Ra I-to-Trail Testimonials supporting the proposed .dirondack

A major new tourist destination that will provid economic, recreational and health ben : fits for Adirondack communities. ' \

Saranac Lake #~··'·••11 ..... Lake ...... ~ . Placid Sabattis~l Tupper Lake

~ ~ ~ f Blue Mt. Lake ~ ~ .

ADIRONDACK RAIL TRAIL

OSED: A year-round, multi-use recreation trail nding 90 miles through the Adirondack Park.

•••••• Rail Trail

0 Adirondack Rail Trail

ING SOON: This 34-mile section will connect L ke Placid, Saranac Lake and Tupper Lake~ Table of Contents

He. tage Rail Trail, PA 3 Leh gh Gorge Rail Trail, PA 4 lacoochee State Trail, FL 5 p Rabbit Trail, SC (I) 6 p Rabbit Trail, SC (II) 7 ottuck Rail Trail, MA 8 Mis isquoi Valley Rail trail, VT 9 atha Bike Trail, ID 10 d Line Rail Trail, VT 11 nia Creeper Trail, VA (I) 12 Virg nia Creeper Trail, VA (II) 13 Sa amish River Trail, WA 14 -Sparta Trail, WI 15 Roo River Trail, MN 16 Erie Canalway Trail, NY 17 Shi ing Sea Bikeway, MA 18 Cap Cod Rail Trail, MA 19 Pine Creek Rail Trail, PA 20 Torr y C. Brown Rail Trail, MD 21 Trail, VA 22 P'tit Train du Nord Trail, Que. 23 Wha a rail trail means to Tri-Lakes 24

eprinted from the Adirondack Daily Enterprise and resented by Adirondack Recreational Trail Advocates, a nonprofit, 501(c)(3) organization.

September 15, 2015 3 eritage Rail Trail, PA (21.5 mi.)

trails enhance quality of life

Guest ByG York County ail Trail Authority

n.anticipatio that plans may soon be announce by New York state regarding th best use of the 90- I mile rail co ·dor between Lake Placid and Old rge, I'd like to com­ - ment on a rail-to trail conversion that I've been involv d with since 1997. The Heritage ail Trail County Park '~l is a 21.5-mile, !ti-use rail trail that is one of the mo popular recreational J amenities in Pen sylvania's York County. It exten from the city of York's historic d trict to the -M land state line (the historic Mason- on Line), where it makes a seamles connection to Maryland's Torr C. Brown Trail and continues for ano er 21 miles. The southern h If of the Heritage Rail Trail passes hrough rural farm­ land and small to ns. The northern section winds thr ugh the picturesque valley of Codoru Creek, with long sections of uninte upted woodland . interspersed with arm fields. · The most recen user survey was done three years o. Analysis of the The Heritage Rail.Trail in Pennsylvania ls wheelchair friendly. data, accumulate from the infrared (Photo provided by the York County Rail Trail Authority) counters and com leted surveys, indi­ cates an estimate 2Sl,145 annual survey respondents, usage of our trail improve their health and fitness. visits to the trail, esulting in a total is a regular occurrence. More than 3 8 Also noteworthy from a cultural economic impact n 2012 of over $4.4 percent of respondents use. the trail perspective: Two train stations have million into the lo al economy. several times each week. Some 3 7 been repurposed to commemorate his­ This rail trail h brought a resur­ percent of all thf'. trail users are over toric events, including a stop-over by gence of new busi ess opportunities to the age of 35, with the most represent­ President Lincoln at Hanover Junction the small towns al ng its route. In ed age groups being 46-55 (25 per­ on his way to deliver the Gettysburg New Freedom, po ulation a little over cent) and 56-65 (32 percent). Address. The Hanover Junction station 4,000, there are t ee new businesses Children under the age of 15 account has been fully restored to its original serving trail users - a bike shop, for 21 percent of users. (This age pro­ 1860s appearance, with a history sports bar and ice ream shop - all file is typical of other rail trails across museum on the first floor. The New along one street i the first block the country.) Freedom Station was restored to its south of the trail. n a recent Saturday As elsewhere, bicycling is the pre­ early Pennsylvania Railroad days and in May, the bike r cks at the sports bar dominant form of recreation on the now contains a museum on railroad and ice cream sho were full, and the Heritage Rail Trail (55 percent). history along with a cafe. Both sta­ bike shop had a st ady flow of cus­ However, the use of the trail for walk­ tions are staffed by Friends of the tomers. The next s all settlement up ing/ increased to 25 percent, Heritage Rail Trail Corridor. the line, fittingly ed Railroad, ·has and running/jogging nearly doubled to In all, the Heritage Rail Trail a bed and breakfas right next to the 10 percent since the last survey. When County Park features seven railroad trail, and a crab sh ck near the trail asked to report on any ancillary activi­ structures that are listed on National added extensive o tdoor seating once ties while on the trail, 39 percent of Register of Historic Places. the rail trail was o en. Glen Rock, trail users reported enjoying bird-and­ If asked to identify the single great­ another small to along the line, held other-wildlife watching, while 19 per­ est benefit conferred by our rail trail, I an Arts and Brew estival along the cent visited museums at the train sta­ think it can be reduced to eight words: trail that attracted undreds just this tions and appreciated the interpretive "It is the happiest place in York past weekend. signs along the trail. County." The majority of ail users reside in It should also be noted that the York County ( 6 8 rcent), but the trail Heritage Rail Trail appeals to an Gwen Loose is executive director of also attracted man out-of-county visi­ increasing number of users who regu­ the York County Rail Trail Authority tors. Not surprisin y, for many of the larly visit the trail to maintain and based in Seven Valleys, Pennsylvania. igh Gorge Rail Trail, PA (25 mi.) L ssons from the Lehigh Gorge Cyclists stop atthe Tannery Depot General Store in the village of Lehigh Tannery, just across the by bridge from a rail trail in the .

_...-,,,.,'

Guest ommentary By B b Thomas

've enjoye bicycling and back­ packing in y native Pennsylvan a since I was a Boy I Scout in th 1950s and early 1960s~ In the l te 1970s I started to hear stories of spectacular 25-mile­ long gorge in t e Pocono Mountains where the Lehi h River dropped over 700 feet in its urse from the old mining town of White Haven l.n Luzerne Count down to the county seat of Carbon ounty at Jim Thorpe. But the news ame with a warning: In spite of its u broken forest, beauti­ ful waterfalls a d whitewater, numer­ ous evocative g ost towns and impressive, ab doned stone works, .1_1_ _ T 1 • 1 ,-, Wit lacoochee State Trail (46 mi.J

Just south of Inverness is Florida by bike the Fort Cooper State Park, where we cut off the· To the editor: Withlacoochee Trail to ride Over the past few years, and walk on 5 miles of nature many letters have appeared in trails. Along the way we support of converting the rail learned about local wildlife \J) corridor connecting Saranac and regional history, includ­ - Lake, Lake Placid and Tupper ing the Seminole W a.rs and ::r Lake into a trail for bike rid­ Seminole culture. ' ing and other outdoor activi­ Later, some research with ties~ I'd like to add another the Florida Department of "rail trail" to that list, one .Environmental Protection which has interesting similari­ revealed that of its 39 state ties to what has been proposed parks surveyed, the for the Tri-Lakes. It's one of Withlacoochee Trail many such trails that my hus­ (described as a "linear park") band and I visited last winter. had the most visitors and It's called the greatest economic benefits. Withlacoochee State Trail and The "annual attendance" was extends 46 miles in central estimated at 405,632. The Florida from Citrus Springs in "direct economic impact" was the north to Dade City in the $30,139,500, based on an south. For much of its length, average per-person/day the trail parallels the expenditure (by non-local vis­ Withlacoochee River, a itors) of $99.91. It was esti­ favorite paddling stream. We mated that the trail supported $tayed about halfway along : .·. 422 jobs and generated over the trail in Inverness at the $2 million in state sales tax Central Motel, a pleasant, revenue. inexpensive lodging place that It's nice to think that some­ caters to bike riders like us. day soon we won't have to go We spent one day pedaling to Florida, Vermont, Maine, south on the trail and another Massachusetts, Virginia, day exploring the northern Michigan or Pennsylvania to section. The route was mostly ride our bicycles on a superb rural - through the "real rail trail. It appears that we Florida" we had been looking may soon have such a trail in for. It was a great way to be our own backyard, one we sightseeing, with friendly peo­ can enjoy on a daily basis ple and little communities during much of the year. along the way with bike · Rachel Rice shops, restaurants, etc. Saranac Lake ' wamp Rabbit Trail, SC (20 mi.)

