SAGE Commission to look at Parks, DEC, DOS
Members of the Spending and Government Efficiency (SAGE) Commission met at the end of April to discuss streamlining state bureaucracy. Governor Cuomo created the Commission, which is co-chaired by his aide Paul Francis as well as Kodak CEO Antonio Perez, to fulfill his campaign promise to "rightsize" government. Commission members are charged with making recommendations that range from shared services for certain functions to full consolidation. The commission is supposed to develop initial recommendations by mid-May.
The Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation, Department of Environmental Conservation and Department of State, which oversees coastal management, are among the agency clusters the Commission is looking at for increased efficiencies according to media reports.
PTNY is keeping a close eye on the situation and is calling on the Commission to have an open process so that the public can have a sense of the group's work.
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State Parks Focus
Knox Farm State Park to remain open
 Knox Farm State Park--
the former country estate of the renowned Knox family located southeast of Buffalo--will remain open to the public for the 2011 season, albeit in a limited manner, thanks to an agreement between State Parks and the Town of Aurora. The park had been identified for closure at the end of 2010 due to park staff reductions.
The agreement allows for a variety of passive and organized recreational uses this year while a permanent, long-range plan is developed for the entire 633-acre park. State Parks will assign two seasonal staff to the park this summer to mow, clean the restroom, and perform other necessary tasks. Aurora will maintain certain park facilities, including the soccer fields and equestrian area. Hunts Pond State Park transferred to DEC
Hunts Pond State Park, located between Utica and Binghamton, has been transferred to the NYS Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) and will be administered as state forest land. The 250-acre facility abuts the 1150-acre Hunts Pond State Forest, which DEC has owned since 1962. Many of the traditional recreational uses, including hunting, fishing, birding, and non-gasoline powered boating, will continue. Camping, however, will not be permitted, a policy instituted by State Parks in the recent past. Read more.
Several other transfers between DEC and State Parks, initiated to increase management efficiencies, are in the works and we will report on them as they are finalized.
Two state park golf courses to be privately operated
The 18-hole Springbrook Greens State Golf Course, located within Fair Haven Beach State Park northwest of Syracuse, and the 9-hole Pinnacle State Golf Course near Corning will both be run by private concessionaires under five-year contracts with different terms. State Parks will retain ownership of the golf courses.
State Parks has 21 golf courses and roughly 100 concession contracts - including the golf course operation at Bonavista State Park in Seneca County - that generate nearly $90 million in gross receipts annually, of which almost $10 million is returned directly to support park operations.
Empire Passport - It's a bargain
For just $65, you can get into parks for free all year long. The Empire Passport is an annual pass providing unlimited day use vehicle entry to most of New York's state parks and recreational facilities. Bring as many friends as your car holds as many days as you'd like to enjoy the beaches, lakes, and picnic areas of our state parks and forest preserves.
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PTNY grant boosts membership of Friends of Connetquot River State Park Preserve
 A PTNY capacity grant helped the Friends of Connetquot River State Park Preserve undertake its first concerted effort to increase public awareness of the park as a valuable community resource and gain support for their work on behalf of the park. The $1,200 grant enabled the group to print a new brochure and create a tabletop display for public events.
"The publicity materials supported by the grant have greatly helped us to promote the Preserve and our work," said board member Edith Wilson. "Our membership increased by 23%. This is a significant gain considering that in the past two years the organization's member base was decreasing by five percent."
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Trail and bike path funding threatened
In a May 5 article in the Orlando Sentinel, Florida's Rep. John Mica, chair of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, proposed eliminating the long-standing requirement that state Departments of Transportation must direct 10 percent of their federal transportation dollars to trails, bike paths and other non-motorized transportation programs. This could mean the end of the Transportation Enhancements and Recreational Trails Programs - programs that have helped build thousands of miles of trail during the last 20 years.
We must act now! Contact your Representative. Tell him or her to continue to require that funds be directed to alternative transportation and describe how much trails contribute to the economy, quality of life, and individual health and well-being.
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Get ready for National Trails Day,
Saturday June 4
Send your legislators an invitation!
 The 18th annual National Trails Day ® (NTD), the largest annual single-day trails and outdoor celebration in the country, takes place this year on Saturday, June 4.
Parks & Trails New York is encouraging trail groups throughout the state to host NTD events to raise the visibility of trails and those who care for them. It is the perfect time to invite your local and state officials to walk or bike on your trail, meet with volunteers, and see first-hand how many of their constituents are out on the trail having a great time.
At this writing, NTD events are planned in more than 25 New York communities, including the Bronx, Kingston, Bethlehem, Granville, Wayne County, and Victor.
