Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation

June 06, 2008

Contact:
Eileen Larrabee
Dan Keefe
518.486.1868

New York State Recognize Saturday, June 7 as National Trails Day

$11.3 million in trail improvements underway

New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation Commissioner Carol Ash today marked National Trails Day by encouraging all New Yorkers to venture out and experience the vast network of trails across the state this summer.

According to Ash, the New York State Parks system offers an extensive system of trails across the state, and the trails network will get ever better as a result of the recently enacted state budget which makes the single largest capital investment in the history of the state park system, including $11.3 million for trail projects.

"National Trails Day is a great opportunity for New Yorkers to discover the beautiful landscape in their own backyards. State parks have an exceptional network of trails, that offer countless opportunities for people to walk, jog, bike or horseback ride," said Ash.

Trail projects moving forward under the new $132 million state parks revitalization plan include:

• Long Island region - $665,640 to expand the Heckscher State Park bike path.
• Niagara region - $1.1 million to begin restoration of the Rim Trail and Niagara Gorge Trail at Whirlpool State Park.
• Saratoga/Capital Region - $400,000 for the replacement of the Metawee River Bridge which is part of the Washington County Trailway.
• Taconic Region - $75,000 to construct a new parking lot, entrance area, and trail improvements on Huntington's parcel at Mills-Norrie State Park, and $8 million for the Walkway Over The Hudson project in Poughkeepsie, converting a railroad bridge to a linear park.
• Finger Lakes region - $900,000 to extend and provide restrooms on the Catherine Valley rail trail and $200,000 to construct a lakefront trail at Seneca Lake State Park.

National Trails Day began in 1993 to bring awareness to trails and recognize all the individuals who work hard to make the parks successful. In addition to these capital improvements, many New York State parks are hosting Trails Day events including hikes, trail clean up, and maintenance projects.

For more information on any of the Trails Day events or about New York State Parks, please call (518) 474-0456 or visit www.nysparks.com.