Less ns from the Swamp Rabbit Trail or the p 30 years, a rail-to­ Guest Commentary been set up along the trail providing trail mov ment has been sweep­ historical insights into the region, ing the c untry. Abandoned or By David Banks including a history of the railroad that Fobsolete ilroad lines like the Adirondack Recreational Trail once plied this corridor. More interpre­ 34-mile travel c rridor linking Lake Advocates tive kiosks are planned, as is a 5-mile Placid, Saranac e and Tupper Lake extension of the trail. are being conve ed into recreation trails percent from the previous year. The Though no survey has yet measured that celebrate re ional history as they great majority were bicycle riders. the impact of the Swamp Rabbit Trail \,. provide health d economic benefits to Some 25 percent of visitors - account­ on local property values, Young said local communiti s. ing for 125,236 user days - were there's a lot of anecdotal evidence that Consider the ee-year-old Swamp tourists from outside the "upstate area" the trail is a big selling point for real .../,)• Rabbit Trail, w h runs 20 miles along of South Carolina who spent $6.7 mil­ estate: "Our office gets calls from peo­ the Reedy River etween Greenville lion while in Greenville County. The ple telling us they are moving here and Travelers R t in South Carolina. trail has clearly served as a catalyst for because of the trail and asking 'How I've enjoyed this trail many times while new business development. close can we get?'" visiting family li ing nearby, and I've (The survey was conducted by Julian Dianna Turner, city administrator for seen its economi benefits for those A. Reed, associate professor of health Travelers Rest, also gives the trail a communities. sciences at Furman University, and was rave review. An intriguing spect 9f this trail is its partially funded by the U.S. "We've probably quadrupled our • \I\ formal name: the Greenville Health Environmental Protection Agency and number of downtown businesses," she System Swamp abbit Trail. In 2007, the Bikes Belong Foundation.) told the Times-News, a newspaper based the Greenville h pital and health care In 2013, the mayor of Travelers Rest in Hendersonville, North Carolina. "We network made a 0-year grant of $1 (pop. 4,576), a community the size of used to have dozens of empty buildings million to help o en and market the our Tri-Lakes villages, was quoted in on Main Street. Now there are only a trail. Why? Beca se it saw the commu­ the Greenville News as follows: "The handful. Even on U.S. 25, which is our nity outreach val e of this "naming trail has been phenomenal for the whole bypass, we've seen considerable growth. opportunity." M e to the point, the county, but more so for us in Travelers I think Travelers Rest has more media Greenville Heal System recognized Rest. I can't begin to tell you how much exposure and people are more enticed to that this safe, eas , accessible trail of an economic boost it's been to this come here and make an investment would encourage enjoyable exercise - town." A 2012 Greenville News edito­ because of the trail." biking, walking, nning, etc. - and nal described the Swamp Rabbit Trail On Jan. 12, the Greenville City thus confer a maJ r public-health bene­ as "one of the most popular assets in Council voted unanimously to provide fit on surroundin communities. Greenville County, proving that when it $2.5 million for an extension of the "They realized this would help to get comes to such trails, if you build them Swamp Rabbit Trail. Bob Mihalic, gov­ people out and a out," Colin Young of they will come." ernmental affairs coordinator for the Greenville C unty Parks, Recreation Out of 5 5 parks and other public Greenville County, told Fox Carolina and Tourism De ent told recreation facilities in Greenville television news, "Where Greenville Adirondack Rec tional Trail County, "this is by far the most popu­ County owns the rail lines - we're Advocates. "The saw it as a way to lar," according to Colin Young, who always looking for ways to tum those fight obesity, dia etes, cardiovascular says it has inspired people who haven't rails into something productive for the disease, even me tal health problems." bicycled in years "to get back in the community." How has the S amp Rabbit Trail saddle now that they have a perfect fared so far? A r ort issued in place to ride bikes right here in their David Banks lives in Lake Clear and December shows hat there were own backyards." is a board member ofAdirondack 501,236 annual isits to the trail, up 20 Colin also noted that kiosks have Recreational Trail Advocates. wamp Rabbit Trail, SC (20 mi.) 7 A other rail trail success story Guest .BY Die Adirondack ecreational Trail Ad ocates

hat w could have here in . the A · ondacks and the Tri-L es area was brought W home o us when we visited South Carolina r ntly to ride our bikes on the Swamp Ra bit Trail. The Swamp Rabbit is a 20-mil -long recreation trail in a fonner railro corridor, connecting the city of Greenv· e with the small town of Travelers est on the edge of the Blue Ridge M untains. Rachel and I ch ked in at the Hampton Inn at T velers Rest, a favorite with bicyc e riders, in a room overlooking the tr . From our window we could see cycli ts passing by, and we also noticed, in the lobby and later in the breakfast room, a ber of unusually People ride bikes on the Swamp Rabbit Trail in Greenville County, :t"' tall, lean, long-leg guests. These South Carolina. folks, it turned out, were professional (Photo courtesy of Greenville County Parks, Recreation and Tourism Departm~nt) distance runners fr m Boone, North Carolina, recent co ege graduates who chatting and laughing, gung-ho cyders sponsor of this rail-to-trail conversion, were spending thr weeks ·here in train­ in colorful garb intent on a rigorous having.contributed $1 million to help jng. The Swamp R bit Trail, the per­ workout, sightseeing cyclists like our­ get it going. Why should a medical fect place to run, is what drew them to selves, dog walkers and parents jogging enterprise support such a project? One Travelers Rest. with baby strollers - all ages and sizes, reason is pretty clear - i.e., the public That first aftem n we biked on the in all stages of physical fitness, out for relations value of being identified with trail into the villag , a place the size of some fresh air and exercise. the county's most popular recreational Saranac Lake whe travelers used to Here .and there we saw signs promot­ asset. stop before continu g west across the ing a real-estate subdivision. One sign The other reason is also obvious when mountains. Like m y rural towns, said, "Like running on the Swamp you consider the health benefits of a Travelers Rest had xperienced a long Rabbit Trail? You'll love living on it!" running, walking, biking trail used regu­ economic decline, ut the town seemed This confirmed what we'd noticed else­ larly by thousands of local citizens. on the upswing. where. Because they are considered a With our national epidemic of obesity We were struck y the impact of the prime recreational amenity, these rail-to­ and its related diseases, what could be Swamp Rabbit T . We rode past busi­ trail conversions can be a big selling better for public health than encouraging nesses with names · e Swamp Rabbit point for real estate. regular exercise in a safe, peaceful, pic- Storage and Swam Rabbit Brew & Soon we. were passing by Furman turesque setting? · Taproom, with ab' e rack out frorit. In University, so we cut off to bike around A few miles on, the trail led into . fact, bike racks w everywhere. We this beautiful campus with a lake in the downtown Greenville. What a great way :::/. pedaled past the C ose Express, a middle. The name Funnan U. rang a bell to arrive in this thriving, historic city vestige of the Sw p Rabbit train that with us. In doing our pre-trip research, center! The trail threads through a gor­ once operated here, which serves as a we'd seen a study by Furman's Health geous downtown park surrounding the R refreshment parlor.. ere was the Sciences Department tracking the usage falls of the Reedy River, a waterway Whistle Stop Cafe d even a medical of the Swamp Rabbit Trail. Released in we'd been following since Travelers facility lal.Jeled T · ead Dentistry. We January, the study determined that there Rest. , stopped at an exten ·ve bike shop and were more than 500,000 visits to the As we toured around town, it outdoor outfitting s re, whose manager trail in 2014, a significant increase over appeared that the revitalization of told us that this ye he plans to expand the previous year. Greenville has been aided and abetted his bike-rental busi ess to 40 bicycles a Most users were cyclists. Some 25 by the Swamp Rabbit Trail, though day. percent of last year's visits were from many other factors are involved. At the North of Travele Rest we came to a tourists like ourselves. The other trail other end of this recreation way, howev­ sign that said, "End of the trail for now." users were residents from surrounding er, the Swamp Rabbit has played a deci­ A woman walking er dog told us of communities. The stUdy calculated that sive role in the rebirth of Travelers Rest. plans to extend the ail all the way to visitors from afar spent a total $6. 7 mil­ We have much to learn from this suc­ North Carolina. lion here last year. cess story. Next day, biking oward Greenville, Back on the trail, we continued to see we encountered the sual eclectic mix of signs with the symbol of a rabbit and the Dick Beamish lives in Saranac Lake rail trail users. Tuer were families with form!ll name, "Greenville Health System and is the founder of the Adirondack small kids with tr · · g wheels on their Swamp Rabbit Trail." Our research had Explorer magazine and a member of the bicycles, exercise ers with a seri- revealed that the hospital-medical center board of directors ofAdirondack ousness of purpose, more casual walkers for Greenville County has been a maior Recreational Trail Advocates. Mi sisquoi Valley Rail Trail, VT (21 mi.)

