Creating and protecting parks and trails for generations to come

2015 Annual Report BOARD OF DIRECTORS Judith C. Mower, Chair David Bronston, Vice Chair A. Joseph Scott III, Vice Chair John G. Hunter, Secretary Edward Doherty, Treasurer Edward Bergstraesser B. Deborah Cohen James C. Dawson Veronica Fitzgerald Robert Geraci Charles A. Goldberger Kristen Heath Alex Jarman Robert J. Kafin Seymour H. Knox IV Kevin M. Lanahan George Lence Richard P. Morse Richard Remmer Your support helps ensure that all New Yorkers have beautiful, safe places to play, exercise, and enjoy the Alex T. Rogers wonders of nature close to home. David F. Shaffer Susan Stashower Michael Tannen Megan E. Toohey Dear Friends of ’s Parks and Trails, Alan Vincent Anastasia Wincorn We can’t thank you enough for supporting New York’s parks and trails in 2015 . In ADVISORY COUNCIL communities across the state, thousands of people are enjoying the parks and trails you’ve helped protect and improve. Children are spending valuable time exploring and Edward A. Ames Kent L. Barwick playing outside. People are stepping away from a fast-paced world to take a walk or go Anne Perkins Cabot for a bike ride. Families are looking forward to camping trips and vacations at the Joan K. Davidson beach. We hope that you feel proud knowing that your support for our work has added Douglas Durst so much to the quality of life for all New Yorkers. John Hanna, Jr. th Barnabas McHenry PTNY celebrated its 30 anniversary in 2015 and it was a year marked with success. Lynden B. Miller With your help, we continued to push for investment in our state parks and our efforts Fred Osborn were rewarded. Happily, this year’s state budget keeps up the momentum in restoring Larry Rockefeller New York’s iconic system with a $90 million capital investment, continuing Anne Sidamon-Eristoff the Governor’s multi-year commitment of $900 million for parks through 2020. Diana Taylor STAFF The historic $300 million Environmental Protection Fund (EPF) secures New York’s parks and conservation legacy for future generations. And the $500,000 EPF Robin Dropkin, Executive Director appropriation for the Park and Trail Partnership Program, which we fought to Alison Baxter, Arthur Savage Intern establish for a decade , will fund a second year of capacity-building Laura DiBetta, Director, Parks Program & Government Relations grants for Friends groups that promote and support the State Jonathan Duda, Parks system. Administrative/Communication Coordinator Your support has enabled us to offer assistance and support to Meegan Finnegan, Director of communities and grassroots organizations across the state as they Development work to enhance and protect their parks and trails. It has also Greg Francese, Project Coordinator allowed us to continue to promote our beloved outdoor spaces Jackie Gonzales, Program Coordinator though events like our Cycle the Erie Canal ride. And together, Frances Gotcsik, Senior Consultant Robin Dropkin Executive Director Margaret McGivern, Director of through events such as I Love My Park Day and Canal Clean Administrative Services Sweep , you have helped inspire thousands of New Yorkers to Jamie Meerdink, Project Director volunteer their time and effort to care for our parks and trails. All in all, we have a lot to be grateful for and much to inspire our Parks & Trails New York efforts in the coming year. Most of all, we are thankful for you and 29 Elk Street, Albany NY 12207 for our wonderful community of supporters! (518) 434-1583 (P) (518) 427-0067 (F) www.ptny.org Judith C. Mower Chair of the Board Annual Report 2015 Leading the Effort to Put Parks and Trails Front and Center in New York

PT NY is your voice in Albany and throughout the state for With your help, we continued to push for investment in our New York’s parks and trails. We play an active role in the state parks and our efforts were rewarded. This year’s state annual state budget process, advocating for park- and trail- budget keeps up the momentum in restoring New York’s related legislation. Our annual Advocacy Agenda lays out our iconic state park system with a $90 million capital investment, priority issues and legislation and serves as a basis for continuing the Governor’s commitment to invest $900 million testimony at hearings, meetings with lawmakers and annual for parks through 2020. advocacy days, as well as letters in support of or opposition The record $300 million Environmental Protection Fund to projects and legislation. In all our advocacy efforts, we (EPF) secures New York’s parks and conservation legacy for strive to provide park and trail groups with the tools and future generations and includes a $500,000 appropriation for information they need when it matters most. our new Park and Trail Partnership Program . Bicycling and Walking Advocacy Picks Up Momentum

Speaking up for the rights and safety of pedestrians and cyclists is one of our top priorities.

