Parks & Trails New York (PTNY) revealed this week the Village of Clyde and Cayuga County canal communities will join the Empire State Trail Town program. Now entering its fourth year, the program is designed to build capacity and guide communities through the process of identifying ways they can capitalize on their location along the longest single-state, multi-use trail in the nation, the Empire State Trail.
The goals of the ten-month program are twofold: to increase opportunities for residents to access high-quality recreational opportunities and to create trail-friendly destinations where visitors want to stay, explore, and spend.
Funded by the NYS Canal Corporation, PTNY will assist the selected communities with developing a network of local partners committed to the Trail Town initiative. Additional assistance will include an assessment of trail usage, strengths and areas for improvement. There will be public workshops for the whole community to share their ideas and identify ways to establish their communities as great places to live and must-visit destinations along the Empire State Trail. The year will culminate with a final set of recommendations for each community to use as a road map to guide future Trail Town work.
Parks & Trail New York described these communities as follows:
Clyde is a vibrant trail town, inviting cyclists and outdoor enthusiasts to stop and explore. The trail runs directly through the downtown that boasts a charming village park and popular food and drink options like ice cream, pizza, and diner fare. Lauraville Landing Park offers restrooms, a drinking fountain, and camping facilities at Lauraville Loop. Clyde also offers bike racks throughout the village, and a local fire department with showers available by request for cyclists. Each July, Clyde becomes a favorite stop for Cycle the Erie cyclists, who enjoy live music, free snacks, bike services, and a friendly community atmosphere. The village hosts a variety of events throughout the year, including the River Rock Music Festival and the Clyde Festival, making it a prime destination for trail users.
The 12-mile stretch of the Empire State Trail in Cayuga County connecting Montezuma, Port Byron, and Weedsport is a thriving hub of trail services and amenities, offering cyclists and outdoor enthusiasts easy access to a variety of businesses and historic sites. The trail runs directly through the charming business districts of these three towns, where visitors can enjoy farm-to-table dining, local breweries, coffee shops, and local attractions, all without leaving the trail. Along the route, trail users can explore canal history, including biking through a lock at the Erie Canal Heritage Park or exploring the remains of the impressive Richmond Aqueduct. With welcoming accommodations including hotels and local campgrounds, this stretch of the trail has everything a visiting trail user might need. The communities along the route are committed to preserving their rich canal heritage while enhancing the trail experience, making it a model for collaboration and sustainable development for trail towns.
Since the completion of the Empire State Trail in 2020, the Erie and Champlain Canalway Trails have only grown in popularity, attracting visitors from all over the world. Trail use figures from 2023 estimate that the Canalway Trail system now draws nearly 4 million visits per year. And with increased tourism comes massive economic impact, especially from visitors who stay overnight in trail communities. A 2014 economic impact study of the Erie Canalway Trail reveals that the trail generates over $250 million in annual economic impact. The Trail Town program helps communities leverage the trail for sustainable economic development through strategies that elevate the trail as a destination and draw visitors off the trail and into these communities.
By being selected to participate in the Empire State Trail Town program, Canajoharie, Clyde, and Montezuma-Port Byron-Weedsport are joining a network of communities along the Empire State Trail that recognize the value of the trail as both an enhancement to quality of life for residents and driver of economic growth.
“The Empire State Trail, recently ranked as the best rail trail in the country by Outside Magazine, is a massive economic driver for New York’s vibrant canalway communities, drawing visitors from around the country and the world,” said Paul Steely White, Executive Director of Parks & Trails New York. “We look forward to working with the selected communities to help leverage this exceptional trail by improving trail-to-town connectivity, enhancing the services and amenities that trail users seek, and promoting a culture of stewardship, hospitality, and inclusivity.
“We are always working to find ways to enhance the Empire State Trail and to further connect its adjacent communities so that everyone gets the most out of this incredible public asset, and that includes this year’s very deserving winners,” said New York State Canal Corporation Director Brian U. Stratton. “I offer our sincere congratulations to Canajoharie, Clyde, and Cayuga County. The recognition and economic benefit that comes to the communities that participate in this invaluable program is tangible, and we’re excited to see good that is to come for these three localities.”
The Village of Clyde is very excited to have received this designation as an Empire State Trail Town. For the last twenty-plus years we have been working on improving Lauraville Landing Park, which is directly on the canal. The park includes a pavilion, playground, boat docks, pump-out station, campsites, and bathroom facilities. With assistance from local groups such as Clyde SPAN and Cornell Cooperative, we have hosted Canal Clean Sweeps, festivals, and various events. Moving forward we expect our new partnership with Cycle Tourism Clyde and Savannah will continue to bring more people to our local community,” said Jerry Fremouw, Mayor of the Village of Clyde.
“We are so pleased to receive this designation to promote our area, especially during the bicentennial celebration of the building of the Erie Canal. This will be an exciting project that will unite the Cayuga County Canal Communities of Montezuma, Port Byron, and Weedsport in enhancing and highlighting our historical sites and amenities for bikers and hikers traveling along the Empire State Trail,” said Darrin Rooker, Old Erie Canal Heritage Park at Port Byron.
“The Town of Brutus is thrilled to be included as part of the Cayuga County Canal Communities celebrating the 200th Anniversary of the Erie Canal. The uniqueness of each community will definitely make a big impact to all who visit the area. Together, we can highlight the past, present, and future of the Erie Canal, and the beauty Cayuga County Canal Communities have to offer,” said James Hotaling, Town of Brutus Supervisor.
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