church overlooking the er. Red-winged blackbirds realtors. municipal park. Next day, carried on as we biked past In sum, an up-close visit on our bike ride to cattail wetlands. Bright-yel­ to our neighboring state, Richford, we lunched at the low goldfinches flitted plus exhilarating, heart­ Abbey Restaurant in about. From the woods healthy exercise suitable for Sheldon and later checked came the song of wood all ages. Isn't this what we To the edito : in at the Grey Gables thrushes, the Vermont state should be doing with the The Adir ndack Scenic Mansion B&B, listed on the bird. Watched turtle safely travel corridor in our own Railroad ha issued a report National Register of cross the trail (no cars or backyard? Isn't it high time on the bene ts of restoring Historic Places, in Richford. trucks to worry about). to create the Adirondack passenger s ice between We enjoyed a dinner of Enjoyed aroma of new­ Rail Trail connecting the Utica and L e Placid. The fresh halibut and beef au mown hay. Observed a mil­ Tri-Lakes with Beaver report, whic is all about jus, supplemented by much­ lion or so sprouts of new River, Big Moose and Old regress rath than progress, needed and well-deserved com. Crossed Missisquoi Forge? seems to exi t in a parallel draft beer, at The Crossing twice on old railroad To join us, sign up at universe wit no connection restaurant. Next day we bridges. River often in www.theArta.org. to ours. pedaled back to St. Albans, sight, sometimes wide and Dick Beamish To get a ore realistic where we'd parked next to slow, other times fast and Saranac Lake perspective, y wife and I the Athena Restaurant, white. Passed maple groves Adirondack Recreational embarked o a two-day where we. enjoyed an end­ where trees are tapped for Trail Advocates escape to V ont to ride of-joumey lunch. sap. Saw many cows. Also the 26-mile ail trail from We bicycled about four passed goats, sheep, horses St. Albans,· ear Lake hours each way each day, and one rooster. Champlain, Richford on including lots of stops to Encountered the follow­ the Canadia border. It's snack and smell the flowers. ing fellow travelers: Group A'D~. called the M ssisquoi We breathed fresh air, trav­ of pre-schoolers herded by Valley Rail rail, and it fol­ eled at a leisurely pace two adults. Jogging mother l5 Pr ll.. 'r lows the Mi sisquoi River exercising mind and body, pushing baby in stroller. most of the ay. took in the sights and Elderly cyc111rs and walkers G~.rre~t>p.t ~e We drove nd ferried smells of the countryside, out for daily exercise. over on a W dnesday after­ and chatted with fellow Retired man recovering noon, check d into a motel travelers. Herewith some from hip operation, cycling in St. Alban , had a pasta reminiscences: on level rail trail to get back dinner at Ch u Bella's During much of the first in shape for hills. We note restaurant a attended a day, Jay Peak, tile northern side trail connects with new chamber mu ic concert in a terminus of the Green housing development, no Mountains, drew ever clos- doubt big selling point for N4 rwottuck Rail Trail, MA (10 mi.)

-----!------·-·- trails boost property values ome y ars ago, I was invited to opened as a bed and breakfast two years Saran Lake to speak to public Guest Commentary later. We named it the Sugar Maple offici s and business people By Craig Della Trailside Inn. Since we see only cyclists S about tablishing a rail-with­ Penna and pedestrians going by, the house trail along th underutilized corridor doesn't shake anymore (though, for old that bisects y ur towns. I remember times' sake, we saved one of the canvas speaking bef; a sizable crowd in the and wonderful scenery. One thing I ceilings). beautiful bal m of the Hotel Saranac. haven't heard about in this discussion, I may be the first Realtor anywhere to In more re nt years, the debate has however, is the impact of the rail trail focus on houses near rail trails and simi- shifted as it ame evident that com- on residential property values. lar recreation ways. About half of my · bining a trail ith a railroad on the This is where I'd like to contribute business is in this category. As a conse­ - same one-trac corridor would be my two cents to the discussion. hi my quence, I am one of the top Realtors in , \0• impractical costly. The push now is day job, I am a Realtor in Northampton, the Five College Area of western to create a ful -fledged recreational trail Massachusetts. My specialty is the sale Massachusetts. -I on the rail b . The costs vs. benefits of of homes that are close to rail trails and Several years ago I did a report for the : keeping and e panding the existing other sorts of greenways. And I don't Massachusetts multiple listing service on a-- tourist train, c mpared with a fully just talk the talk on . houses being sold near developed bic cle and walking trail, this subject. I walk ·• regional rail trails. The would seem t favor a rail-to-trail con­ the walk (literally and The report looked '. report looked at listings ; version of the historic corridor. If prop­ figuratively). I know ·. that touted the proximi- · erly executed, I believe it could be one firsthand what it's like at listings that ty of properties to the of the finest r · trails in the country. to live near a rail trail touted the trails and found that I've been tching with interest as because my home is 8 : they sold for a higher \ various studie have come forward and feet from the trail that proximity of • proportion of the asking 1 the state has ommended 1) that the connects the towns of price than other houses 1 section betw n Lake Placid and Northampton, Hadley properties to the did. They also sold ; Tupper Lake ecome a trail and 2) the and Amherst, trails and found more quickly. ! section betw n Tupper Lake and Old Easthampton, More recently, I was : Forge be cons dered for an expanded Williamsburg and that they sold for able to get the MLS to tourist train. I ve also heard talk about Southampton. higher put.a "NEAR TIIB the potential pularity and economic Our house was built a BIKE PATH" button on benefits of ha ing a long-distance rail in 1865. Three years proportion of the the website that Realtors trail connecti your Adirondack com­ . later, the railroad use to post listings. This munities. The success stories for com­ came to town and was asking price than ·· has institutionalized the parable proje s include the Erie built right next to the other houses did. · concept that living near Canalway Tr between Albany and house. The railroad a rail trail, or a similar Buffalo, the pe Cod Trail in officials felt bad for ••ll!l!llll!!l!lll!ll!l!llll!IJll!l!l!•!l!!ll!llll'fllllt" biking-walking-jogging Massachusett ,, the Virginia Creeper the owners of a house facility, significantly Trail in the B e Ridge Mountains and so close to the tracks; to mitigate any enhances property values. the P'tit Train du Nord, a 130-mile rail damage from the shaking caused by Above all, however, rail trails can do trail that exte s from just north of passing trains, they reinforced the plaster much to revitalize communities while Montreal to Laurentian Mountains. ceilings with lath strips nailed up from contributing to the quality of life for The Adiron ack Park is rich in below. Because that wasn't very nice to families who live anywhere near them. I tourism venu and natural attractions look at, they hung taut but flexible can­ wish you luck in this worthy pursuit. but doesn't o er much for family bicy­ vas on the ceiling below the laths. cling. Clearly ·s "Adirondack Rail The railroad went away in 1969, and Craig Della Penna, a Realtor in Trail" would elp fill that need by pro­ the corridor became a trail in 1981. We Northampton, Massachusetts, has spo­ viding a safe lace for bicyclists of all bought the rundown house in 2001, and ken and written widely about rail trails ages to enjoy hair, healthy exercise after entirely renovating the place, we and their effect on adjoining properties. 10 Hiawatha Bike Trail, ID {46 mi.)

