalway and Hudson River Valley Greenway trails in Albany will be a great addition to the many attractions that already exist in the City,” said City of Albany Mayor Jerry Jennings. “The new link will make Albany more accessible and appealing to outdoor enthusiasts, bringing more visitors to the City. I look forward to working with Canal Corporation Director Carmella Mantello to develop the Erie Canal and Empire State Greenways.”
“Linking the Erie Canalway Trail to the Hudson River Valley Greenway Trail is a key step in creating an Empire State Greenway,” said Albany County Executive Mike Breslin. “The trail will serve as a recreational and transportation resource for the communities along its route, significantly improving the quality of life for the entire region.”
The route will follow the regional Mohawk-Hudson Bike Hike Trail from Cohoes to Albany, combining both on and off-road segments. The route begins at Alexander Street in Cohoes and follows local streets to the trailhead off 4th Street in Watervliet. The route then follows the trail along the Hudson River to Albany and ends at the Hudson River Walkway Bridge in Albany. This is also the route identified in the Cycling the Erie Canal Guidebook, published by the non-profit organization Parks and Trails New York. The signs marking the route are expected to be installed this fall.
The Canal Connections Tour is one component of the New York State Canal Corporation Interagency Task Force’s extensive outreach effort to gather input and ideas from Federal, State and local planners, as well as from Canal interest groups.
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.
In the coming months, the Tour will make more than 10 stops at various locations along the Canal System. The next regional meeting will be Friday, September 16 in Seneca Falls.
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 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.
Visit our background page for more information regarding the Canal Tour.
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