2020 Annual Report t Erie Canalway National Heritage Corridor 2020 ANNUAL REPORT For more than 200 years, the Erie Canalway’s story has been about digging in when the going gets tough and DIG pulling together to achieve big goals. If ever there was a year to tap that strength, it was 2020. For the Erie Canalway National Heritage Corridor, IN our clear mission, sound management, and a robust annual work plan provided strong footing that enabled us to dig in. At the same time, we collaborated with our partners and adjusted many of our programs to meet unexpected challenges and serve people, organizations, and communities facing a difficult year. This annual report offers a snapshot of our accomplishments. Together with our Canalway partners, we are tapping 200 years of canal heritage to foster a vibrant waterway that thrives long into the future. Established by an Act of Congress in 2000, the Erie Canalway National Heritage Corridor spans 524 miles across the full expanse of upstate New York. It includes the Erie, Cayuga- Seneca, Oswego, and Champlain canals and their historic alignments. The Corridor encompasses 4,834 square miles in 23 counties and is home to 3.2 million people. ABOVE: Cranesville | New York State Archives, Albany ON THE COVER: Amsterdam | Frank Forte 2020 ANNUAL REPORT // 01 Preserving ~ and ~ Showcasing Canal Heritage ew York’s canals mean business to hundreds of communities. They mean vital water supplies, recreation, and transportation to hundreds of thousands of people. This year’s delayed opening brought the multidimensional The NYS Canal System is public infrastructure Nvalue of the canals into sharp focus. We advocated for a full opening that provides public benefit—just as state of the NYS Canal System and provided information to communities, parks and roadways do. The benefit of the residents and boaters impacted by closures and low water levels. waterway is not merely to boaters. Positive We also invested in eight exciting projects to enhance canal access economic benefits flow to canal communities, and visitation and celebrated three sites where canal heritage is taking businesses, industries, and agriculture. center stage in community revitalization. t 02 // ERIE CANALWAY NATIONAL HERITAGE CORRIDOR Waterford 2020 ANNUAL REPORT // 03 ERIE CANALWAY HERITAGE AWARD OF EXCELLENCE Heritage Award recipients remind us that our past can serve as the bedrock of our future. he Erie Canalway Heritage Award of Excellence celebrates significant Tplaces in the Erie Canalway where people have come together to preserve and share our canal heritage or to make part of the Corridor a vibrant place to live, work, or visit. We recognized three extraordinary places this year for their success. • Gateway Harbor of the Tonawandas Tonawanda | Neil Ferguson (winner) and the Port of Newark (honorable mention) developed welcoming and vital public spaces along the Erie AWARD JURY Canal that are centerpieces of waterfront “Gateway Harbor Park’s development has Our jury’s perspective and expertise were invalu- and community revitalization. transformed the downtowns of the Tonawandas able to the program’s success. into a vibrant summertime destination and • Sarah Crowell, Director, Office of Planning, • The Erie Canal Heritage Park at Port allowed thousands of visitors every year to Development & Community Infrastructure, Byron (winner) showcases the transfor- experience the history, heritage, and recreation New York Department of State mation of an abandoned 19th century that the Erie Canal offers. We are so honored • Patrick Heaton, Principal, Director of Cultural canal lock along the NYS Thruway into a Gateway Harbor Park has received the Erie Resources, Environmental Design & Research, destination that shares New York’s canal Canalway Heritage Award.” Landscape Architecture, Engineering & Environ- 2021 Calendar heritage with thousands of travelers from — Arthur G. Pappas, Mayor of North Tonawanda mental Services, D.P.C. The 2020 Photo Contest reached new around the world each year. • Christine Hoffer, Chief Operating Officer, heights with a record-breaking number of By building upon historic assets, making New York State Tourism Industry Association 443 entries. Winning images are featured in strategic investments, and collaborating with • Marcia O. Kees, Adjunct Professor, Department the 2021 Erie Canalway Calendar. The public diverse stakeholders, these sites prove the of Geography and Planning, University at Albany snapped up 19,500 free copies quickly with multifaceted rewards of creating strong, • Ruth Pierpont, Former Deputy Commissioner, the help of libraries and visitor centers that vibrant, and resilient places. New York State Historic Preservation Office distribute them. 04 // ERIE CANALWAY NATIONAL HERITAGE CORRIDOR 2020 ANNUAL REPORT // 05 “We care about ensuring people have fair access ight organizations received Erie Canalway to discover and explore the numerous treasures IMPACT! Grants in 2020 totaling $60,000 right in our backyard. We will continue to do Eand leveraging an additional $515,291 in $515,291of additional our part to support and advocate for the Erie private and public project support. Funded private and public project support was leveraged IMPACT! GRANTS Canalway National Heritage Corridor in the projects include vital work to preserve and halls of Congress, and we are pleased to see these showcase canal heritage and welcome people to grants delivered to our local communities.” explore the canal in their local communities. A — Congressman Tom Reed (NY-23) partnership with NYS Canal Corporation led to an increase in the award threshold and the funding of additional projects. Brian Trzeciak Over the past 12 years, Erie Canalway National Heritage Corridor has made 2020 GRANT RECIPIENTS 83 grants to communities and non-profit 1st Amendment—1st Vote, Inc. in Seneca Falls organizations that have spurred ($2,000) will explore civic engagement with high $2.35 million in additional investments school girls from 19 school districts. A series of in heritage preservation, recreation, virtual tours will recognize the important contribu- and education. tion of the Erie Canal as a transportation and information highway in advancing equal rights. Buffalo Maritime Center in Buffalo ($5,000) designed exhibits for the Longshed at Canalside 1st Amendment—1st Vote, Inc. in Buffalo’s Inner Harbor, where volunteers are Buffalo Maritime Center | Gene Witkowski constructing a replica packet boat to celebrate the National Women’s Hall of Fame in Seneca Falls “Wedding of the Waters” bicentennial. Canalboat ($10,000) created a movable exhibit that honors Commencement Weekend in October provided women and their contributions in history. an exciting look at the Center’s progress. The exhibit is in the Hall of Fame’s new home in City of Oneida ($12,000) is developing four the historic Seneca Knitting Mill, which opened interpretive signs highlighting the city’s canal in August. resources to be placed on walking trails in the city. Town of Lyons ($7,000) is landscaping a County of Oswego ($12,000) designed an ADA sustainable garden space alongside Lock 27 in accessible paddling access area that will provide Lyons to beautify the waterfront and welcome access to a scenic four-mile section of the Oswego travelers. River between Locks O5 and O6. Village of Brockport ($7,000) is restoring a Feeder Canal Alliance in Glens Falls ($5,000) is prominent mural on Main Street that depicts a developing a hands-on field school environmental scene from Peter Spier’s Erie Canal children’s lab on the Glens Falls Feeder Canal. Students will book. Restoring the mural will ensure that the use an inquiry-based approach to focus on charm and grace of this canal community will environmental themes, including water quality continue to be appreciated by visitors and and invasive species. residents for generations to come. 06 // ERIE CANALWAY NATIONAL HERITAGE CORRIDOR 2020 ANNUAL REPORT // 07 TICKET TO RIDE Promoting RETOOLS FOR SCHOOLS Recreation ~and~ Tourism Technology met creativity in 2020 to continue bringing the Erie Canal to students. ield trips to the canal? Not in 2020. The • Working in partnership with the NYS Canal abrupt shift to virtual learning this year left Corporation, Erie Canalway will develop a Fmore than 8,000 students who typically series of 360-degree virtual tours of canal take advantage of our Ticket to Ride and Every sites and features to share with students and Kid in a Park Programs high and dry. It was also a the public. loss for the historic sites, museums and national • Erie Canalway National Heritage Corridor parks that provide educational programs. We is collaborating with the Erie Canal Museum, quickly shifted gears to provide online learning MOST, The R/E/D Group (affiliated with resources for schools and funding to help several Syracuse University School of Education), and of our educational partners find new ways to Syracuse City School District to develop a engage with students. program for seventh graders that offers a The result is a creative mix of new virtual lessons blend of Science, Technology, Engineering that provide additional options for canal-related and Math (STEM) and History. Students education and the potential to reach wider from Syracuse City School District will learn audiences. Here’s a snapshot of a few programs: about the many challenges encountered while building the Erie Canal and engage in hands- • The Erie Canal Discovery Center in Lockport on engineering-based projects. This program is developed five virtual lessons on the history, made possible thanks to a grant from Central geography, engineering and national impact of NY Community Foundation. ach year, the Canalway Corridor the Erie Canal. attracts residents and visitors to • Corn Hill Navigation in Pittsford is developing upstate New York for special events, curriculum materials that support its Environ- “We are so grateful for the opportunity to be tours, cycling trips, and to navigate mental Education on the Erie Canal program. able to share our Erie Canal heritage with Eone of the world’s longest canals.