A great rail trail experience To the editor: As a lover of wild places in general and the Adirondacks in particular, I have read with great interest about the proposed Adirondack Rail Trail. A diversity of reasons to sup­ port this trail have already been offered, so rather than try to add to those, let me briefly describe an experi­ ence I had with a rail trail Michael Conley, his wife and their daughter in another part of the coun­ try. pose on the Hiawatha Rail Trail on the A couple of years ago, Montana-Idaho border, 220 feet above Clear my wife, college-age Creek with ShetTot Mountain in the distance. daughter and I spent a (Photo provided) memorable day riding on we passed interpretive signs the route of the Hiawatha here, and there, and so much Rail Trail (www.ridethehi­ pristine beauty. We found a awatha.com) on the shady spot for our picnic by Montana-Idaho border. First a clear cool stream. Finally, stop was at the Lookout after almost 15 miles, we Pass Ski Area. We were fit­ came to the end and took ted with mountain bikes (all our place in line for the equipped with handlebar­ shuttle back to the parking ~"D~. mounted lights) and hel­ area. Converted yellow mets. While a strap-on bike school busses loaded bikes u~\t-'r' rack was being installed on in back and passengers in our rented car, we ordered the front. The ride back to box lunches and drinks at our car was just as beautiful E'-l\~R~R\st:: the deli. When all was and included a couple of ready, we drove a few miles thrilling hairpin turns on the to the parking area at the mountain road. Loading the trailhead. bikes back onto the car, we 10 - \b-\'t The ride starts off with a pulled out of the lot just as bang: an almost 2-mile long a young moose crossed the tunnel through solid rock, road in front of us. What a which made it clear why wonderful day! each bike had a bright light. As a resident of The trail goes through eight Brooklyn, I can savor those tunnels and over seven high memories, but I'll probably trestles, which really adds never go back - Idaho is a to the fun! Inside the first long way from here. In the tunnel it was pitch-dark, 58 east, the Adirondacks are degrees and dripping with the only comparably vast water. At the far end we wild area. The proposed emerged into a sparkling Adirondack Rail Trail scene: clear blue skies, would certainly be some­ green, snowcapped moun­ thing my family and I tains and pine-scented, cool would enjoy, again and air. Our mud-spattered, again. daredevil daughter, who Michael Conley had raced ahead, was wait­ Brooklyn ing with a big smile. Pedaling the gentle, 1. 7 percent downhill grade was pleasant and quite manage­ able for my wife, who suf­ fers from a chronic back problem. Riding along the wide gravel and dirt trail, ll

land Line Rail Trail, VT (14 mi.)

A great recreational opportunity

country, Vermont is facing an obesity Guest Commentary epidemic. An estimated 26 percent of By Emily Boedecker Vermont children are now overweight. Local Motion In today's world, there are fewer opportunities for physical activity in schools and, more often than not, recreation scene." young people are driven to activities This might also describe your pro­ rather than walking or biking to get posed Adirondack Rail Trail, which there. I suspect the same holds true for :r- would traverse some of the loveliest the Adirondacks. -I lake, forest and mountain country in the The Island Line Trail provides a safe, ln eastern . scenic place for children and families to Recent on-path surveys indicate that I enjoy healthy exercise away from the 20 percent of Island Line users live noise, fumes and hazards of road traf­ more than 50 miles away - demon­ fic. The trail is also used increasingly strating that this trail has become a for commuting to and from work, and -"' major regional attraction that benefits is even used by Burlington's mayor to local hospitality, restaurant and related cycle to the office! The Adirondack industries. Because the Adirondack Rail Trail, as we understand it, would Park has long been a fill a similar need. , mecca for outdoor-lov­ Above all, this is a quality-of-life The Island Line • ing tourists, the issue. Rail trails like ours are well­ . Adirondack Rail Trail loved linear parks - public spaces hosts an should attract a larger where friends and strangers meet, ·· percentage of where families share quality time estimated overnight visitors from together, where people of all back­ all over, providing a grounds can enjoy fresh air and physi­ 150,000 visitors boost to tourism in cal activity in a lovely setting. There a year. I believe . towns and villages are now more than 25,000 miles of rail • near the trail. trails in this country, and for good rea­ that your Altogether, the son, that number is rapidly growing. · Island Line hosts an Local Motion wishes the best of luck proposed trail estimated 150,000 to the Tri-Lakes area in deciding on the >­..J · visitors a year. I optimum use of the travel corridor con­ .,., could be at least , believe that your pro­ necting your communities and travers­ 4 posed trail could be at ing your wild and beautiful landscapes. p as popular. . least as popular. If the decision goes as we hope it will, Aside from the obvi- many of the cyclists who regularly "'W••••••••••, ous economic benefits, enjoy the Island Line Trail (myself there are important health and fitness included) will no doubt be heading advantages to these recreational assets. your way to ride what promises to be Multi-use trails are a perfect place for one of the nation's premier biking residents of all ages and abilities to trails. E'!lllle," reco enjoy a wide range of low-impact exer­ lar attributes cise. Whether it's bicycling, walking or Emily Boedecker is executive direc­ orative work jogging on this easy, level pathway, the tor of Local Motion, a nonprofit organ­ Vermont and Island Line Trail is used regularly by ization promoting people-powered Conservancy thousands of local residents. transportation and recreation, based in "rail-trail jew Like other states throughout the Burlington, Vermont. irginia Creeper Trail, VA (34 mi.J Les ons from the Virginia Creeper What was he hinking? Guest Commentary lets, and farmers enjoy growing State official recently held four demand for their produce. meetings (follo ing the four similar By Dick Beamish Especially fascinating is the story of meetings they h Id a year ago) to elic­ Adirondack Recreational Trail how strong opposition to the trail in it more public i put on the best use of Advocates the beginning soon morphed into the underutilize railroad bed through widespread enthusiasm for the benefits the Adirondack At the opening of happens to be the same as the distance the trail provides. each meeting, R y Hessinger, speak­ between Lake Placid and Tupper Lake, "In fact," Ms. Hannan reports, ing for the state epartment of which is Step 1 of the wide, level "some of the farmers who once vocal­ Transportation, ade a number of pathway envisioned by Adirondack ly opposed the trail now leave baskets misrepresentati s, including a pair of Recreational Trail Advocates. of free vegetables and flowers for trail unlikely comp sons. My wife and I biked the Creeper users." Mr. Hessinge cited the Cuyahoga Trail last spring, and we can attest to Kevin Costello, Abingdon's eco­ Valley Scenic R ·1road in Ohio as a 1) its huge appeal for bikers, not to nomic development director, acknowl­ potential model or the kind of tourist mention walkers and runners, and 2) edges that a lot of guesswork is train he envisio fot the the marvelous opportunity we have to required when counting visitors on a Adirondacks, th ugh there is little create something every bit as success­ public-access trail like the Creeper. similarity. And e singled out the ful here. "But one critical fact Costello Genesee Valley reenway Trail, run­ "Today," reports Maureen Hannan, knows for sure," reports Ms. Hannan, ning south from ochester, as a who wrote the article, "the sleepy "is that each year, nearly 100,000 vis­ potential model r the kind of rail towns of Abingdon and Damascus itors begin with a stop at one of the I trail many of us ope to live long welcome about.250,000 trail riders a local bike rental shops." enough to see o our travel corridor, year, more than 25 times their com­ Abingdon's first priority, according But there's a ob- bined populations. to Costello, is to welcome those out­ - lem here: The G nesee The trail is an eco­ of-town riders before they hit the trail. "' Valley trail, whi h 'Today, the nomic engine for the A new trailhead visitors' center, which Mr. Hessinger sa d communities, generat­ opened in October, showcases the attracts some 7 3, 00 sleepy towns of ing business for bike area's growing array of businesses. visits a year, mo tly . shuttle service, rental The town is also tackling an ambitious on the northern s c­ Abingdon and cottages, restaurants project to make an of Abingdon bike tion near Roches r, is and shops." (Halfway accessible. The idea is to connect bike still a work in Damascus • along the trail in riders to restaurants, shops and inns . progress. It bears little . Damascus, Rachel and "Whether you talk with shop own­ resemblance to t e 90- welcome about ' I counted six bike ers, town officials, trail volunteers or mile Adirondack ail . shops in a village of innkeepers," writes Hannan, "you'll Trail that could c n­ 250,000 trail . 1,000 residents!) hear a single refrain: 'People always nect Lake Placid nd riders a year, Tenille come back.' Old Forge. : Montgomery, the for­ "The pathways to capturing the full Why, when the e morethan25 ... mer marketing coordi­ economic potential of the Virginia are now nearly 2 00 nator for Abingdon Creeper Trail are still emerging," she rail trails in the nited times their (population 8,000) concludes, "but one thing is clear: States, couldn't t e : where the trail begins Each visitor on a bike brings the DOT spokesman ave combined and where we lodged promise of new vitality to this corner picked one that re for three days, says of Appalachia." closely resembles populations.' ·• that each overnight Our state officials at DOT and what's proposed r · trail visitor spends Department of Environmental the Adirondacks? Maureen Hannan, more than $700 while Conservation, who will be reviewing Take the Virginia .: staying in the area. the corridor management plan in the Creeper Trail, for Rails-to-Trails "And according to months ahead, have promised a deci­ example, in the B ue Conservancy magazine the town's best esti­ sion in 2015. Let's hope it's the obvi­ Ridge Mountains. This mates, trail-related ous one - a multi-use recreation trail one is the subject f a ••••••l!lllll!ll!lllll!llRIR,,,. tourism revenues for all ages and abilities. And let.'s cover story in the cur­ stand at about $25 also hope that Gov. Cuomo, who sees rent issue of the ails-to-Trails million a year," writes Ms. Hannan. tourist development as a key to our Conservancy mag zine. The headline Wayne Miller, president of the economic future, will keep a close eye highlights its sue ss as a tourist Virginia Creeper Trail Club, is also on the process. attraction: "Appal chian Engine: The cited in the article. Merchants aren't Virginia Creeper rail Keeps Bringing the only beneficiaries, according to Dick Beamish, a resident of Saranac Visitors Back." Miller. Homeowners have seen jumps La.ke, is founder of the Adirondack This 34-mile r I trail connects in property value, the artisans and Explorer magazine and a board mem­ Abingdon, Damas. us and Whitetop musicians of an Abingdon-based folk ber of Adirondack Recreational Trail Mountain in south est Virginia. This culture collective are finding new out- Advocates. 13 irginia Creeper Trail, VA (34 mi.)

