A New Vision for Outdoor Recreation Trails in Cattaraugus County, New York
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A New Vision for Outdoor Recreation Trails In Cattaraugus County, New York Volume 4 A Guidebook Published for Cattaraugus County’s Smart Development For Quality Communities Series Prepared For The Cattaraugus County Legislature’s Allegany State Park Perimeter Study (In Coordination with Cattaraugus County’s Planning Board, Municipalities, Allegany State Park Trails Study Group, Route 219 Development Committee, and Trail Stakeholders and Event Organizers) Prepared By Cattaraugus County Department of Economic Development, Planning and Tourism November 16, 2005 Cattaraugus County Smart Development for Quality Communities CATTARAUGUS COUNTY LEGISLATURE Gerard J. Fitzpatrick, Chairman* Jon K. Baker, Majority Leader Crystal J. Abers, Vice-Chairman* Dick L. Giardini, Jr., Minority Leader David J. Anastasia Michael F. McLaughlin James L. Boser Thomas M. Moser* Jerry Burrell* Michael T. O’Brien Elliott J. Ellis, Jr. Paul J. Schafer E. James Ellis* William E. Sprague* Gary M. Felton Carmen A. Vecchiarella Charles G. Krause* Linda I. Witte Norman L. Marsh Howard D. Zollinger* Kenneth W. McClune CATTARAUGUS COUNTY PLANNING BOARD William Sprague, Chairman* Ann Padlo, Secretary Paul Mager, Vice Chairman* Charles Couture, Assistant Secretary Tina Abrams Robert Keis Jack Berger David McCoy Kameron Brooks* James Rich Florence Fuller David Rivet Richard Fuller CATTARAUGUS COUNTY DEPARTMENT OF ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, PLANNING AND TOURISM Thomas M. Livak, Director* Linda Exford, Senior Account Clerk Typist Terry H. Martin, Chief Planner** David P. Paoletta, Senior Planner*** Paul R. Bishop, Planner*** Deborah G. Maroney, Development Specialist Margaret E. Puszcz, Stenographic Secretary*** Debra Opferbeck, Tourism Specialist Becky Smith, Tourism Assistant*** Joseph Williams, Industrial Program Specialist*** Jeremy Knab, Web Technician Jackie Norton, Business & Operations Manager Laurie Andrews, Business Counselor Scott Miller, Business Counselor *Leadership for Allegany State Park Perimeter Study and this County Trails Initiative. **Designed the Allegany State Park Perimeter Study and the Smart Development for Quality Communities Guidebook Series, Project Manager and Editor of this Guidebook, Volume 4. ***Professional support staff to the Allegany State Park Perimeter Study/County Trails Initiative. Front Cover: Winter Fest – Allegany State Park - 2004. Photo by CCEDP&T; Trail Riders at Creek Side Roundup, Franklinville, NY. Photo by Al Gerstung; Kayaking at Onoville Marina. Photo by Debra Opferbeck; South Branch Gorge Cattaraugus Creek as seen from Deer Lick Sanctuary. Photo by Pat McGrew. A New Vision for Outdoor Recreation Trails in Cattaraugus County, New York November 16, 2005 Members, Cattaraugus County Legislature Economic Development and Planning Agencies Municipalities, Businesses and Citizens Trail Planners and Events Organizers Outdoor Enthusiasts Dear Colleagues: We are fortunate to have Allegany State Park in Cattaraugus County. The 65,000 acres inside the park present nature at its best, attracting an average of 1.8 million people every year. The perimeter zone around the park is even larger, offering beautiful, wooded hills and valleys, and a wide variety of recreational opportunities, business activities, and tourist attractions. These attractions include villages, trails, county and state forestland, the Zoar Valley Wilderness, the Allegany River, and much more. Cattaraugus County is pleased to publish this new guidebook, “A New Vision for Outdoor Recreation Trails in Cattaraugus County, New York”, as Volume 4 of its Smart Development for Quality Communities Series. This special look at trails offers new pathways into a future that celebrates our outdoor heritage. It offers many ideas that are feasible and that motivate local trails advocates. This vision for outdoor trails is within our reach. Major segments are now completed and open to the public. The next step is up to you and the many groups who develop and maintain trails. For additional information on Cattaraugus County, go to our Home Page at www.cattco.org Sincerely, Gerard J. Fitzpatrick Chairman GJF:THM:mep Enclosure Smart Development for Quality Communities PREFACE The 21st Century can be full of promise, opportunity and natural, scenic beauty if people and businesses support a public, comprehensive planning process. This can be accomplished by guiding growth with a coordinated vision of the future, and by providing technical services… Instead of a top down leadership approach that imposes its will on communities, Cattaraugus County is using a “bottom-up” planning approach for this new century. This approach is guided by a vision that was created with community participation (page 1)…. This guidebook encourages community leaders to select ideas that are appropriate to each community, and to develop an overall, coherent “vision” that is tailor made to local circumstances. An example would be a vision to develop an integrated trail network on a countywide basis. This community vision can then be adapted and incorporated into comprehensive planning as changes begin to occur at municipal levels (page 40). A Guidebook for Cattaraugus County, New York: Elements of A Countywide Vision (Volume 1, June 30, 2001), Cattaraugus County’s Smart Development for Quality Communities Series A New Vision for Outdoor Recreation Trails in Cattaraugus County, New York Smart Development for Quality Communities TABLE OF CONTENTS Chapter Page 1. Recreation Trails Have Value In Cattaraugus County, New York By Terry H. Martin A. Trails Add Value to Our Communities ----------------------------------------- 1-1 B. We Have Mixed-Use Trails in Cattaraugus County ------------------------ 1-1 C. Our Trails Attract A Variety of People ----------------------------------------- 1-8 D. The County Has A New Vision for the Future of Trails ------------------- 1-9 E. Conclusion – We Can Create A Better Future With Trails ---------------- 1-12 2. Snowmobiling Is An Exciting Winter Sport By James Toner A. We Have A Statewide Snowmobile Trail System -------------------------- 2-1 B. Snowmobile Trails Have Expanded ------------------------------------------- 2-1 C. Snowmobiling Creates Positive Economic Benefits ----------------------- 2-5 D. Snowmobile Volunteers Are Essential ---------------------------------------- 2-5 E. We Have Trails Outside of Allegany State Park ---------------------------- 2-6 F. We Have Trails Inside Allegany State Park ---------------------------------- 2-6 G. Snowmobiling Brings People Together, Outdoors ------------------------- 2-8 H. Snowmobiling Has Inherent Risks, Liability and Insurance Issues ---- 2-8 I. Future Improvements Are Expected ------------------------------------------- 2-9 3. The Story of the Allegheny River Valley Trail By Joseph Higgins A. What Is the Allegheny River Valley Trail? -------------------------------------- 3-1 B. How Was This Trail Developed? ------------------------------------------------ 3-1 C. Cost Over-Runs Were A Challenge --------------------------------------------- 3-4 D. We Had To Overcome Opposition --------------------------------------------- 3-4 E. We Found Answers To Insurance and Liability Issues -------------------- 3-5 F. Not In My Back Yard Versus Enjoying the Trails ---------------------------- 3-5 G. Successful Trails Need Maintenance ------------------------------------------ 3-6 H. Our Trail Is Successful, and We Have Plans To Improve It -------------- 3-8 4. The Pat McGee Trail – Linking Our Communities Together By Rick LeFeber A. Cattaraugus County Has A Great History With Trails ------------------------- 4-1 B. Rails-to-Trails – Reuse of A Community Asset -------------------------------- 4-1 C. The Pat McGee Trail – A Process for Community Success ---------------- 4-3 D. Arranging Funding – A Most Important Step In The Success Process -- 4-4 E. Volunteers Are American Heroes – “Community Champions” ------------- 4-5 F. Mission Accomplished – The Pat McGee Trail --------------------------------- 4-6 G. What Does The Pat McGee Trail Look Like Today? ------------------------- 4-7 A New Vision for Outdoor Recreation Trails in Cattaraugus County, New York i Smart Development for Quality Communities CHAPTERS – Continued Page 5. Gowanda – A Valley Paradise for Trails and Outdoor Recreation By Carol Sheibley A. Gowanda’s Natural Setting ---------------------------------------------------------- 5-1 B. Gowanda’s History -------------------------------------------------------------------- 5-1 C. A Starting Point for An Outdoor Recreation Future -------------------------- 5-3 D. The Village of Gowanda Is A Staging Area for Outdoor Recreation ----- 5-4 E. The “Great Race” – A New Proposal -------------------------------------------- 5-6 6. New Trails Are Being Created at Pine Hill in South Valley By Veronica Weber A. A Wilderness Setting for Equestrian Trails ----------------------------------- 6-1 B. Historical Background ------------------------------------------------------------- 6-1 C. What Is the Pine Hill / South Valley Trail? ----------------------------------- 6-4 D. We Have A Three Phase Plan -------------------------------------------------- 6-4 E. Our Trail Is Open to the Public -------------------------------------------------- 6-6 F. Trail Riding Is Growing In Popularity ------------------------------------------- 6-7 G. Volunteers Are Creating This New Trail -------------------------------------- 6-7 H. Conclusion --------------------------------------------------------------------------- 6-8 7. Parks & Trails New