In this issue:

• PTNY grants available to grow your organization
• Bicyclists Bring Business! roundtable and bike-a-round October 9 and 10 in Central NY
• Cycling the Erie Canal riders tell Governor Cuomo: Close the Gaps
• Decade of working with communities to develop trails bearing fruit
• PTNY's Growing the Grassroots grant puts trail brochures in hands of Catskill community residents
• Looming threats to federal funding for trail and bike/ped projects
• Taking a look at Complete Streets in NYS
• PARK(ing) Day Sept 20
• News from State Parks
• Thank you to our Green Partners

• It's a green party!

• Bicycle tour on Erie Canalway Trail raises awareness of the capabilities of the mobility impaired

PTNY grants available to grow your organization

Growing the Grassroots capacity building grants deadline Nov. 12

Grants of up to $3000 will fund activities that help develop and strengthen the skills, processes and resources that not-for-profit organizations need to survive.  An informational webinar for potential applicants will be held at noon on October 16. Application deadline is November 12, 2013.

Since PTNY initiated the Growing the Grassroots grants program in 2009, we have helped 46 organizations in 26 New York counties expand their fundraising and membership campaigns, enhance their public programming, redesign or create new websites, and develop marketing materials. 

Attendees will receive a copy of Parks & Trails New York's handbook, "Bicyclists Bring Business: A Guide for Attracting Bicyclists to New York's Canal Communities."

The following day, Thursday, Oct 10, participants will have an opportunity to participate in a bike-a-around and experience the Canalway Trail and the City of Oneida from the perspective of a cycling tourist, beginning at the Durhamville Aqueduct trailhead (Route 46) at 10:00 a.m. followed by a lunch discussion at La Vie Boheme Bistro, 109 Madison, Street, Oneida.

The event is sponsored by Parks & Trails New York, New York State Canal Corporation, and co-hosted by City of Oneida Recreation and the Oneida Rail Trail Committee. RSVP to Parks & Trails New York or call (518) 434-1583. Registration is required for the October 10 event.

 

Cycling the Erie Canal riders tell Governor Cuomo: Close the Gaps

PTNY recently delivered several hundred post cards to Governor Cuomo asking for his support in closing the gaps in the Erie Canalway Trail. The cards were signed by participants in PTNY's Cycling the Erie Canal bike tour - people who know firsthand how important a fully complete, off-road trail can be to a safe and enjoyable riding experience.

Presently, 277 miles of trail are complete - only 84 miles are unfinished. Of those 84 miles, another 14 are either being designed or under construction, leaving about 70 miles that must be developed.

PTNY is currently assisting 10 communities across the state with their trail development efforts as part of its Healthy Trails, Healthy People Program.  We are proud of the progress being made in these communities. 

Foot race raises money for trail improvements

On July 21 the Sullivan Striders running club held their 4^th annual O&W Rail Trail race in the Sullivan County hamlet of Mountaindale.  The event has doubled in size since its launch -- this year attracting 100 runners and walkers and netting $1,800 for the trail.

Ribbon cutting for the Cayuga Recreational Trail in the Finger Lakes

The Village of Cayuga Recreational Trail officially opened in July with prize drawings, a trail walk with a naturalist, and yoga along the trail at the Cayuga Lake waterfront. The ceremonies capped several years of extensive work by the trail committee to develop a walking trail connecting the waterfront and the village school and park and establish a fitness trail loop within the park. There is still more trail to be developed, along with a hand-carry boat launch, but already residents are enjoying the existing trail.

PTNY mini-grants augment trail efforts

PTNY recently selected three Healthy Trails, Healthy People  communities to receive small grants to help them with their trail projects.

• Cayuga County's Montezuma Historical Society will use $900 to aid in design and layout of a new website focused on the Byron Lapp and other historic Erie Canal trails within Montezuma Heritage Park. 
•  In its efforts to build awareness and support for development of a 27-mile rail trail in western New York, Erie Cattaraugus Rail Trail Inc., will use an award of $650 to purchase vinyl window stickers to better identify the group's thousands of supporters and more publicly proclaim support for the trail in the five towns where the trail will be located.
• An award of $180 to the Mexico Chamber of Commerce will allow the group to purchase Lexan plastic sheets for the two trailhead kiosks being constructed by an Eagle Scout for the village's Black Creek Trail in central New York.

A PTNY Growing the Grassroots Capacity Building Grant, along with considerable donated professional design assistance, made it possible for the Fallsburg Rails to Trails Committee to create and print a new membership brochure highlighting ways to get involved with the four-mile O&W Rail Trail. The Town agreed to include the brochure in its water bill mailing so that it would reach all year-round and seasonal residents.

"We are very happy with our new brochure and the increase we've seen in trail use. We've been able to spread the word about the trail, especially to summer visitors, many of whom had no idea the trail existed," said Allen Frishman, leader of the Rails to Trails Committee.

