FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: October 4, 2006
CANAL CORPORATION ANNOUNCES 2006 CANALWAY TRAIL TENDER AWARD
Howard Halstead of Schenectady Recognized for Outstanding Efforts in the Capital District
The New York State Canal Corporation today announced that Howard Halstead of Schenectady, NY is the recipient of the 2006 Canalway Trail Tender Award. The award was presented to Mr. Halstead by Canal Corporation Director Carmella R. Mantello during the recent New York State Canal Conference held September 24-26 in Troy, NY.
Mr. Halstead was selected to receive the Canalway Trail award for his strong leadership, longstanding dedication, and exemplary and significant contributions to the planning, construction, maintenance and promotion of the Mohawk-Hudson Bike-Hike Trail, which is the section of the statewide Canalway Trail in the Capital District.
“Howard Halstead has been a true champion of the Mohawk-Hudson Bike-Hike Trail in the Capital Region and we are pleased to recognize him for his outstanding efforts and dedication,” Director Mantello said.
Mr. Halstead co-founded the Friends of the Mohawk-Hudson Bike-Hike Trail, in September 2000. The mission of the group is to develop through public education and stewardship the historical, recreational and economic opportunities of the Mohawk-Hudson Trail. “I feel that my role is to be a catalyst to bring together the many different interested parties, from individuals to small and large government agencies for a common goal to protect and enhance our local asset,” Halstead said.
The Friends of the Mohawk-Hudson Bike-Hike Trail is an advocate in trail planning, development and management, and works with the Canal Corporation and the various municipalities in the corridor. The group monitors trail conditions and provides reports to the municipalities. The group has a web site and publishes regular newsletters.
Each year Mr. Halstead organizes the volunteer committee which supports the cross-state Cycling the Erie Canal stop in the Schenectady area. The volunteers provide local information and organize dinner and breakfast for the more than 500 riders who participate in the event each summer.
In addition, every year since 1993, Mr. Halstead has led a group of Adirondack Mountain Club volunteers on National Trails Day to pick up litter, remove brush and debris from a section of the Mohawk Hudson Bike-Hike Trail in Schenectady. The group has made a remarkable difference in cleaning up this section of trail, which was previously overgrown and uninviting.
Mr. Halstead and his wife, Melissa, are avid bicyclists who met in high school and have been biking together ever since. Howard registers about 4,000 miles per year on his bike, including the commute back and forth to his job at the New York Independent System Operator in Guilderland each day, and many weekend rides with Melissa.
The Canalway Trail Tender Award was established in 1998 to honor the efforts of volunteers that have demonstrated exemplary and significant contributions to the development, promotion and enhancement of New York’s historic Canalway Trail.
Today, the Canalway Trail is more than two-thirds complete, with more than 250 miles constructed and offers multiple uses, from cycling, hiking and horseback riding to cross-country skiing. When completed, the 348-mile Trail will be the longest multi-use recreational trail in the United States, providing close to home recreational opportunities, and serving as a destination for long distance cycling and hiking tourism with linkages to the many attractions along the way.
To obtain a free map of the New York State Canalway Trail System, please call 1-800-4CANAL4. To learn more about the Canalway Trail System, visit the Canal Corporation’s Website at www.canals.state.ny.us/canalway trail/.