Parks & Trails New York (PTNY), with generous funding provided by the Ralph C. Wilson Jr. Foundation, awarded $61,754 in Trail Town grants to eight trailside municipalities in Western New York. The Friday event at LivCo Basecamp in Mount Morris brought together representatives from all eight municipalities, in addition to state representatives.
Trail Town grants enable communities residing along the 90-mile Genesee Valley Greenway and the western portion of the Empire State Trail to take advantage of visitation to trails and other outdoor recreational resources in the area. The grants are used to promote place-making efforts, improve safety for pedestrians and cyclists, and implement community-driven projects that prioritize active transportation alternatives for cyclists and pedestrians.
Awardees include:
● Town of Wheatland ($15,000) for improvements to the 60-acre Indian Allan Park adjacent to the Genesee Valley Greenway creating access for pedestrians and cyclists into the parkland’s scenic riparian features of Oatka Creek and pathways through the open fields.
● Village of Brockport ($12,349) for the purchase and installation of bike racks and inclusive wayfaring signage at Brockport’s popular downtown and waterfront destinations near the Erie Canalway Trail.
● Village of Perry ($8,996) for the installation of a bicycle repair station and a water filling station at the Memorial Park/Main St trailhead.
● RVER (Regional Ventures in Economic Revitalization) Group / Town of Caneadea ($7,115) to install light pole banners on the main road through the town’s three hamlets and signage at each end of town, creating a more unified visitor experience.
● Town of Mount Morris ($7,487) to enhance the visitor experience by adding new benches on Main Street, installing a water filling station on the Genesee Valley Greenway, and to attract more visitors to the nearby Powell Park and kayak launch by installing new signage from the trail.
● Lockport Main Street ($4,050) to create a brochure map of the City of Lockport designed to connect visitors and users of the Empire State Trail to local businesses, amenities, and attractions.
● Letchworth Gateway Villages ($3,756) to print and distribute brochures and rack cards to highlight and promote individual Genesee Valley Trail Towns.
● Village of Avon ($3,000) for the installation of a water fill and pet station in the Erie-Attica trailhead park.
Parks & Trails New York Executive Director Paul Steely White said, “At PTNY, we believe in the power of trails. Not only do they bring in visitors and boost local economies–they support healthier communities, enhance outdoor recreation, and improve pedestrian safety. Western New York is becoming an outdoor recreation destination, and this much-needed funding will foster adventure for tourists and locals alike.”
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