Canal Corporation Announces 2008 Canalway Trail Tender Award Winner

The New York State Canal Corporation today announced that First Presbyterian Church of Lockport Adopt-a-Trail group is the 2008 Canalway Trail Tender Award winner. The award was presented to the group by Corporation Director Carmella R. Mantello, Senator George Maziarz, and Lockport Mayor Michael Tucker during an awards luncheon during the recent New York State Canal Conference held October 5-7, 2008, in Western New York. The group is being recognized for their outstanding efforts and commitment to caring for the Canalway Trail.

First Presbyterian Church of Lockport (1823) adopted a one-mile section of the Canalway Trail from Locks E-34 and E-35 to the Joseph Villella Bridge to keep it clear of trash and litter as well as report any acts of vandalism. Presently, the group consists of 50 registered volunteers of all ages. A total of seven pickups since April 2007 have been completed with 275 volunteer hours. Large debris such as marine batteries, scrap metal, an old TV and bike, as well as litter, have been collected.

Director Mantello said, "The members of First Presbyterian Church of Lockport Adopt-a-Trail group are true champions and stewards of the Erie Canalway Trail. The Corporation is pleased to recognize their commitment and dedication through the Trail Tender Award."

Senator Maziarz said, "The Erie Canal is central to Lockport's past, present, and future. Groups like First Presbyterian Church are great stewards of the canal in our communities. Their important work allows local residents and tourists to enjoy the beautiful and historic Canalway Trail."

Mayor Tucker said, "I am very proud that First Presbyterian Church of Lockport Adopt-a-Trail group has been recognized for all of the hard work that they have done and continue to do on the Erie Canalway Trail here in Lockport. Thanks in large part to their stewardship of the Canalway Trail, both residents and visitors are able to truly enjoy this recreational resource."

The group's very first pickup on Earth Day 2007 during the Canal Clean Sweep was most memorable. Unknown to the volunteers, a German shepherd had been missing for days and was seen running on the south side of the canal. The dog fell down the bank and into the canal where the volunteers quickly ran to help. Using a metal ladder to get to the water, several church members pulled the frightened dog to higher ground. One of the volunteers suffered a minor dog bite. The police came to return the dog to the very grateful owners.

The Canalway Trail Adopt-a-Trail Program helps keep the trail clean and in good repair by encouraging volunteers to adopt sections of the trail in their communities. Adopt-a-Trail groups can tackle many types of maintenance tasks, such as pick-up, mowing, trimming brush, removing fallen branches maintaining signs, planting and landscaping. Adopt-a-Trail signs recognizing the group or individuals are furnished by the Canal Corporation at either end of the adopted segment. Dozens of groups participate in the program across the Canal System.

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.

With more than 270 miles of trail constructed, the Erie Canalway Trail is now 75 percent complete. The trail will eventually encompass more than 365 miles of contiguous multi-use trail, connecting Lake Erie and the City of Buffalo to the Hudson River and Albany. When completed, the Erie Canalway Trail will be the longest multi-use recreational trail in the U.S.

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.

The Canal Corporation is a proud supporter of the 2009 Hudson-Fulton-Champlain Quadricentennial, a year long celebration designed to commemorate 400 years of progress in the Empire State. For more information on the Quadricentennial, please visit www.exploreny400.com.

For more information regarding events, recreation and vacation opportunities along the Canal System, please visit www.nyscanals.gov or call 1-800-4CANAL4.

The New York State Thruway Authority/Canal Corporation offers a free email service called TRANSalert to its customers via email or text messaging to inform them of major incidents and emergencies that may affect travel on the Thruway or navigation on the Canal System. To sign up for the Canal TRANSalert service, customers can visit the Corporation's website at www.nyscanals.gov/tas/. To sign-up for Thruway TRANSalerts please visit the Authority's website at www.nysthruway.gov/tas/.

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