CHAUTAUQUA Greenway Plan COUNTY April 2012 A four season destination for outdoor active living, nurtured by public/private partnerships. Prepared by Pashek Associates in cooperation with Chautauqua County Department of Planning & Economic Development “It is a wholesome and necessary thing for us to turn again to the earth and in the contemplation of her beauties to know of wonder and humility. - Rachel Carson” Photo Credit: Mark Geise All of the photographs in this document were taken at various locations throughout Chautauqua County. ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS A special thank you goes out to the citizens and organizations of Chautauqua County for their enthusiasm and input during this study. Also, the time commitment, wealth of knowledge, decision-making ability, and dedication of the following individuals made the Chautauqua County Greenway Plan possible. Chautauqua County Gregory J. Edwards ........................................................... County Executive Chautauqua County Department of Planning & Economic Development William Daly ...................................................................................... Director Mark Geise ........................................................................... Deputy Director Christine Kinn .........................................................................Senior Planner Don McCord ............................................................................Senior Planner Jeffrey Diers .............................................................Watershed Coordinator Debbie Liliestedt .......................................................................Receptionist Chautauqua County Greenway Trail Plan Steering Committee Lisa Schmidtfrerick-Miller ..................................................Committee Chair Les Johnson .................................................................... Hollyloft Ski & Bike Jim Fincher ........................................................... Chautauqua Rails to Trails Richard Engasser ....................................... Chautauqua County Snowgoers Jay Gould .........................................................................County Legislature Rick Constantino .................................. Forecon/Chautauqua County Parks David Sanctuary ..............................Chautauqua County Parks Department Andrew Nixon...................................... Chautauqua County Visitors Bureau Keith Carrow ......................................................................NYS DEC Forester Theresa Lahnen .................................................................NYS DEC Forester Thom Wright ........................................................................Mountain Biking Jennifer Schlick ............................................... Jamestown Audubon Center Jack & Mary Jo Peacock ............................................................... Equestrian Lyle Hadju .......................................................Chautauqua Lake Watershed Roy Davis ........................................................Historic & Cultural Resources Blair Koss ............................................Westfield Development Corporation Mike Allenbrand .....................................................Longmeadows ATV Park Howard Brooks.................................................................Parks Commission Tory Irgang...................................................................................United Way John Gallagher .............................................. Conewango Creek Watershed Bree Neal ......................................Chautauqua County Health Department Jeff Sanders .................................................................................Geocaching Andrew Hillman .......................................................................... NYS OPRHP Addie Klingensmith ......................................................Evergreen Outfitters John Jablonski III ...............................Chautauqua Watershed Conservancy Chautauqua County Residents Last, and most importantly, we thank the residents and visitors of Chautauqua County who participated in this planning process. i Photo Credit: Mark Geise ii TABLE OF CONTENTS Introduction .........................................................................................1 Figure 1: Chautauqua County , New York ..........................................................................................3 What are Greenways? ..................................................................................................................................4 How was the Greenway Plan Developed?...................................................................................................5 Vision, Mission, and Goals for Greenways in Chautauqua County .............................................................6 Why Create a Greenway Plan for Chautauqua County? .............................................................................11 Public Participation in the Greenway Planning Process .......................................................................15 Purpose of the Greenway Plan ....................................................................................................................16 Chapter One – Where are We Now? ...................................................17 Data Collection .............................................................................................................................................19 Existing Planning Efforts ........................................................................................................................19 Green Infrastructure Inventory ...................................................................................................................22 Natural Infrastructure ............................................................................................................................22 Figure 2: Natural Infrastructure Map ................................................................................................27 Ecological Infrastructure .............................................................................................................................29 Figure 3: Ecological Infrastructure Map ............................................................................................31 Hydrologic Infrastructure ............................................................................................................................33 Figure 4: New York State Watershed Map ........................................................................................34 Figure 5: Allegheny River Watershed Assessment ............................................................................35 Figure 6: Hydrologic Infrastructure Map ..........................................................................................37 Recreation Infrastructure Inventory ...........................................................................................................39 Existing Shared-Use Trails ......................................................................................................................39 Existing Hiking Trails ..............................................................................................................................40 Existing Water Trails ...............................................................................................................................41 Figure 7: Marden E. Cobb Waterway Trail Map ................................................................................41 Abandoned or Former Rail Corridors ....................................................................................................42 Existing Parks & Recreation Areas ........................................................................................................43 Winter Recreation Opportunities ..........................................................................................................44 Fishing & Boating ...................................................................................................................................45 Existing Cycling Routes ..........................................................................................................................46 Figure 8: Recreation & Transportation Infrastructure Inventory .....................................................49 Points of Interest Inventory ........................................................................................................................51 Cultural & Historic Resources .........................................................................................................51 iii TABLE OF CONTENTS Figure 9: Chautauqua County National Register of Historic Places Sites ..........................................52 Potential Trail Towns ..............................................................................................................................53 Lodging Opportunities ...........................................................................................................................53 Population Centers & Destinations .............................................................................................................56 Figure 10: Ten Largest Municipalities in Chautauqua County ...........................................................56 Figure 11: Ten Most Densely Populated Municipalities in Chautauqua County