FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: October 28, 2005
Canal Connections Tour Stops in Ithaca
Community Collaboration Sought in Shaping the
Erie Canal and Empire State Greenways
ITHACA, 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 Boatyard Grill.
“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.
“I look forward to hearing from communities in the southern Finger Lakes 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.”
“The City of Ithaca has long been interested in enhancing and promoting our waterfront,” said City of Ithaca Mayor Carolyn Peterson. “We look forward to collaborating with the Canal Corporation and Carmella Mantello to improve the accessibility of the waterfront for our residents and highlight the historic connections to Cayuga Lake and Ithaca.”
After the meeting, Ms. Mantello and Mayor Peterson formally dedicated a portion of Ithaca’s Promenade improvement project at Lookout Point.
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 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.
Ithaca is the final stop of the Canal Connections Tour. The Tour kicked off in July in Canajoharie and has made ten stops along the Canal System over the past three months.
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.
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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.
Click here for background information regarding the canal tour.
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