PTNY is well known for its work expanding and improving In 2013, PTNY joined with other bicycle-pedestrian trails across the state to provide healthy recreation advocates to form New Yorkers for Active Transportation opportunities. Now we are using that expertise to also (NY4AT). The coalition’s goal is to secure dedicated funding advocate on behalf of the growing number of bicyclists and for non-motorized transportation so that the Complete pedestrians who use trails, bike lanes and sidewalks for Street’s law can be fully implemented. everyday transportation. This year, we came one step closer to securing that funding. New York passed a Complete Streets law in 2011, which Thanks to our legislative champions on this issue, we were requires state, county, and local transportation agencies to successful in getting $20 million for dedicated bike and consider roadway design features such as trails, bike lanes, pedestrian funding included in the Assembly budget for the and sidewalks that increase the safety of pedestrians, first time—a giant leap forward. Although it was not bicyclists, and motorists. Unfortunately, reduced state and included in the final budget, this achievement is significant federal funding has greatly limited the ability of and has energized us to fight for more and safer biking and communities to build this infrastructure and demand for walking infrastructure in the next budget. these facilities is great.

To donate or join visit www.ptny.org 1 Friends of Gantry Plaza Roll Leveraging the Power out the Welcome Mat and of Grassroots Groups Promote Park Stewardship Providing Gantry Plaza State Park is a 12-acre riverside oasis in assistance and that boasts spectacular views of the midtown support to skyline, including the Empire State Building communities and and the United Nations. Over the last few years the Park’s park and trail neighborhood has expanded greatly and the Friends of grassroots groups is Gantry Plaza see reaching these new residents as central to at the core of the future of the Friends and the park itself. A new PTNY’s work. 900-unit affordable housing complex, whose tenants are Whether through just beginning to move in, is providing the Friends a landmark reports wonderful opportunity to promote the park and engage or communications new volunteers and supporters. with our Rose Harvey, NYS Parks Commissioner, and Lucy experienced staff, we Waletzky, Chair of the State Council for Parks joined The Friends successfully applied to the Park and Trail PTNY Executive Director Robin Dropkin to announce the Partnership Program with plans to improve the park by are the go-to grant awards for the Parks and Trail Partnership replacing damaged Adirondack chairs, tree grates and organization for Program. Pictured are representatives from Friends of broken light fixtures and to promote the park to the park and trail the Rockefeller State Park Preserve, Friends of the Old , and . neighborhood through an outreach campaign. The organizations, campaign will welcome new residents to the park and providing important resources and sharing our extensive promote volunteer opportunities beginning with I Love network of contacts. My Park Day and continuing with regular clean-up events We’ve long believed in the importance and value of Friends throughout the year. groups, which are usually comprised of a relatively small number of dedicated individuals – most often all volunteers – who accomplish Herculean tasks. They fundraise, develop trails, attend community meetings, staff nature centers and museums, plant flowers, and lead tours of school groups…all the while spreading the word that New York’s parks and trails are truly something special. Launched in 2015, our new Park and Trail Partnership Program , administered in collaboration with the NYS Office of ’’ Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation, is designed to unlock the potential of Friends groups and enable them to accomplish great things for the parks, trails and state historic sites they support. In the first round of the grants program, more than one third of all eligible Friends groups applied. We were pleased to award $450,000 to 20 grant recipients in the spring of 2016. The breadth and variety of the funded projects is truly inspiring, from developing new interpretive trails and designing and equipping a visitor center, to creating a plan to repurpose a hay barn so that it can become a performance venue to bring in new revenue for the park. A full list of the is going through major changes with the large influx of new residents and construction, projects that were funded through the Park and Trail much of it on the perimeter of Gantry Plaza State Partnership Program can be found on our website at Park. This grant will allow us to educate new www.ptny.org . ‘ residents about our State Park, make some badly ‘ needed repairs and keep Gantry Plaza State Park a Given the demand for the program, we are thrilled to initiate a jewel of a park on the in . second round of funding for the Park and Trail Partnership – Rob Basch, President of Friends of Gantry Plaza State Park, Program and look forward to helping more Friends groups a recipient of a Park and Trail Partnership Program grant realize their goals.