A young child rides a bike on the Virginia Creeper Trail. (Photo - Richard Smith) Virginia Creeper is good model for Adirondacks To the editor: The Creeper's economic impact on both I've recently been reading the discus­ towns is massive. The lodging tax alone sion in your area about the possibility of is a major factor in our town's budget. the Adirondack Rail Trail. I strongly sup­ I understand there is a group which port the efforts to create this multi-use wants to rebuild the old railroad. trail and believe it would be one of the Although I share their nostalgia for times best business decisions ever made for the past, and wish many things were like they communities along the path. My involve­ used to be in the decades of my youth, ment with the Virginia Creeper Trail in a that idea is simply not economically rural area of Virginia's Blue Ridge viable. The possibility was considered Mountains gives me a lot of insight into briefly here but quickly dismissed when it the benefits that can come your way. became obvious that rebuilding a railroad Briefly, our small town of Damascus, that few would use beyond their first visit Virginia, was something of a typically would be a constant drain on local budg­ slow mountain village before the old rail­ ets. The rail trail we have requires little road was converted to a bike trail. Now maintenance, has many volunteers willing we have around 45 lodging establish­ to work on its constant improvement, and ments in the immediate area, six bike the costs in upkeep are only a tiny per­ shops which provide rentals and shuttles, centage of the money it brings in. numerous restaurants and a community Some people here and I think in your which is attracting both young people area have brought up security issues. I who love our outdoor life and retirees like have about 600 feet of trail frontage run­ myself who enjoy a community of active ning next to my property, and the only people. Of course it helps that the intrusion so far has been the laughter of runs down our main children. A rail trail brings happy times street. for families and individuals, and I hope Estimates run from around 150,000 to the authorities who make the decisions up 250,000 visitors to the Creeper Trail a your way will add that to the financial year. Many of these are overnight visitors benefits this trail will bring. i~ J?~i:nas~us an~ also in the nearby town Richard Smith /II Sa111 arnish River Trail, WA (11 mi.)

is a hundred-mile trail that connects ecreation trails are Cedar Falls to the Columbia River. In addition, this summer while vaca­ great for tourists tioning in Idaho, we were lucky enough To e editor: to take advantage of the Hiawatha Bike pper Lake is one of my family's Trail as well. This is a fabulous trail fav nte places to visit. I grew up in that has the most breathtaking scenic Tu er and am proud to call it my stretches of wUdemess in the country. ho etown. My house, growing up, was It is ~onsider~d to be the "crown jewel" ~los to the railroad tracks, and my sib- of ratls-to-tratls and includes 1O tunnels lmg and f would often race down the and seven high train trestles. It was a hill o wave at the trains going by. It fabulous experience for our family. We ~as sad ~hen the trains stopped run- are always looking for an outdoor nm , but 1t has been sadder still to see adventure activity to combine with our the ailroad tracks fall into such disre- vacation plans. Adding such a trail to pair ver the years. While the effort to the Adirondacks would attract many brin back the trains lias been com- people to the area who feel the same. men able, the feasibility of such an There are already many visitors to the end vor leaves much to be desired. Adirondacks who go there for the out- M family loves to visit the door attractions; this would be a big Adi ~

ew York state has decided to open the unit management plan gov ming the rail corri­ N dor fro Remsen to Lake Placid for review This is great news for the Adironda s. But not everyo e is thrilled. Although a large d growing number of people are for he rail trail, there are those who str ngly oppose it. In this opposition Ii a big contradic­ tion. Here's the part hat is not contradic­ tory: Some oppos tion comes from those who love th scenic train. With these people I ha no quarrel. I like the scenic train, t o, but I simply point out that the elfare of commu­ A former railroad tunnel is used by cyclists on the Elroy­ nities along the c rridor is more Sparta Recreational Trail in Wisconsin. important. (Photo from Wikipedia) Now here's the ontradictory part: Much of the oppo ition comes from talizing the route .... Through a com­ one commissioned by ARTA from the people and organi ations whose stated bination of passenger and freight serv­ respected Rails-to-Trails goals are to bolst the economy of ice, the authority could begin to real­ Conservancy, all show a significant the Adirondack P k. Everyone knows ize a profit in its third year of opera­ economic return on investment. These that we face a har , economic reality: tion." reports are available on the ARTA a park losing pop lation and jobs that By any standard, this rosy outlook website. provide a living ge to residents. has not come close to being achieved. Yet the naysayers claim these stud­ There is no such ing as a sure deal The tracks have not ies are speculative and in economics, but he rail trail propos­ been rehabilitated, · overstate the benefits. al is as close as y u get. It is favored and freight service In doing so, they by every relevant conomic trend you was never restored. ln 1l970you engage in a time-hon­ can measure, it re uires a relatively There are arguments . ored game of ignoring small investment ith relatively little over whether the could not find · basic mathematics. risk, and it is a pe ect fit with a strat­ Adirondack Scenic Suppose you won a egy for the Adiro acks with which Railroad ever turns a anyone outside contest and had a all parties seem to agree: a park profit, but a balance choice between two anchCired by a gre n, sustainable sheet comparing the area who . prizes: grabbing a economy. . investment to return knew where · handful of money from So why do som of the very people on the entire project a grab bag filled with who support econ ic development since the Adirondack Sparta and $10 bills or from a __ - _ •.._n TT .._1 T _'f ,._'I ·~I T !.C- _ _.:_1_ --·------~.._ •.• ~-1 00 Ro t River Trail, MN (51 mi.J

