FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: June 1, 2006
CANAL CORPORATION CELEBRATES NATIONAL TRAILS DAY
Completes 9-Mile Canalway Trail Segment in Herkimer, Montgomery Counties
In celebration of National Trails Day, the New York State Canal Corporation today announced the official opening of a new 9-mile Canalway Trail segment in Herkimer and Montgomery Counties. The trail between Bridge Street in Minden and Finks Basin Road in Little Falls links to an existing Canalway Trail segment to create a nearly continuous 40-mile bike and hike path adjacent to the Erie Canal between Amsterdam and Little Falls.
An official ribbon-cutting for the new Canalway Trail segment was hosted by Canal Corporation Director Carmella R. Mantello at the Herkimer Home State Historic Site near Little Falls. The event was attended by numerous State and local officials, community members and trail volunteers.
“Today’s ribbon-cutting represents another step forward in our efforts to connect canal communities and encourage increased recreation, tourism and economic development along the entire Canal system,” Director Mantello said. “As with many other Canalway Trail projects, the partnerships forged between the Canal Corporation and numerous organizations, including state and local governments, are vital to the Trail’s success. We are particularly grateful for our partnership with the New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation, which owns most of the right-of-way on which the new trail was built. As we look to fulfill the Governor’s vision for a connected Erie Canal Greenway, completion of the Canalway Trail will provide a tremendous statewide link, creating new and exciting recreational opportunities here in Herkimer County and all along the scenic and historic Canal corridor.”
The 9-mile segment is part of a $35 million program announced by Governor George E. Pataki in 2002 to complete the Erie Canalway Trail linking the Hudson River and Lake Erie. More than two-thirds of the 348-mile Erie Canalway Trail is now complete. The $2.2 million project was funded with Federal Transportation Enhancement funds administered by the NYS Department of Transportation.
State Senator James L. Seward said, “The new trail will boost local tourism and highlight the benefits of the canal system to the state and canalside communities. The marriage of recreation and tourism will produce an improved economy and will use the canal to its potential. This is a positive step forward for the people of Herkimer County I represent.”
State Assemblyman Marc Butler said, “The opening of the Herkimer and
Montgomery County segment of the New York State Erie Canalway Trail is a great
way to celebrate the connection of communities and the economic development,
tourism and recreational opportunities the project will spawn along its length.
I am thrilled this event in my home district marks completion of more than
two-thirds of the Trail.”
Little Falls Mayor, Theodore Wind, said, “On behalf of the City of Little Falls, we congratulate the Canal Corporation on the completion of the Canalway Trail section from Minden to Finks Basin. The Canalway Trail is a tremendous recreational asset that, along with the Canal, will encourage tourism locally and throughout our State.”
Edward Heinrich, Regional Director for State Parks' Central Region said, “Today's announcement is another example of our successful partnership with the Canal Corporation as we continue to expand recreational opportunities along this historic waterway for New Yorkers and visitors to the Mohawk Valley. In celebration of Trails Day, this new segment of trail demonstrates our commitment to linking the community with the Canal and routing it in such a way that takes advantage of the nearby cultural resources like Herkimer Home State Historic Site and other destinations in the region.”
The project features a 10-foot wide crushed limestone or asphalt surface trail. Informational sign kiosks were installed at Erie Canal Lock 16 in Mindenville, adjacent to the Nowadaga Creek bridge in Danube and at the parking area at Lock 17 in Little Falls. An expanded parking area for trail users was also installed at Lock 16.
The project was coordinated with Montgomery County, which will be constructing a one-mile segment of the trail from Mindenville to the Montgomery/ Herkimer County line in 2006 as part of a county highway project.
The trail opening was part of the Canalway Trail Celebration, a series of events being held across the state to mark the progress of the Canalway Trail and to promote National Trails Day. This year, National Trails Day is on Saturday, June 3, 2006.
In keeping with this year’s theme, “Celebrate your Canalway Trail,” local communities are planning festivities and special events to recognize the growing prominence of the Erie Canalway Corridor as a world-class recreationway and tourist destination for visitors and residents. With more than 245 miles of developed trail, the Erie Canalway Trail is fast becoming one of the nation’s premier cycling and multi-use trail destinations.
National Trails Day is America’s largest annual single-day trails and outdoor celebration, held each year since 1993 on the first Saturday in June, with more than 1,000 trail events nationwide. In keeping with the goals of National Trails Day, the third annual Canalway Trail Celebration is designed to increase the awareness of the Canalway Trail, thank the many volunteers who provide support for the trail throughout the year, and introduce everyone to the many enjoyments and benefits of the Canalway Trail.
Individuals and trail groups across the Canalway Trail Corridor are encouraged to participate in one of the Canalway Trail Celebration events planned for National Trails Day. A list of events can be found at http://www.ptny.org/canalway/celebration/index06.shtml.
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.
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 conducted 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 were delivered in a report to the Governor in December 2005.
To obtain a free map of the New York State Canalway Trail System, please call 1-800-4CANAL4. To learn more about the New York State Canal System and the Canalway Trail, visit the Canal Corporation’s Website at www.canals.state.ny.us.
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