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Lockport roundtable to close gaps in Erie Canalway Trail
 Just a few days after assuming his post, Canal Corporation Director Brian Stratton traveled to the City of Lockport in western New York to join with almost 40 government, civic, and tourism leaders to examine ways to close the six-mile gap in the Erie Canalway Trail between Amherst and Lockport. As most of the necessary design work has been completed for this segment, the group focused its attention on ways to secure the $5 million needed for construction and whether there were interim solutions that could be undertaken until the off-road trail can be completed.
The Lockport Close the Gaps roundtable is one in a series of meetings hosted by the Office of Senator Kirsten Gillibrand in conjunction with the New York State Canal Corporation and Parks & Trails New York to focus attention on ways to complete the 366-mile Erie Canalway Trail.
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Ribbon cutting imminent for section of Albany County Rail Trail
 Albany County, the Town of Bethlehem and the Mohawk Hudson Land Conservancy(MHLC) have developed an inter-municipal agreement to open a two-mile section of the Albany County Rail Trail to the public for limited non-motorized use. The trail will eventually stretch 9 miles from the Port of Albany to the Village of Voorheesville. This is an exciting time for local residents, who have been waiting for over a decade for the trail, as well as Parks & Trails New York since we have been working on the trail since the early 1990's.
The County, Town and MHLC will clear vegetation, improve drainage and post signs to open the first phase of the trail for pedestrian use only. MHLC also will implement a fund raising campaign to support further upgrades to allow access for mountain bikes.
The County purchased the abandoned stretch of the old Delaware & Hudson Railway for $700,000 from Canadian Pacific Railway in January 2010. The acquisition was paid for with a $350,000 grant from the New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation and matching funds from Scenic Hudson.
MHLC and its trail committee, "Friends of the Rail Trail" (FORT), received technical assistance from Parks & Trails New York through its Healthy Trails Healthy People program.
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Cayuga Village Recreation Trail takes shape
 An enthusiastic group of volunteers is putting donations of talent and materials to work as the 2.5-mile Cayuga Village Recreation Trail takes shape. A local artist has created a logo for use on signs that will be provided by Cayuga County's Creating Healthy Places grant. Donated wood chips are being used to surface a section of trail that meanders through a wetland behind the elementary school. Trail committee members provided drain tile and bulldozer time to overcome a steep slope and establish an accessible ramp leading to an existing section of trail along the shore of Cayuga Lake. The group is also creating a wildlife viewing area and lakeside park.
The Cayuga Village trail recently was selected by Parks & Trails New York to receive assistance through its Healthy Trails, Healthy People program.
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Kodak American Greenways Award grants
Your organization could receive up to $2,500 in grant funds and recognition that comes with selection by this prestigious national program.
The Eastman Kodak Company, The Conservation Fund and the National Geographic Society team up each year to present the Kodak American Greenways Awards Program to recognize organizations that are growing our nation's network of greenways, blueways, trails, and natural areas and connecting Americans to the outdoors and their heritage.
For 2011, the Program anticipates awarding up to 50 percent of the grants to those projects that demonstrate the convergence of economic prosperity and the environment. The deadline to apply is June 15.
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Foundations provide funding for trail building and land conservation
The Fields Pond Foundation provides grants in New England and New York to community-based nature and land conservation organizations that increase environmental awareness by involving local residents in conservation issues. The Foundation's grantmaking priorities include project grants for trail building and other enhancement of public access to lands, rivers, and coastlines; land acquisition for conservation; establishment of endowments to fund stewardship of conservation areas; and related education programs and publications. Most grants range between $2,000 and $10,000. Grant requests may be submitted throughout the year.
The Mazda Foundation is committed to building a better tomorrow through meaningful programs that make a difference. The foundation is funding programs that advance: education and literacy; environmental conservation; cross-cultural understanding; social welfare; and scientific research. Most grants range between $5,000 and $10,000. Only not for profits are eligible. The deadline to apply is July 1.
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Photo credits: NYS Office of Parks, Recreation, and Historic Preservation, Randy Schmitt, Wally Elton, Dan Rain, Zipcar |
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Parks & Trails New York is a member of Earth Share New York, an alliance of leading nonprofit environmental organizations. For more information about workplace giving via payroll deduction to Parks & Trails New York and Earth Share, check out www.earthshareny.org. |
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MAY 2011
Celebrating 25 years of advocacy for New York's parks and trails
Your support makes all of this possible.
Thank you!
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Celebrate spring-support the parks and trails you love.
Support Parks & Trails New York today with your secure online donation. Or send a tax-deductible contribution to Parks & Trails New York, 29 Elk St., Albany, NY 12207.
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May 21 a big day for parks!