Annual Report 2015 2 Promoting the Enjoyment and Care of Our Parks and Trails

New York’s parks and trails are second to none and we want Each July hundreds of cyclists of all ages, from across the everyone to know it! Our Cycling the Erie Canal and Cycling country and the world, join us on our eight-day Cycle the Erie the Hudson Valley guidebooks, Cycle the Erie Canal website, Canal annual tour to enjoy historic villages, beautiful scenery, and online TrailFinder map provide ways to plan a fun and and first-class cycling on this fully-supported trip. PTNY also enjoyable outing whether you’re cycling, hiking or just organizes events like I Love My Park Day and Canal Clean enjoying nature. Sweep , which bring thousands of volunteers together to enhance and beautify our parks and trails. I Love My Park Day Gets Bigger and Sparks New Partnerships New Yorkers sure do love their parks! 2016 marks the 5 th to launch a new invasive vine-removal project. Since then, the anniversary of I Love My Park Day , and it just keeps getting Friends have made numerous new connections with other bigger and better. The event’s been a tremendous success and organizations, received support from local municipalities, and each year the number of participating parks grows, as does partnered with a local business which donated employee time the number of volunteers, and of course, the tasks those and machinery to the event. volunteers accomplish to improve On the statewide level, New Yorkers Volunteer—a the parks we all treasure. program supported by the NYS Commission on As it’s grown, I Love My Park National and Community Service—joined the I Day has inspired creative local Love My Park Day effort as a Premier State and statewide partnerships. At Partner in 2013 to help recruit volunteers, in promote the initiative and engage AmeriCorps Saratoga County, for example, members to support projects across the state. This park staff and the Friends of year, the Excelsior Conservation Moreau used a grant from the Corps, a new AmeriCorps Southern Adirondack environmental education and Chapter to pay for lumber, as stewardship program for 18- to well as stain and brushes donated 25-year-olds, will work on I Love by a local paint store, to build a My Park Day projects as part of waterfowl observation blind. it’s hands-on learning experience. Friends of the Old Croton Aqueduct and park Corporate partners like AT&T, staff decided to use the first I Love My Park Day American Express, Con Edison, Brookfield, and Harney & Sons Fine Teas have been invaluable in providing resources to promote the event and engage volunteers and encouraging Nearly 7,500 volunteers of teams of employee volunteers to give back. every age, background, and In 2016, we added new projects at parks in the region of the Catskills and the Adirondacks and were exited to state turned out include several national parks in celebration of the to care for their National Park Service’s centennial. As I Love My parks on the 5th annual I Love My Park Day grows, so too do opportunities for New Park Day Yorkers to give back, strengthen bonds, build memories, and instill a sense of stewardship in the next generation.

To donate or join visit www.ptny.org 3 Ways to Support New York’s Parks and Trails Visit www.ptny.org to learn more

• Become a member or make a donation online, by phone or mail • Get involved – Join us for I Love My Park Day, Canal Clean Sweep, and Park and Trail Advocacy Days, or join a Friends group and help make your local park or trail greener • Double your impact – Does your employer match charitable donations? If so, send us their matching gift form and we’ll take care of the rest! • Give at the office – Set up a convenient payroll deduction through Earth Share and the Combined Federal Campaign • Make a gift of stock – Securely transfer stock directly from your brokerage account • Leave a legacy – Consider leaving a legacy of parks and trails by including

Future generations will have you Parks & Trails New York in your estate to thank for preserving our state’s planning legacy of parks and trails.

We are accountable to you! Thanks to the generosity of our members and donors, in 2015 PTNY was able to do even more to protect, sustain and promote New York’s green network of parks and trails. Thank you! Financial Statement Statement of Activities for the year ended June 30, 2015 Management & General 9% Support and Revenue Expenses (continued) Programs 85% Individual contributions $ 234,904 Supporting services Grants 267,519 Management and general $ 105,179 Fundraising Corporate contributions 224,000 Fundraising 70,121 Special events 36,736 6% Program revenue 513,456 Total supporting services $ 175,300 Other 4,711 Total expenses $ 1,215,303 Total support and revenue $ 1,281,326 Net Assets Expenses Change in net 66,023 Program services Net, beginning 1,047,140 Conservation $ 782,895 Net, end of year $ 1,113,163 Public education 175,300 Membership 81,808 Total program services $ 1,040,003 A copy of our most recent audited financial statement is available online at www.ptny.org or upon request to Parks & Trails New York Source: PTNY FY15 Audited Financial Statements

Annual Report 2015 4 Parks & Trails New York is deeply grateful to the Thank You Members and Donors members and donors whose Gifts of $100 or more gifts of $1 to $99 also made our work possible.

