C_hautauqua

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.

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Photo Credit: Mark Geise

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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 Ma p . .........................................................................................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

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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 Count y . ................................56 Figure 12:   Population Density Map ...................................................................................................57 Figure 13:   Population Comparisons 1990 - 2010 ................................................................................58 Figure 14:   Points of Interest Inventory .............................................................................................61

Public Participation ......................................................................................................................................63
Public Meetings......................................................................................................................................63 Chautauqua County Greenway Plan Survey..........................................................................................63 Steering Committee Meetings ..............................................................................................................65 Key Person Interviews ...........................................................................................................................65

Chapter Two – Where Do We Want To Be? ........................................67

A Vision for Greenways in Chautauqua County ..........................................................................................69
Our Mission.............................................................................................................................................69 Our Vision ...............................................................................................................................................69 Our Goals ...............................................................................................................................................71
The Structure of the Network .....................................................................................................................74

Figure 15: Greenway Network............................................................................................................74

Defining Natural Systems Greenways...................................................................................................75

Figure 16:   Building Blocks Analysis ...................................................................................................76

Identifying Corridors ........................................................................................................................77

Figure 17:   Building Blocks Ranking Analysis................................................................................76 Figure 18:   Individual Building Block Analysis ..............................................................................78 Figure 19:   Building Blocks Analysis Result s . ................................................................................79

Dividing & Naming Corridors ...........................................................................................................80 Ranking & Prioritizing Corridors......................................................................................................80 The Results .......................................................................................................................................80

Figure 20:   Natural Systems Greenway Corridor Map..................................................................81

Exceptional Priority Natural System Greenway Corridors .......................................................83 Significant Priority Natural System Greenway Corridors .........................................................85 High Priority Natural System Greenway Corridors ...................................................................87
Level of Recommended Conservation............................................................................................88
Defining Recreation Greenways............................................................................................................89

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Identifying Potential Trail Towns & Hubs........................................................................................89
Figure 21:  Trail Town Identification and Prioritization ..............................................................93
Identifying Potential Recreation Greenway Corridors ...................................................................95 The Process.......................................................................................................................................96 The Results .......................................................................................................................................97

Figure 22:   Recreation & Transportation Greenway Corridor Map.........................................99

Exceptional Priority Recreation Greenway Corridors...............................................................103 Significant Priority Recreation Greenway Corridors.................................................................105 High Priority Recreation Greenway Corridors...........................................................................109

Chapter Three – How Do We Get There?............................................113

Making the Vision Become a Reality - Implementation and Action Plans.................................................113 Management Structure ...............................................................................................................................116
Greenways and Trails Management Structure in Chautauqua County................................................118

Figure 23:   Proposed Friends of Chautauqua County Management Structure..................................118

Potential Partners ..................................................................................................................................122 Non-Profit Liability .................................................................................................................................123
Action Plans and Implementation Strategies .............................................................................................125
Figure 24:   Action Plan Diagram ........................................................................................................125

Figure 25:   Potential Leads and Potential Partners Key.....................................................................126

Active Living/Alternative Transportation Implementation Strategies ................................................127
Figure 26:  Active Living/Alternative Transportation Implementation Strategies.........................128
Conservation of Natural Resources Implementation Strategies.........................................................131
Figure 27:  Conservation of Natural Resources Implementation Strategies..................................131
Connectivity & Trail Development Implementation Strategies ...........................................................134
Figure 28:  Connectivity & Trail Development Implementation Strategies....................................135
Management, Maintenance, and Operations Implementation Strategies.........................................142
Figure 29:  Management, Maintenance, and Operations Implementation Strategies..................142
The World’s Learning Center Implementation Strategies ...................................................................145
Figure 30:  The World’s Learning Center Implementation Strategies............................................145
Leadership Implementation Strategies ................................................................................................146
Figure 31:  Leadership Implementation Strategies..........................................................................146
Marketing & Tourism Implementation Strategies................................................................................149
Figure 32:  Marketing & Tourism Implementation Strategies.........................................................149
Potential Funding Sources...........................................................................................................................150 Potential Demonstration Projects...............................................................................................................151
Identifying Potential Demonstration Projects......................................................................................151

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Figure 33:   Potential Demonstration Projects ...................................................................................152

Potential Demonstration Projects.........................................................................................................153
Top Ten Demonstration Projects.................................................................................................................151

Figure 34:   Ranking of Demonstration Projects.................................................................................151

Appendices (included in CD format on back cover)

Appendix A: Summary of Planning Efforts........................................................................................167 Appendix B: Benefits of Greenways ..................................................................................................171 Appendix C: Recreation Infrastructure Inventory ............................................................................183 Appendix D: Points of Interest & Historic Sites Inventories ............................................................201 Appendix E: Lodging Opportunities Inventory.................................................................................211 Appendix F: Chautauqua County Greenway Plan Survey Results ...................................................221 Appendix G: Potential Partners..........................................................................................................265 Appendix H: Model Trail Management & Maintenance Plans..........................................................283 Appendix I: Potential Funding Sources ............................................................................................317

The Chautauqua County Department of Planning & Economic Development (CCPED) has produced versions of

the Greenway Plan in three different formats:

1) Hard copies of the Greenway Plan in its entirety, including the Appendices;
2) The main text in hard copy format and the
Appendices on CD; and
3) The entire Greenway Plan and Appendices on CD.

The Greenway Plan, Appendices and Executive Summary can also be accessed on the CCPED website: www. planningchautauqua.com. Choose the “Econ. & Trails Dev.” Development” page and click on the “Greenway Plan” from the pull down menu.

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CHAUTAUQUA COUNTY
GREENWAY PLAN

IntRoDuCtIon

“Come forth into the light of things, Let Nature be your teacher”

- William Wadsworth

Photo Credit: Michael   Kotyk

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“The richness I achieve comes from Nature, the source of my inspiration.”

- Claude Monet

Photo Credit: Mark Geise

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INTRODUCTION

Chautauqua County’s wealth of natural, cultural, and recreational assets, as communicated by Chautauqua County residents in the recent completed Comprehensive Plan, made developing a Greenway Plan a logical decision.

Visitors to Chautauqua County are immediately struck by the awe-inspiring beauty of the landscape. Quaint villages and abundant recreational assets with a back drop of forested ridgelines, expansive lake shores, rolling vineyards,

and stunning vistas define the County’s character

and image. Branded as the “World’s Learning Center”, Chautauqua County is poised to capitalize on these assets and others.