Canal Corporation Announces Completion of Canalway Trail Segment in Wayne County

ALBANY, NY (07/25/2007)(readMedia)-- The New York State Canal Corporation today announced the official opening of a six-mile Canalway Trail segment in Wayne County. The trail between Division Street in Palmyra and the Town of Arcadia links existing Canalway Trail segments to create over 90 miles of continuous Canalway Trail in western New York State.

An official ribbon-cutting for the Canalway Trail segment was hosted by Canal Corporation Director Carmella R. Mantello at the site of two new pedestrian bridges near Swift’s Landing Park. The event was attended by numerous State and local officials, community members and trail volunteers.

“Today’s ribbon-cutting 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 Mantello. “We are particularly grateful for the partnerships we have forged with Wayne County, the Towns of Palmyra and Arcadia and the Villages of Palmyra and Newark. Completion of the Canalway Trail will provide a tremendous statewide link, creating new and exciting recreational opportunities not only in Wayne County, but along the entire scenic and historic Canal Corridor.”

State Senator Michael Nozzolio said, “The completion of this segment of the Canalway Trail will help to further boost tourism and recreational opportunities in Wayne County and will connect canal communities across Upstate New York. Developing the Canal’s potential is an important way to capitalize on our area’s natural resources and beauty and increased utilization of our canals and waterways will drive business growth and create new jobs in our region. It is a pleasure to partner with Director Carmella Mantello and the Canal Corporation on this critical project.”

State Assemblyman Bob Oaks said, “Adding this section of the Canalway Trail in Wayne County brings New York State one step closer to its long range goal of completing the trail from Albany to Buffalo. As a user of the Trail, I look forward to enjoying this newly completed portion and encourage others to use it as well.”

The six-mile segment is part of a multi-million dollar program to complete the Erie Canalway Trail linking the Hudson River and Lake Erie. This $2.4 million project was funded with Federal Transportation Enhancement funds administered by the NYS Department of Transportation.

The project features a 10-foot wide crushed limestone surface trail. Informational sign kiosks were installed at the Garnagua Creek Spillway and at the Whitbeck Road parking area.

With more than 250 miles of developed trail, representing more than two-thirds completion, the Erie Canalway Trail is fast becoming one of the nation’s premier cycling and multi-use trail destinations.

“Each new section of Canalway Trail is greeted with enthusiasm and excitement by trail users, from local families out for an hour-long stroll to long-distance cyclists using the trail to cross the state. The Canalway Trail is a magnificent resource and New Yorkers are lucky to have this outstanding recreational asset,” said Robin Dropkin, Executive Director of Parks & Trails NY, a statewide nonprofit organization working in partnership with the New York State Canal Corporation to expand and promote the Canalway Trail.

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. For more information about the Canalway Trail System, visit the Canal Corporation’s Website at www.canals.state.ny.us/canalway trail/.

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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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