Canal Corporation Announces Completion of 12-Mile Canalway Trail Segment

ALBANY, NY (05/31/2007)(readMedia)-- The New York State Canal Corporation today announced the official opening of a 12-mile Canalway Trail segment in Onondaga County. The trail between Warners Road in Camillus and Route 31 in Jordan will link to a Canalway Trail segment currently under construction to create a 20-mile bike and hike path adjacent to the Old Erie Canal between Camillus and Port Byron.

The trail opening was part of the Canalway Trail Celebration, a series of events being held across the State to mark the progress of the Canalway Trail and to promote National Trails Day. This year, National Trails Day is on Saturday, June 2, 2007.

An official dedication of the Canalway Trail segment was hosted by Canal Corporation Director Carmella R. Mantello at the Camillus Erie Canal Park. The event was attended by numerous State and local officials, community members and trail volunteers.

“Today’s dedication represents another step forward in our efforts to connect canal communities and encourage increased recreation, tourism and economic development along the entire Canal System,” said Director Mantello. “As with many other Canalway Trail projects, the partnerships forged between the Canal Corporation and numerous organizations, including state and local governments, are vital to the Trail’s success. We are particularly grateful for our partnership with Onondaga County, the Towns of Camillus, Van Buren and Elbridge and the Village of Jordan, which own most of the right-of-way on which the new trail was built. Completion of the Canalway Trail will provide a tremendous statewide link, creating new and exciting recreational opportunities here in Onondaga County and all along the scenic and historic Canal Corridor.”

The 12-mile segment is part of a multi-million dollar program to complete the Erie Canalway Trail linking the Hudson River and Lake Erie. More than two-thirds of the 348-mile Erie Canalway Trail is now complete. The $1.2 million project was funded with Federal Transportation Enhancement funds administered by the New York State Department of Transportation.

State Senator John DeFrancisco said, “Our Canalway Trail is a treasure for the communities along our Canal. This 12-mile portion of the Trailway will provide wonderful recreational opportunities for Central New Yorkers and tourists. By connecting our communities along our Canal Corridor we help to promote local businesses and introduce others to the rich history of the towns and villages along our Canal.”

Assemblyman Will Barclay said, “The Canal System is one of our State’s greatest treasures. I am pleased with the hard work that the folks at the Canal Corporation have been doing to make the Canalway Trail a reality. The completion of this segment of the trail will be of tremendous value in terms of recreation, tourism and economic development for the community.”

Onondaga County Executive Nicholas J. Pirro said, “Walking and bicycle trails are fun and important ways to incorporate family recreational opportunities and we are extremely pleased with this latest addition to our trail system and take special pride that history is preserved because of the trail's connection as part of the great Erie Canal.”

Supervisor Mary Ann Coogan of Camillus said, “The Town of Camillus is grateful for the partnership we share with the New York State Canal Corporation. This project is a step forward in continuing to promote the partnership between canal communities while increasing opportunities for future outdoor recreation and economic development.”

Supervisor Mary Crego of Van Buren said, “The Town of Van Buren is pleased to partner with the Canal Corporation and the Erie Canalway Trail with the construction of the trail along the Old Erie Canal. It creates an opportunity for more people to appreciate this important part of New York State history as they walk and bicycle along the Trail.”

Supervisor Ken Bush of Elbridge said, “The Town of Elbridge is very pleased with and excited about the Canalway Trail that has been constructed through the town. As part of the Onondaga County Parks system it is named the Jordan Level. The new trail will provide year-round recreation.”

The project features an 8-10-foot wide crushed limestone surface trail. Informational sign kiosks were installed at the Sims Store and Nine Mile Creek Aqueduct in the Camillus Erie Canal Park, near Bennet’s Corners Road in Van Buren and near North Main Street in Jordan.

National Trails Day is America’s largest annual single-day trails and outdoor celebration, held each year since 1993 on the first Saturday in June, with more than 1,000 trail events nationwide. In keeping with the goals of National Trails Day, the third annual Canalway Trail Celebration is designed to increase the awareness of the Canalway Trail, thank the many volunteers who provide support for the trail throughout the year, and introduce everyone to the many enjoyments and benefits of the Canalway Trail.

Local communities are planning festivities and special events to recognize the growing prominence of the Erie Canalway Corridor as a world-class recreationway and tourist destination for visitors and residents. With more than 260 miles of developed trail, the Canalway Trail is fast becoming one of the nation’s premier cycling and multi-use trail destinations.

Individuals and trail groups across the Canalway Trail Corridor are encouraged to participate in one of the Canalway Trail Celebration events planned for National Trails Day.

A list of events can be found at http://www.ptny.org/canalway/celebration/index07.shtml

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.

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: http://www.nyscanals.gov/exvac/trail/index.html.

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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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Posted Thursday May 31, 2007 at 01:39 pm by New York State Canal Corporation