winter 2019 welcome the new year with a first day greenway
TRANSCRIPT
Winter 2019
Barbara Kubiak
Start the New Year right by getting outdoors on January 1st. Join one of three 1st Day Events on the Greenway offered by the Genesee Valley Greenway State Park (GVGSP). These FREE EVENTS, scheduled for Avon, Cuba and Hinsdale, will be great activities for the entire family, and leashed pets are allowed. In case of severe weather, a posting will be made on
Facebook advising the cancellation of any of these events. Pre-registration is required. Please see directions below. Avon 1st Day Hike/Ride, 11 am Fellow snowmobilers! Ring in the New Year with your comrades on the Greenway’s First Day Hike/Ride from the Avon area heading south to Cuylerville. Meet at Erie-Attica Trail Parking Lot – State Route 5 to Farmers Rd. in Avon (42.922842, -77.756422) for a 20-30 mile snowmobile ride or a 2 mile hike/cross country ski/snowshoe one hour event on an easy trail starting on the Erie-Attica Trail and continuing on the Genesee Valley Greenway. Snowmobiles will travel south to around Cuylerville. There will be a porta-john available in the parking area. Registered snowmobiles are the only motorized form of transportation permitted on the Greenway. Please, no ATV’s, UTV’s etc. This ride is supported by the Caledonia
Trailblazers and the Henrietta Hill & Gully Riders Snowmobile clubs. If there is no snow, there will still be a hike. If there is snow, hikers are still encouraged to attend to hike, ski or snowshoe. The clubs will offer hot dogs, hamburgers and snacks afterwards. The Friends will provide water, coffee and cocoa. Cuba 1st Day Hike, 1 pm Start the New Year with an easy, yet invigorating winter walk along the Greenway, heading west along Griffin Creek and Olean Creek, where an abundance of wildlife signs can typically be seen. Meet at Bull Street in Cuba (42.216592, -78.283329) for a 2.5 mile round trip hike on an easy trail. If there is snow, bring snow shoes or skis. There are no bathroom facilities available; however, the Palmer Opera House, located at 12 W. Main St., Cuba, is less than ½ mile away from the meet up location and will be open at 11:00 am and after the hike to offer hot beverages, snacks, and handicapped accessible restrooms. Hike leader: Mike Landowski Hinsdale 1st Day Walk/Hike, 8:45 am Visit Hinsdale for a walk along Genesee Valley Greenway’s most recent open section heading east along Oil Creek. The walk begins at 9 am. Meet at the Hinsdale United Methodist Church on Main St. (42.167278, -78.387766) for a 2-mile round trip on an easy trail. The Hinsdale Historical Society will lead this hike. Hot chocolate will be served
afterwards. Bathrooms will be available at meeting location. Pre-registration is required. Please include number in party and hike location as there is more than one 1st Day Hike on the Greenway. Send email to: [email protected] with “First Day Hike Regi” in the subject line OR leave a message at: (585)493-3614 Questions: (585)493-3614 or [email protected]
Welcome the New Year with a First Day Greenway Hike
Fran Gotcshik skiing
Joan Schumaker
First Day Hike, 2016
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President’s Message
Good news continues for the Greenway as evidenced by the articles in this issue of the Greenway News. Read about our Greenway Trail Town initiative: the enthusiastic citizens in Cuba who have already formed a Cuba Trail Town Task Force committee, the effort to obtain a feasibility study to identify the best route to close the gap in the GVGSP in the Village and Town of Cuba, the progress being made through our participation in the USDA (REDI) Initiative, and the Livingston County Planning Department trail connectivity plan and research taking place concerning five potential locations to connect to the Genesee Valley Greenway.
You can also read about Greenway improvements to result from the $6.5M funding announced last August. Design and construction funding for the Greenway north of Scottsville is through DOT and scheduling requires that Requests for Proposals (RFPs) go out in April 2020 with construction starting in July if all goes smoothly. Funding for the Greenway between Canawaugus Park and Avon allows that the RFPs go out earlier than the April date. The entire project will require 1 to 1 ½ years, but only sections being worked on will be closed. All 17 miles will not be closed at the same time.
