|
State
Parks Announces Opening of New Section
|
of
the Empire State Trail
|
|
|
New 5-mile
trail will help “Close the Gap” between
|
Amsterdam
and Pattersonville
|
|
Albany,
NY – October 2018 / Newsmaker Alert / The
State
Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation (State Parks)
announces a new 5-mile section of the Erie Canalway recreational trail
between South Amsterdam and Pattersonville is now open to pedestrians and
cyclists. The $1.75 million project is part of Governor Cuomo’s Empire
State Trail initiative to create a 750-mile bicycling and pedestrian
trail spanning New York State, from Buffalo to Albany and New York City
to Canada.
“I
welcome New Yorkers and visitors to the newest section of the Empire State
Trail which showcases the beauty of New York’s Mohawk Valley,” State Parks
Commissioner Rose Harvey said. “The new trail section creates a wonderfully
scenic and safe pathway for people to explore. The trail is sure to be
busy with New Yorkers enjoying a healthy, active lifestyle, and we look
forward to opening many more miles of trail as we make progress on Governor
Cuomo’s goal to build the largest state multi-use trail network in the
nation.”
The
Empire State Trail initiative will improve and expand the existing Erie
Canalway, Hudson River Valley Greenway, and Champlain Valley trails to
connect 750 miles of recreational trail across New York State. The newly
opened Mohawk Valley section extended the Erie Canalway Trail five miles
from South Amsterdam east to Pattersonville, following the path of a former
railroad line. The project helps close a gap in the Erie Canalway Trail
that had required trail users to travel on the shoulder of State Route
5S, a busy high-speed roadway. The project included building a 10-foot-wide
trail, rehabilitating two railroad bridges and creating a new parking lot
in Pattersonville.
“The
Erie Canalway trail provides outstanding recreational opportunities for
residents and visitors, and we are fortunate to have this asset in our
communities,” Senator George Amedore said. “With the completion of this
project, we are ensuring a safer and more enjoyable experience for everyone
who uses this portion of the trail to walk, run or bike.”
“With
the Mohawk Valley section of the Erie Canalway Trail complete local families
and visitors can safely enjoy some of the amazing views unique to our area
of upstate New York,” Assemblyman Angelo Santabarbara said. “Whether it’s
walking, riding a bike or simply exploring the beauty of our region, today’s
exciting trail opening connects our communities and brings more opportunities
to enjoy all we have to offer.”
“The
Erie Canalway Trail provides recreational opportunities for Montgomery
County residents and attracts visitors from neighboring counties and beyond,”
Montgomery County Executive Matthew L. Ossenfort said. “I’m grateful to
have a partnership with the State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic
Preservation and excited to see many people taking advantage of this beautiful
outdoor recreational opportunity in their backyard.”
“This
project will help close an important gap in the Erie Canalway Trail, helping
to cement New York’s status as a premier recreation and tourism destination,”
Robin Dropkin, Executive Director of Parks & Trails New York, said.
“We look forward to the completion of the Empire State Trail as an unparalleled
statewide asset that further showcases New York’s scenic beauty and incredible
history.”
The
Erie Canalway Trail is a part of the state 750-mile Empire
State Trail. Last year, Governor Andrew M. Governor Cuomo launched
creation of the Empire State Trail, a new initiative to put New York State
at the forefront of efforts nationally to enhance outdoor recreation, community
vitality, and tourism development. When completed by the end of 2020, the
Trail will be a continuous 750-mile route which will span the state from
New York City to Canada and Buffalo to Albany, creating the longest multi-use
state trail in the nation. A recent
study projected that visitation for the entire 750-mile EST will be
approximately 8.6 million trail users annually.
The
New
York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation oversees
more than 250 parks, historic sites, recreational trails, golf courses,
boat launches and more, which are visited by 71 million people annually.
A recent study found that New York State Parks generates $5 billion in
park and visitor spending, which supports nearly 54,000 jobs and over $2.8
billion in additional state GDP. For more information on any of these recreation
areas, call 518-474-0456 or visit
www.parks.ny.gov,
connect with us on Facebook,
or follow on Instagram
and
Twitter.
|
Source
Document
Media
Contact:
Press
Office
518-486-1868
Press.Office@exec.ny.gov |