Parks & Trails New York is helping the Town of Fallsburg increase usage of eight miles of existing, but underutilized, multi-use trail within a small Catskill mountain community as part of its Healthy Trails Healthy People Program.

Bike-ped and trail advocates be alert!  When Congress reconvenes after the summer recess, the attempts to eliminate funding for the Transportation Alternatives Program of the new federal transportation legislation, MAP-21, may resurface. Hard to believe, but some House lawmakers want to do away with this primary funding source for trails, sidewalks, bike lanes, and other community infrastructure that supports walking and biking. The only way threats like this are defeated is when lawmakers hear from their constituents --t hat's you! We'll be closely following the situation and will let you know when your voice is needed.

Recreational Trails Program safe in NYS...for now

Taking a look at Complete Streets in NYS

Recently, the New York State Department of Transportation (NYSDOT) released a website that explains Complete Streets principles for government officials, residents of New York and other interested groups and invited public feedback. The new website is an important first step toward implementing the law passed in 2011, which requires state, county and local agencies to consider the convenience and mobility of all users when developing transportation projects that receive state and federal funding. PTNY looks forward to working with NYSDOT on implementing Complete Streets and will be participating in the agency's Complete Streets Advisory Meeting later in the month.

NY Academy of Medicine releases Complete Streets report

As part of the Designing a Strong and Healthy New York (DASH-NY) initiative, in which PTNY participates, the Center for Evaluation and Applied Research (CEAR) at the New York Academy of Medicine has also examined implementation of Complete Streets in New York State and drafted a report that reviews the strengths and weaknesses of existing municipal, county, and state wide Complete Streets policies and presents stakeholder perspectives on the implementation of Complete Streets in a random sample of municipalities.

Stop by and visit our PARK(ing) spot in Albany

Got a creative idea for converting that metered parking spot in front of your home or business to something greener? On Friday, September 20 you can join PTNY and others around the world and do just that.

PARK(ing) Day is an annual worldwide event in which artists, designers and citizens transform metered parking spots into temporary public parks. The idea is to call attention to the need for more urban open space, to generate critical debate around how public space is created and allocated, and to improve the quality of urban human habitat...at least until the meter runs out! Learn more and list your spot.

If you're in Albany, stop by PTNY's PARK(ing) spot on North Pearl Street between 11:00 am and 3:00 pm and see how we are transforming a parking space into a park!

News from State Parks

Roberto Clemente State Park celebrates 40 years

New York City's first state park celebrated its 40^th anniversary with the opening of a new $1.2 million playground. To commemorate Roberto Clemente State Park's anniversary, officials also broke ground on a second project - the renovation of a baseball field.

The improvements at Roberto Clemente are part of a statewide revitalization of the park system. Over the last two years, Governor Cuomo and the state Legislature have committed $179 million to improve state parks and historic sites across the state, spurring job creation and economic development and boosting tourism efforts.

Learn more about the celebration and improvements and see photos from the day. 

National outdoor retailer REI has partnered with State Parks to offer its Outdoor School programs at five state parks in the Hudson Valley and on Long Island. Programs include hiking, orienteering, and nature photography. Outings will be led by REI Outdoor School Instructors. All gear is provided as part of the registration fee. See the fall class schedule.

REI has been a sponsor of I Love My Park Day since the event was launched. 

For more news on state parks and the Friends groups that support them, see the summer issue of our park Friends eNewsletter, You Gotta Have Friends.

Environmental Protection Fund celebrates 20 years

New York's environment celebrated an important milestone this summer: the 20^th anniversary of the Environmental Protection Fund (EPF). 

In the years since, the EPF has provided more than $2.7 billion for important environmental projects - from the protection and stewardship of state and local parks, trails and greenways, to water quality enhancements, recycling programs and farmland protection. Thanks to the EPF, for example, nine new state parks were created and 32,000 acres were added to state parks system. In 2012, New York made additions to the Harlem Valley Rail Trail in Dutchess County through EPF funding.

Governor Cuomo, together with the Legislature, added $19 million to the Fund in this year's budget - the first increase since the recent economic crisis - which will enhance critical programs that benefit every county in New York State.

PTNY is proud to be a member of the Friends of New York's Environment, a broad partnership of more than 100 organizations that work in support of the EPF. Read more.

Bicycle tour on Erie Canalway Trail raises awareness of the capabilities of the mobility impaired

Members of the Our Ability team cross the finish line

John Robinson, quadruple amputee and founder of the people with disabilities advocacy organization, Our Ability, arrived in Albany on July 8 after more than two weeks traveling across New York State as part of Journey Along the Erie Canal, the largest disabilities awareness event in state history.

The tour  began on June 23 in Tonawanda and featured Robinson and members of Our Ability biking, boating, running and walking the Canalway Trail to Albany, as a way of raising the public's consciousness of the strides that people with disabilities have made and continue to make.  Along the way, advocacy groups and organizations supporting the rights of people with disabilities joined Robinson for parts of the trip. PTNY provided assistance by contributing our expertise on trip planning and logistics to John and his team.