First nationwide Kids to Parks Day
Take part in the first nationwide Kids to Parks Day. Pledge to take your kids or a group of kids to a national, state or local park that day. We all know kids spend far too much time indoors so this is a great reason to get them (and you!) outdoors and having fun.
NYC It's My Park Day
Celebrate NYC parks on It's My Park Day, when community groups organize volunteer and free cultural events in neighborhood parks throughout the city.
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Save the date
Finger Lakes Regional Trail Conference
September 23 & 24, 2011
Cornell University, Ithaca
The Finger Lakes Regional Trail Conference, organized by Parks & Trails New York and the Finger Lakes Land Trust, will offer opportunities to experience a variety of trail projects, network with practitioners from multiple disciplines, participate in a dynamic mix of workshops, and develop a vision for a region-wide trails network. For more information and to be placed on the mailing list, contact PTNY.
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TrailFinder: Chenango Canal Towpath connects history and nature
Following the historic corridor of the Chenango Canal in Madison County, the 7-mile Chenango Canal Towpath Trail provides a grass and dirt surface that is ideal for walking, bicycling, fishing and cross country skiing. Along the way it passes the Chenango Canal Cottage Museum, Woodman Pond, which is a prime birding area, and remnants of a feeder canal.
The trail is managed by the Chenango Canal Association and the Village of Hamilton, both of which are part of a coalition seeking to extend the trail north and south as part of a vision for a Chenango Canal Heritage Trail along most of the original canal route.
The Chenango Canal Towpath Trail received technical assistance from Parks & Trails New York through its Healthy Trails, Healthy People Program and is one of more than 100 trails featured in PTNY's online TrailFinder.
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May is National Bike Month!
A bicycle is an instrument for playing the road (and trail!). So get out on your bike in May and play.
If you like to bike on trails, check out Parks & Trails New York's TrailFinder guide to more than 100 bike trails throughout the state. To find events taking place in your area, visit the League of American Bicyclists website.
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Bike tune-up time
When the weather warms up and the ice, snow, and salt are gone from the roads and trails, it's time to get back on your bike. But first give your bike a spring tune-up. You can either bring it to a bike shop or do it yourself. Here are some bike tune-up tips.
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Cycling Atlas for Herkimer/Oneida counties
The Herkimer - Oneida Counties Transportation Study has released a new 46-page Bicycling Atlas that includes more than 30 pages of maps showing multi-use trails, connecting roadways, state bicycling routes, parking locations, and points of interest. It also includes descriptions of the main multi-use trails, bicycling safety tips, a calendar of regular biking events, and a list of resources and bike shops.
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Parks + trails a natural
Kudos to car-sharing company Zipcar for outfitting some of its NYC fleet with bike racks and passes to NYS Parks.
Photo courtesy of Zipcar
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Still time to register for Erie and Hudson bike tours
Be part of the fun this summer. Register for Cycling the Erie Canal and the Great Hudson Valley Pedal today.
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Bike-ped projects need fair treatment
The FY2011 appropriations deal recently approved by Congress requires state DOTs to return $2.5 billion in transportation funding to Washington. Read our letter to Governor Cuomo requesting that bike-ped programs not suffer disproportionate funding reductions.
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Weather doesn't dampen Canal Clean Sweep enthusiasm
The rain that fell across much of Upstate New York over the Clean Sweep weekend in April didn't deter intrepid volunteers. Most of the more than 90 groups participating in the 6th annual "spring cleaning" of the NYS Canal Corridor and Canalway Trail went ahead as planned. View photos here.
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Champlain Canalway Trail receives Scenic Byways funding
Following completion of the Champlain Canalway Trail Action Plan, Lakes to Locks Passage, Inc. announced receipt of a $200,000 federal grant from the National Scenic Byways Program for engineering/design and archeological work necessary to make three publicly-owned segments of the Champlain Canalway Trail, totaling 10 miles, "shovel-ready" when construction funds become available.
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Ever hear of glamping?
 Glamping is upscale camping and it's experiencing a boom...at least in Europe. But why go to Europe when we have some of the best camping right here in NYS. Check out this year's NYS camping guide.
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Input sought on guidelines for accessible shared use paths
The federal Access Board is seeking public comment on guidelines to be developed for incorporating accessibility into the construction or alteration of shared use paths. Comments are due by June 27. For further information, contact Peggy H. Greenwell at greenwell@access-board.gov, 202-272-0017 (voice), or 202-272-0075 (TTY).
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Keep In Touch!
If you're not already on our email list, visit our website to join.
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Parks & Trails New York is the leading statewide advocate for the expansion, protection, and promotion of a network of parks, bike paths, greenways and rail and canal trails across the state.
29 Elk St. Albany, NY 12207
(ph) 518-434-1583 (fax) 427-0067
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