GEORGE W. PERKINS CIRCLE Barbara Rall Lowrey Jane Downer Lars & Marit Kulleseid James H. Sarvay Bike New York $5,000+ Don Mace Dana C. Drake Steven & Donna Kushner Raymond N. Satter Boralex Anonymous Donor Catherine McVay Hughes Margaret Drobnik Mike Kutter Louise Schachter Brookfield Renewable EarthShare Donors Charles Miers John L. Dugan Marc & Amy Lanciault Stephen F. Schlett Energy Group Ernest E. Keet David & Lori Moore Edward Duncanson Kalista Lehrer Carol Schmelz Cadell House Bed & Breakfast Dennis Mehiel James Morasco Daniel Dunn Paul N. Leitner Randolph Schmitt Capital District Physicians’ Merryl H. Tisch Daryl Muncus Joseph Durkin Nadine Lemmon Martha Schroeder Health Plan, Inc. Lucy R. Waletzky Michael Murphy Colleen Dwyer-Bonura Mr. & Mrs. Edwin Deane Michael & Marilyn Schwartz Classic Adventure & Caroline Carney Brian Dykeman Leonard David Schwartz Comfy Campers STEWARDS Jamie Natti Fred & Barbara Eames J. Scott Lewendon George & Mary Segedi Consolidated Edison Company $1,000-4,999 Steven Pruschki Richard & Hildegard Edling Charlene Precker Liblit Neil & Linda Shapiro of NY Robert Arnow Stuart Rachlin Jean & Peter Esser Rose Linscott Donald E. Sharp Corning Incorporated Anne Boehm John Reschovsky Charlotte Fahn David & Nancy Lippert Rita Shawn CSEA, Inc. Deborah Cohen Karina R. Ricker Lonnie Roth Fairchild Ola Allison List Robert Sheridan Emma Willard School & Edgar Masters Daniel Riesel Mary Ann Fastook Janet Little Fumiko Shido Erie Canalway National Heritage James C. Dawson Nancy Sall Janet Felleman William Long Barbara Shuck Corridor Douglas Durst Margaret F. Schuhle Katherine Flack Igor Lovrincevic Karen Shuler Fire Island Wilderness Veronica Fitzgerald Susan B. Sorotsky Curtis Fleck Michael & Theresa Malone Monte Silberger Committee Charles Goldberger Jeff Swain & Nancy Anderson Daniel Forger Harry H. Manko Sandra Skiff Friends of Connetquot Mr. & Mrs. Kirk P. Gregg Stephen Tabb Andrew Francis Barbara & Chuck Manning James M. Skvorak Friends of Barry Hartglass Paul & Mary Beth Terry Tom Frantz Shelia Martin Michael Smith Friends of the Genesee Valley Thomas J. Hubbard William Thompson James & Michelle Fraser Maureen W. McCarthy Peter F. Smith Greenway John Hunter Megan Toohey Fred & Pam Freed Henry A. McCartney Maida Snapper GE Foundation Robert Kafin Stephanie H. Wacholder Russell Fricke Scott McClintock John & Mary Alice Spencer Genesee River Wilds Candace & John Marsellus Jackie Ward Paul Gazzerro Richard McCluskey Aaron & Martha Spital Goldman, Sachs & Co. Ronay & Richard Menschel Maggie Ward Jane Geisler James McCrea Arlene Stang Harney & Sons Fine Teas Richard Morse Kate Weissmann Edgar Gentry Mark McDonald Rowland & Carla Stebbins IBM Foundation Edward Miller Mark Wilson & Denise Rempe Henry Gerstenblitt Anthony McGinty William & Susan Steinhaus Lockport Lock & Judith C. Mower Penelope P. Wilson Adam Geuss Vincent McGinty Georgia Stevens Erie Canal Cruises Carol Norr Edward Wojtaszek Ellen Gibson Barnabas McHenry Mary Jane Storrier Lyons Main St. Program Richard Remmer Max & Elisabeth Gitter Thomas McKelvey Charles O. Svenson M&T Bank Larry Rockefeller FRIENDS Jalal Gohari Virginia McMath Robert W. Tafel Mid-Lakes Navigation A. Joseph Scott III $100-249 Alain Golay Ann Meaney Al & Stephanie Tarkington Municipal Art Society David F. Shaffer Cy A. Adler Joy Goodman James Meinhold Harold & Pamela Tarry Open Space Institute Michael Tannen Fred Agre William Goodwin Peter & Irina Micheletti Justin Taylor Palmyra Inn Louis Alexander Marilyn Goulty Lucinda Miller Mr. & Mrs. Arnold Tepfer Pfizer Foundation PROTECTORS Raymond E. Andrews Kate Graham Paula L. Miller Tupper Thomas Price Chopper $500-999 Donald & Ashmeeda Aridas Dan Gray Vincent J. Mirrione, Jr. Fred & Virginia Thompson Shell Oil Company Anonymous Donor Linda Austin Misa Grikschat John & Marianne Mizel Katharine L. Tomasi Statue Cruises Jack Bertsch Robert & Susan Baker Robert Grimm William Moss Jim Trombino Storm King Art Center Elizabeth Brody Beth Barth Molly Gurney Joseph Mulcahy Donna Twardowski The Adirondack Council Eleanor F. Brown Kent L. Barwick David Haase & Esther Schwalb Betty Musser Cinda Voegtli The Beeches of Rome Edward Doherty Larry Bates Brian Hagenbuch Todd Natti John Voulgaris & Andrea Toyota Joe Golden David Bean & Joan Mikalson Bill Nechamen Jurgrau The Walbridge Fund, Ltd. Thomas & Grace Holmes Karl Beard Howard B. Halstead Sigrin Newell Carol Waaser Wegmans Food Markets, Inc. Keith & Kathy Hynes