Rail tra · s help small t wns To the editor: The Tri-Lake area can "Lanesboro, on the Root through small businesses like benefit from a r creatiorial River Trail in Southeastern bakeries and delis, through trail along the R msen-Lake Minnesota, is an often,..cited community resources like art Placid Travel C rridor, a example of the economic communities and bed and trail that will pr vide a safe, impact a trail can have. Pre­ breakfasts, and through the ,i scenic, year-rou d trail and post-trail Lanesboro, a interest in unique stores and ' accessible to pe ple of all town of about 800 residents, interesting historical muse­ ages and physic 1 abilities. I differ drarn_atically. Before ums. strongly support this recre­ the trail was built, Fillmore I support New York state ational trail, whi h will · County hospitality tax annual reviewing its management transport people nd benefit collection was less than plan governing the use of the ~, communities. A ecreational $250,000. In 2007, thanks corridor. I support a recre­ trail along the L e Placid- to 200,000 trail users each ational trail alQng the Old Forge rail c nidor will year, hospitality tax collec­ Remsen-Lake Placid Travel "' benefit the local· ommuni- tion was $4.7 million." See Corridor. For this reason I ties through attr ting active reference 2. am urging the state to revise families, includi g bikers, "Post-trail Lanesboro the Remsen-Lake Placid joggers, walkers, birders, boasts 12 B&)3s (with year­ TravelCorridor to include a wheelchair users families, long waiting lists), 8 restau­ multi-use recreational plan cross-country sk ers, snOW:­ rants, an art gallery, a muse­ along the Remsen-Lake shoers and snow obilers. um, and a thriving communi­ Placid Travel Corridor. From Gary Soq ·st' s article ty theater well-off enough to, With hope for establishing a on "Economic a d Social offer housing to its actors. ~tt6fttd t:raii, . • Benefits of Trail ," Economically speaking, the Melinda "Lindy" Ellis "Nationally, trai related Root River Trail has been · Saranac Laj\e_ . expenditures ran e from less very, very good for than $1 per day o more than Lanesboro." $75 per day, de nding on The recreational trail along mileage covered Generally, the Remsen-Lake Placid Travel Corridor can make the it's been found a trail can ~ \;>\~ ~ bring at least on million same significant benefit for dollars annually o a commu­ Tupper Lake, for Saranac l)~\~Y nity, depending n how well Lake, for Lake Placid and for ---- ' the town embrac s the trail." the adjacent communities. ~~\fiRPB\~E For a communit with art Our local community attraction and a ·kc trail members and visitors can (Laneboro, Minn ),."a trail. appreciate our village's char­ can mean an ann al econom- acter, their historic nature, ic impact of mor than five the arts that are exceptionally million dollars." ee refer­ strong here, and ,our lakes ence 1. and mountains - and the Communities enefit sig- ,; fact that a bike path flows nificantly from r creational / right through the middle of trails. Economic mpact data \ our communities. "You can has been docume ted, with ~ sleep and eat here, and there significant econo ic pros­ is something to do here at perity for rural c mmunities night." (See reference 3.) like ours. The communities grow 11 ·e Canalway Trail, NY (277 mi.J

y is seen at a store In Camillus along the Erie Canalway Trail. (Photo - Chris Bolt, WAER.org) -~ Less ns from the Erie Canalway Trail s the s te considers the best Guest Commentary than 5 miles from the trail, and 99 per­ use of ur Remsen-Lake cent feel the trail has a positive effect Placid ail corridor, there are By Dick Beamish on them. Some 22 percent of those A lesson to be learned from a Adirondack Recreational Trail surveyed indicated they were vacation­ new economic · pact study of the Erie Advocates ing, and 96 percent of these folks said Canalway Trail, which runs across the they were influenced by the trail in state from Alb y to Buffalo. The ECT $253 million in sales, 3,440 jobs, $78 choosing their "vacation destination." is more than 7 5 percent complete, with million in labor income, and $28.5 (The proportion of vacationers using 277 miles now pen as an off-road, million in taxes in the Upstate econo­ the Adirondack Rail Trail would likely multi-use trail J) r people of all ages my each year. be higher.) who want to enj y fresh air and good "Study results were based on trail Three-quarters of the vacationers exercise while s aking up history and counts using observational and elec­ chose the canal trail for biking and nat­ engaging with t e natural world. (The tronic techniques" and from user sur­ ural scenery, 71 percent stayed at least report is availa eat www.ptny.org.) veys "conducted at multiple locations three nights, 44 percent stayed at a There are int esting comparisons along the trail between June and hotel or motel, and each of them spent between the Erl Canalway Trail and September 2012." an average of $939 during their visit. )­ what we could ave in the Adirondack So how many people make use of The study's conclusion: "The ECT is J Park. As envisi ned by its many boost­ the canal trail? The researchers esti­ clearly an important resource for the II. ers, the Adiron ck Rail Trail would mated trail traffic at almost 1. 6 million local and regional economies of - ' extend 90 miles on the old New York visits per year. Upstate New York and should continue A Central rail co dor from Lake Placid "Not surprisingly," they report, "the to be promoted and enhanced." to Old Forge. T e state, meanwhile, · segments of trail closest to the large As 97 percent of the visits to the has reeommend d that the 34-mile sec­ urban population centers of Buffalo, canal trail are undertaken by persons tion connecting ake Placid, Ray Rochester and Albany were estimated living within the 35 counties surround­

1 Brook, Saranac ake, Lake Clear and to have the highest number of visits - ing the trail, the study confirms that Tupper Lake be converted to a recre­ more than 200,000 per year." the ECT is also "a valued resource and ation trail, whil the 56 miles of track How much usage can we expect on an important contributor to the quality south of Tupper Lake be renovated for the Adirondack Rail Trail? While we of life in the more than 200 communi­ use by a tourist ain that currently don't have large urban centers in the ties alonu it~ 1,,.,..n+1.. .,..._ operates betwee Utica and, occasion­ Adirondack Park m,,. -1~ 1..--- ally, up to Bil! "'w"' Shining Sea Bikeway (10 mi.)

