For Immediate Release: September 29, 2005
Canal Connections Tour Stops in Utica
Community Collaboration Sought in Shaping the
Erie Canal and Empire State Greenways
UTICA, 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 Hotel Utica.
“It is crucial to develop strong relationships with Canal communities in order to ensure the Erie Canal Greenway has a successful future,” said Ms. Mantello. “The Governor’s vision of an interconnected greenway, stretching from Niagara Falls to New York City, can only become a reality with the participation of communities and partners along the Canal System.”
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.
“I look forward to hearing from communities in Oneida, Herkimer and Madison
counties 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.”
“The City of Utica's Gateway project relies greatly on the future of the Erie Canal,” said City of Utica Mayor Timothy J. Julian. “In a community like Utica, we have the Canal running parallel to the New York State Thruway which creates the possibility of a ribbon of commerce through the city. We look forward to seeing what information is gathered from the task force’s outreach efforts and working with Carmella Mantello to build the Erie Canal Greenway.”
After the meeting, Ms. Mantello was joined by local and State officials and community members to officially open a new six-mile section of the Erie Canalway Trail between Oriskany and Marcy, creating a continuous link between Rome and Utica.
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.
The Tour is making ten stops at various locations along the Canal System. The next regional meeting will be at 11:00 a.m. on Thursday, Oct. 6 in Oswego at the Oswego County Legislative Chambers, located at 46 East Bridge St.
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.
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