David Bechtle & Melissa A. Engler Martin & Mildred Newshan Charles J. Wachsmuth Steven Keith JoAnn Beck Teresa Hargrave Gregory F. Nye Mary Walczykowski GOVERNMENT Shoshana Keller Dirk Becker Dr. & Mrs. Donald P. Harrington James Pandise Nancy A. Ward Albany County Convention & Deborah Reichler Peter Best Marjorie & Gurnee Hart George Parker Larry & Shirley Warren & Visitors Bureau Harvey & Debbie Kliman Rose Bethe William Hartmann Polly Passonneau, Esq. John P. Waugh Cayuga County Convention Thomas Lyons Rajaram Bhat Duncan Hay David & Michelle Pastel Philip Weinberg & Visitors Bureau Susan McCuen Francis & Annette Birdsall Martin Helmer & Patricia Liddle James E. Patton Sue Wendelgass Emma Willard School Constance M. Neel Susan Bittker Michael R. Herzog James Peacock Charles Whitfield Empire State Development Heidi Nitze Andrew M. Blum Diane I. Hillmann Nancy Peterson & Ed Kautz Ronald Wille Fulton-Montgomery Regional Gail S. Port, Esq. Cynthia Boardman Dr. & Mrs. Peter Huntington, Scott Petronio Rebecca Williams Chamber of Commerce Harriet Savage Sharon Bogin M.D. Melissa Pike Mark Winsberg & Diane S. Madison County Tourism Steven Schmidt Susan & Kerry Borchardt Stephen Iachetta Carol Poll Morse Niagara Tourism and Anne E. Schweighardt Richard & Karen Botjer Earl Ingersoll Judith G. Pott Barbara J. Wood Convention Corp. Richard Steamer, Basin Trading Robert Boylan Tom & Bonnie Jackson Louise E. Potter David & Julie Woods NPS Niagara Falls National Co. / Pittsford Victor LLC Amy Brelia Harold S. Jacobowitz Sarah Poulette Ione Worth Heritage Area Alan Vincent Ann & Gary Brouse Ellen James Carol & Timothy Prout Michael Yates NYS Canal Corporation/NYS Ted & Betsy Wheeler Cristin Brown Jeffrey Janowsky & Joan Tardif Jacqueline Prusak James Yeara Thruway Authority Phil White Deirdre Brown Jocelyn R. Jerry Joan Ragland Alfred L. Yergey NYS Office of National & Ross Brown Raymond & Lola Johnson Barry Ramage Clive Zent Community Service SUPPORTERS Johanna M. Bull Lois Joyce Barbara Rauscher Oneida County Tourism $250-499 Maggie & Jim Burke Barbara & Matthew Kabrisky Elizabeth Regan CORPORATE, FOUNDATION & Orange County Tourism Klaus Albert Michael Buskus John Kapral Jill Reid ORGANIZATIONAL SUPPORT Orleans County Tourism Carly Annable and Family John Butler Patricia H. Keesee Kevin Reiner Adams Basin Inn Schenectady County Paul F. Balser Sally T. Butler Elizabeth & John Kennedy Stephen J. Renison America’s Best Value Inn Chamber of Commerce Jeannette G. Bamford John H. Cawley Andy & Altha Kerl Robert & Helen Ringlee American Conservation Seneca County Tourism Kenneth Bond Clara Cazzulino Andrew Kerl Susan A. Rivers Association Syracuse Events Sheryl Bringman Gary Cherson Paul Kerl Charles Rogers American Express Corporation Town of Gorham Melinda Broman Mark Chertok David Kibbe Richard & Gay Rogers American Express Foundation Town of Ithaca David Bronston Danielle B. Clair Thomas Killeen Susan M. Ronsvalle AT&T Visit Rochester Albert K. Butzel William & Florence Jane Coffey John Kilroy & Christine Gervasi Paul A. Rosenberg Barton & Loguidice, Engineers, Wayne County Tourism Joan K. Davidson Janice M. Coleman Janice M. Klodowski Janet C. Ross Landscape Architects, William & Catherine Davies Audrey Cooper Carl W. Kohls Jerry Ross Planners IN MEMORY OF Charles E. Dorkey Raymond & Claire Costantino Deborah Koop Karen Ross Bellinger Rose Bed & Breakfast THOMAS A. BOEHM Lloyd Dropkin, M.D. John Cowan Sarah E. Kuehl Elizabeth Russell Better World Club Anne Boehm Randall Fleischer Daniel S. Crain Erik Kulleseid David C. Saalfrank, Sr. Bike Barn Bud & Nancy J. Gearhart Elinor Cramer Sibyl R. Golden George W. Curry James A. Goodwin Alice W. Damp Susan Gordon Ryan Walter & Jane Daniels PTNY thanks the thousands of volunteers who help build, maintain and enhance our state parks and trails, Lorraine J. Gudas William & Elaine Dearcop serve as trail ambassadors, and help our bicycle tour participants have a safe and happy journey on the Erie Walter F. Harrison III Trex Decking Canalway Trail. Thanks for all you do! Kristen Heath Bob & Beth Delaney Cecilia Jam Lady William DeWitt Sara A. Kelsey Lana Digangi Every effort has been made to provide an accurate accounting of PTNY supporters. Please contact us at Keith & Judy Kroon Beverly Dolly [email protected] about any corrections. To donate or join visit www.ptny.org NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATION U.S. POSTAGE PAID Permit No. 118 Albany, NY