W 09ds Hole and Falmouth, This new extension adds would come as soon as you , ..Massachusetts · · Mass. The trail that runs ·many scenic vistas across open, especially as one of my rail trail has ·along the shore ofVmeyard picturesque marshes to the wife's most forinative child- Soundwas named the .·broad waters of Buzzar~s hood experiences was sum-: ·beensuccessful ·Shining_ Sea Bikeway in Bay. . . ..·. I mers at the Moss Lake camp. honor of Falmouth native ·· It is striking how many The. concept of viSiting Moss To the editor: Katharine Lee Ba~s,the. visitors come to Fa1mouth . Lake as a bi~ycledestinatjon Having discovered the dis-· auth9rof "America {he . ex{>resslyto ride.the bike · ····' is qui~~p~t:acular.. · . . .· •. cussion in your pages con~·Beautiful." This trail has trail even more now with . : . we both hope that your cerning the conversion of the proved enofII1<'.>uslypoplllar; the new extension. There is . ,community is awe to-resolve scenic Adirondack rail line . not only attracting large .·. . growing demand to continue . the current issues and repur- to a trail for recreationaJ. use · · numbers of tourists but also converting the rail bed the pose this amazing asset I wanted to add some obser-' provjding a practical w_ayto rest of the way up Buzzards · which surely would be one of vations as a residentt1f a, commute by bike between Bay to connect .to ~certicthe most compellingly beau- n town that many years ago Falm?uth ·and Woods Hole. , trails along the Cape Cod . tiful such trails in America. It" Canal. seems that you have the" trail converted a rail line to a see- ·. · Based _onthe popularity of nic bikeway. . · .. · thi~_trail, and after protracted · As individuals who e11joy analog of the."Field of To commemorate the ··debate similar to wh,at you . and now take for granted our Dreams." I am confident that American bicentennial cele.: are ·now experiencing, a .fur- splendid bikeways, we hope "if you build it, they will bration in 19 7 6, the town of . ther section of the rail bed · you will have success·in the come." We surely will. Falmouth converted 4 miles has now been converted, proposed conve~ionof your Sincerely yours, of an unused rail bed to a extending the length of the incomparable scenic rail bed Charles Mann pavedbikeway that connects ~bikewayto about.IO miles. to. "-recreationaI trail. We Falmouth, Mass.

~l:>\~.. LJ~\'-Y c'N\ER~R\Ci.e- 3- l-\-i.. --. Q) ,,

C pe Cod Rail Trail, MA (22 mi.)

The trail is u.~ed year­ Take a lesson round but espeCially in the summer and during the ' from Cape Cod spring/fall shoulder seasons. Rail Trail Wheii .. we.are here in the I'll summer we usually ride - To the editor: early in the morning because As enthusiastic advocates there are so many people on of a multi-use recreational the trail during the middle of trail in place of the little- · the day. Not everyone comes used train track, we were to the Cape to go to the pleased to see the Tupper beach. Bike shops are. every­ Lake village board vote. 4-1 where. There are links into in favor of revisiting the unit all the towns abutting the management plan that gov­ trail. It is a boon to the econ­ erns use of the rail corridor omy, as a multi-use trail will through the Adirondacks. be to the Tri-Lakes region and to every other town it We live half of the year on serves. Upper Saranac Lake arid the The proposed multi-use other half in -Cap~ Cod, Our recreational trail will become house is 1 mile from the a major tourist destination, Cape Cod Rail Trail. From not to mention the 100,000- here you can ride 50 to 60 plus campers at Fish Creek miles on this trail without and Rollins· Pond camp­ being in traffic. It is a won­ grounds who bring bicycles derful resource for us but with them. They would be especially wonderful for the only an: hour's ride on a safe, economy of Cape Cod. We easy path to Tupper Lake can ride as long as there is . and could easily make a day no snow, but walkers, run­ trip to and from Saranac ners, snowshoers and skiers Lake. enjoy it also. Jim and Chris Crane Upper Saranac Lake ~o

ine Creek Rail Trail, PA (60 mi.)

Department of Needless to say, we went by G eat tim~ on . E1wironmental Protection, with blowdown promptly fast! We also met a retired the Pine Creek English teacher who had cut. Solar-powered, com­ become a Pine Creek Trail ail Trail posting, handicapped-acces­ advocate. He took our pie- · sible, clean res,trooms were ture and said he was, with provided along the trail as di tor: our permi~sion, going to We e writing this letter well as parking facilit!es, post it on Facebook as octo­ to tell r aders about our · resting benches and bike genarians riding the trail on recent t ip to bike on the stands. At road crossings a tandem recumbent trike. Pine C ek Rail Trail in there were gates and stop He told us that there were norther Pennsylvania. signs. There were also pic­ nic tables and camping people in the are.a who were Sine it is a "destination against establishing the trail areas. Along part of the trail trail," e traveled about until they saw the economic seven h urs from our home I there was a parallel bridle path. boost that it brought. in Long Lake to get there. It . Our hope is that this kind is 60 m les long, and since I These are some of the of trail might become a we bike about 20 miles a . things we saw along the trail: lots of bikers of all reality in the Adirondacks. day and did "out and .back" j" Maybe not in our lifetime, trips fro the trailhe~ds, we · ages and riding. all typ~s of but sometime! were in he area for six bicycles, walkers, .ru~nersi · ·· · John and Jackie Mallery days. T e trail parallels joggers, parents pushmg Long Lake Pine Cr ek and travels strollers, handicapped peo­ through state forests an~ ple in motorized wheel­ private roperty followmg chairs, canoeists, kayakers, the rout of the former Pine fishermen, horseback riders.. Creek r ·1road b~d. Even horse-drawn cart tours, lots though t ere were high · of birds, wildlife and wild­ ...... mountai s surrounding us, flowers. Highlights were t)~ \\,.. ~ the trail tself has no more some large turtles laying than a 2 percent grade at eggs in the sand next to the 'E!\..lT~R ~ll.\S~ any poi . The surface is trail and a large timber rat­ fine sto dust, and even tler sunning on the stone though t ere had been a dust. There were signs ~-l~-\3 hard rai , there was no along the trail to keep 3 feet mud. It as well maintained away from the snakes and by the P nnsylvania stating that they would not be aggressive if left alone. Torrey C. Brown Rail Trail, MD (20 mi.)

Maryland trail become part of the , a rails-to-trails went from doubt system from Boston to Florida. Concerns about trash to acceptance traffic ~nd property damage ' have given way to wide- . To the editor: . '°· '•'' .:·,, ;~ , spread support of the trail . as .. . . '. ·" . .·· As a seasonal resident ?Jr' · It has proven tp be pot o.nly a the Saranac Lake area, but great recreational asset but one that visits year-round, I · something that has enhanced have been following the rails­ the value of all neighboring to-trails debate with interest properties. as it reminds me of a similar Again the situation differs debate 30 years ago in from the debate in the Tri­ Glencoe, Md., where I live. Lakes area as there is an The situation isn't entirely active group using Saranac­ the same as the trail line in Lake-to-Lake-Placid rail line Maryland was not in use at but I can say from firsthand ' the time it was converted to a experience that rail trails are bike-hike trail, so there extrem~ly popular resources wasn't a conflict with an and only enhance the appeal existing constituency like the of an area, even one with as train supporters in Saranac many recreational opportuni- · Lake, but it nevertheless cre­ ties on the Adirondack Park. ated controversy, as any David Warfield change does. People who Glencoe, Md. lived in the rural hamlets that were originally rail stops objected to the potential influx of outsiders bringing trash, creating traffic and pos­ sibly property damage. After six months of hearings and debate, the trail was approved, and 30 years later it has proved to be a great resource for thousands of hik­ ers, runners, cyclists, dog walkers and families with young kids. It has even Washington & Old Dominion Rail Trail, VA (45 mi.)