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Closing in on Closing the Gaps Rich with history, the Erie Canal trail were completed, leaving 72 was a marvel of modern miles to go! Our goal is to see that engineering that brought these remaining miles are either opportunity and prosperity to completed or planned by the 2017 communities from Albany to bicentennial celebration of the Buffalo when it opened almost start of Erie Canal construction. two centuries ago. Today, it The Erie Canalway End-to-Ender continues to provide important With only 72 miles to go, advocates are joining together to help Close the Gaps in the Erie Canalway Trail Program continues to inspire economic, public health, bicyclists and even some intrepid tourism, and quality of life benefits to more than 3.7 million walkers intent on adding their names to the growing list of New Yorkers living along it. Steadily and surely, we are people who’ve completed all 360 miles of the trail between working on Closing the Gaps to make the Erie Canalway Trail Buffalo and Albany. In 2015, 589 made the journey. the longest continuous statewide multi-use trail in the nation Congratulations End-to-Enders! as well as promote it as a world-class destination for cyclists and other outdoor enthusiasts. Each year, PTNY partners with the NYS Canal Corporation and communities along the Erie Canal to organize Canal Since the Closing the Gaps campaign was launched in 2010 Clean Sweep . The event brings thousands of volunteers of all by PTNY and the Canalway Trails Association New York ages together to participate in clean-up events in celebration of (CTANY), in conjunction with Senator Kirsten Gillibrand, Earth Week. Volunteers pitch it to remove and recycle trash, interest in completing the Erie Canalway Trail among citizens, build trails, weed, and cut brush in preparation for the community leaders, and local, state, and federal government upcoming canal navigation and tourism season. Since its start officials has continued to grow. In 2015, 7 more miles of the in 2005, the event has grown from 30 events to more than 100!

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