.c. rail trail is Scenery along the W &OD trail is like that from a train popular window, but the viewing is better when you are physi- T the editor: ~ cally using the trail, as I 11 .July of this summerm, was. Wheri-yoii- jogging I isited my family iu are or biking or just strolling, shington, D.C. The tem­ you are not only a spectator pe atures during the day but a participant as well. w re in the 90s, so many You are outdoors enjoying pe pie decided tb exercise the beautiful sunoundings, ve early in the morning. I smelling the forest, feeling w surprised to see hun- the cold air, being an active dr ds of people out enjoying participant rather than sit- th selves before 9 a.m. on - ting in a train looking out th former Washington & , the window. 01 Dominion railroad cor­ The proposed Adirondack rid r. They were biking, Rail Trail would connect wa king and running on a Lake Placid and Tupper trai that stretches 45 miles fro the Potomac River, , Lake, and run from there all nea Washington, to the the way to Old Forge. It Blu Ridge Mountains. would be the best thing that e W &OD Trail takes could happen to the its ame from the railroad Adirondacks - for tourists wh se trains ran along the and locals alike. This his­ righ of way from 1859 to toric rail bed could easily 196 . The demise of the and inexpensively be con­ rail ad was hastened by the verted into a recreation trail imp oved road· system and that would be second to incr ased number of motor none in the United States. vehi les. Sounds familiar, Let's get on board! does 'tit? Carmen Ordonez 0 r Remsen-Lake Placid Saranac Lake line hrough the Adfr; ndacks began operat­ ing i 1892 and ended serv- ice i 1972 for the same reas s. The demand for ~!)~. freig t and passenger serv­ ~Pi\\...'( ice h d disappeared, yet the railro d bed has been sitting ~ w\e: t~ \'fl\ ~e- mostl idle ever since! This is on of our greatest resou ces, yet we are failing to tak full advantage of it. P'tit Train du Nord Trail, Que. (124 mi.)

F eding a rail-trail addiction y wife achel and I have Guest Commentary bike-able trail can be," he wrote, "look been ge ting to know por­ also to the P'tit Train du Nord in the tions o our country up By Dick Beamish province of Quebec, a trail our friendly M close d personal. We do Adirondack Recreational Trail neighbors to the north have turned into this by riding our ikes on old rail beds Advocates a great draw for cyclists from all over. that have been d into pathways My wife and I, along with 13 friends, for hilting, walkin , jogging, enjoying Redwood Wright described this trail in rode this route through the low-lying nature and absorb' g local history. Part Spritsail, a historical journal about hills of the Laurentians north of of the fun has bee talking with people Falmouth and vicinity, tinder the title Montreal in early August. This is and making new ends along the way. "A Triumph of Citizen Action." something that anyone enjoying the This experience as proved both "It is one of the treasures of Cape wilderness experience from the van­ delightful and sad. Delightful because Cod, passing by Little Harbor, cedar tage of a bike saddle should not miss. there's no better w y to be tourists. swamps and salt marsh, coastal ponds "The rails are completely gone. The Sad because it sho s how we have and beaches, through·tree-lined arcades traffic is mostly bikes, with some been losing out he e in the and quiet residential neighborhoods .... walkers, the occasional Mom on in-line Adirondacks. By t taking advantage Venture out on the Shining Sea skates ripping along the paved section of the old rail co or that connects Bikeway between dawn and dusk, any near Mont Tremblant, a race-style our communities i the Adirondacks, day of the year, and you will not be pram in front. Many of the old stations we are missing th boat in every alone. In the winter old friends, or at have been turned into restaurants, respect: recreation ly, economically, least familiar figures, are out for a little museums and tourist-friendly shops. health-wise and b squandering a exercise, commuting to work, enjoying Great little inns and restaurants unique opportunit to improve our the scenery, on foot, bikes, roller abound. We enjoyed four days of beau­ quality of life. blades or, on snowy days, cross-coun­ tiful, relaxing, car-free cycling along As we discover d on a trip this sum­ try skis. Summer is a busy kaleido­ the 124-rnile route. Does anyone else mer, Michigan is t the forefront of scope of tourists and locals of all ages, see how a 90-mile version of this trail this national mov ent, with rail trails training wheels to 18-speeders to through the much-more-impressive seemingly everyw ere: along the wheelchairs, e\;'ery kind of human­ wilderness of the Adirondacks could shores of Lake H on, Michigan and powered rolling stock, joggers, be?" Superior, and alo countless lakes and strollers, clothing sedate to bizarre. That was all we needed. The weather waterways in bet een. We also spent a Everyone is having a wonderful time. forecast looks good, so tomorrow (as memorable day o Mackinac Island, ... In spring there are the changing pat­ of this writing) Rachel and I are off to where all the road and paths are terns of new greenery, in fall the gaudy bike that very same trail from Mont reserved for w · g, biking and horse- splash of changing leaves, and always Tremblant, at the halfway point, to drawn vehicles. cars, buses, trucks the comings and goings of birds large Mount Laurier at the northern end. or motorcycles o this enchanted isle and small, occasional coyotes and fox, And just think. Someday so~n. if our :.... just nature, sc nery, history and and all the glorious sounds of nature." state leaders act as they should, we tranquility. On arriving back in Saranac Lake, could have something like that right More recently e travelled to Rhode we received an email from a resident here in our backyard! Island to pedal th spectacular East of Rochester. He had read in the Bay' Bicycle Path ong Narragansett Adirondack Explorer about the state's Dick Beamish is a resident of Bay, then on to C pe Cod to do the plan to review the rail corridor Saranac Lake.founder of the Shining Sea Bike ay from Woods between Lake Placid and Old Forge to Adirondack Explorer magazine and Hole to North Fa outh along determine its best use. board member of Adirondack Buzzard's Bay. re's how W. "To provide a glimpse of what a Recreational Trail Advocates. Adirondack Rail Trail (34 mi.J

Whata rail trail meansto the Tri-Lakes rior to my retirement engaged in activity that they and nonprofits see the trail as earlier this year from Guest Commentary enjoy. They are outside in a a safe venue on which to the Rails-to-Trails By Carl Knoch natural setting, enjoying hold fundraising events. One PConservancy, I was in healthy exercise. They are trail I'm familiar with had a position to visit more than relaxed, and the pressures of 17 different organizations 100 rail trails between What hasn't been pointed everyday living seem to melt hold events on the trail dur­ Maryland and Maine. I also · out often enough is the away. And not surprisingly, ing a single year. The peace conducted surveys of trail impact that a trail connecting they are often smiling. and safety of the trail, well users on more than 40 of Lake Placid, Saranac Lake Rail trails perpetuate a away from automobile traffic those trails. and Tupper Lake will have. greater sense of community. and other forms of conges­ A lot of information has on the year-round residents Driving along Route 86 tion, has led to larger already appeared in commen­ of the region and the full­ between Lake Placid and turnouts and thus increased taries published here about time summer residents as Saranac Lake at 45 miles per fundraising. The linear Senior ~itizenswalk on the Heritage Trail in the number of new tourists well. As one trail user in our hour, you might be able to nature of the rail trail makes Pennsylvania. who would use such a trail, area is often quoted as say­ wave to a neighbor going in it an ideal venue for commu­ (Photo provided) how much they will spend ing, "The trail is the happiest the opposite direction if you nity art and craft festivals, and the new businesses that place in the county." recognize his car. Walking racing events such as 5Ks example: "It's the ice cream neighbor, walk the dog, get .will be spurred on by this Why is that? The answer along a rllil trail at 3 miles and even marathons, and shop at the comer of Main some exercise and smell the new,type of outdoor activity. can be seen on the faces of an hour, or riding a bike at family-oriented activities Street and the rail trail." flowers along the way. Based upon my experience, the bicycle riders, walkers 1O miles an hour; you can such as a pumpkin walk. Finally, the 34-mile rail I, for one, can't wait for it all of that will happen. and joggers. People are actually say, "Hello, how are The rail trail becomes a trail will lead to a better to be completed. doing?" Walkers stop and focal point of local pride; it quality of life for residents ,chat with neighbors and can takes on the identity of a and visitors in the Tri-Lakes. Carl Knoch, a resident of make new friends. Cyclists prized asset that represents It's a place where you, your New Freedom, Pennsylvania, stop and help each other out the soul of the town or vil­ friends and family can take a produced a trail development ~'t>\~. with a thrown chain or a flat lage. It becomes a point of walk or ride a bike or go for plan in 2012 for Adirondack ~ tire . reference when you talk a safe, scenic run. It's a place Recreational Trail • Community organizations about your community. For to clear your mind, meet a Advocates. l>~\\.'(E\J\~'R~\~E'

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