ALTA Planning is currently working on the Strategic Action Plan to identify additional work needed on the Greenway. The Strategic Action Plan is described at the top of page 4. Public outreach is scheduled for January and April with a Project map by May. A Draft Project list and a Cost/Evaluation Matrix is scheduled for the end of June with a Permit & Implementation Process Review by the end of August.
The GVGSP Enthusiasts Meet Up Group now has 477 members and I hope that many of them will be actively participating in Greenway events this coming year. The first opportunity for them, and others who want to start the new year right, will be the Greenway 1st Day Events taking place in Avon, Cuba, and Hinsdale. (Please see details in this newsletter.)
We do need to offer a continuing variety of trail activities for outdoor enthusiasts this winter and throughout the year. If you belong to a user group who makes use of regional trails for skiing, cycling, hiking, horseback riding, etc., suggest that your leaders consider using the Greenway. Please have them contact me since the Friends would be pleased to promote trail activities that will introduce more people to the Greenway. Also, please contact me if you are interested in leading an event.
I again want to remind everyone that it is time to renew or become a new member of the Friends. You may have been confused by the membership list in the last newsletter. It was mistakenly labeled 2019-20 Members, but only those in bold were already members for the new year. I apologize for any confusion. We did not hear from some of our long-time members, so please check the member list in this issue (page 7) and, if necessary, renew. If you just want to donate, that is fine, too. Your financial support of the Friends and the Greenway is very much appreciated and we THANK YOU.
If you have questions or suggestions, please contact any board member or contact me at [email protected] or call 585-490-3302. Enjoy the Greenway!
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Janet Hughes
Email: [email protected] Telephone: 585-490-3302
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The Genesee Valley Greenway State Park GVGSP is again offering their Historic Interpretive Hike Series. The guide will incorporate the history of the town in which the hike is located, point out historic canal and railroad features, and note interesting natural features along the way. Hikes will be held on the second Saturday of each month (April through October), begin at 10 a.m., last approximately 2-3 hrs, and take place on easy flat trail with a mixed surface of grass, cinders or stone dust. Sections near Rochester are paved. Individual hikes are listed below and are part of the 14 hikes in the Wegmans Passport to Wellness Program. Completion of hikes in this series makes the trail user eligible for Wegmans grocery coupons or a NYS Parks Empire Passport. See details at http://fogvg.org/wegmans-passport-program/ Watch for additions to this schedule on www.fogvg.org , https://www.meetup.com/Genesee-Valley-Greenwy-State-Park-Enthusiasts and https://www.facebook.com/pg/FOGVG/posts/?ref=page_internal Wednesday, January 1: 1st Day Greenway Events are scheduled for Avon, Cuba and Hinsdale. See article on page 1 for details. Monday, February 24, 11 am: Greenway Partner Meeting at Humphrey Nature Center, 6773 Trailside Road, Castile, NY. Visitors welcome. Saturday, April 11, 10 am: Historic Interpretive Hike Series - Hike #6: York Landing to Fowlerville Road, York, Livingston County. Take River Rd north from Rt 63 or south from Rt 20. Turn east onto York Landing Rd. Park and meet at the trailhead parking lot located at the end of the road (42.864631, -77.851023). Hiking north, roundtrip of entire section is 5.2 miles, roundtrip to Wegmans trail marker is 3.1 miles. See description at beginning of this Events List. Includes former canal turning basins and views of Genesee River. Questions: [email protected] or (585) 493-3614 Monday, April 22, 11 am: Greenway Partner Meeting at Humphrey Nature Center, 6773 Trailside Road, Castile, NY. Visitors welcome. Saturday, May 2, I Love My Park Day – Save the date and watch for details on how you can help the Greenway. Saturday, May 9, 10:00 am: Historic Interpretive Hike Series - Hike #7: Town of Leicester, Livingston Co. (Cuylerville to Piffard) Take Route 20A east of the Village of Leicester or west from Geneseo. Park and meet at the trailhead parking lot located on the north side of 20A in the Hamlet of Cuylerville. (42.777354, -77.870262). Enjoy scenic vistas of the Genesee River, see several ponds and pastoral landscapes along the way. Starting at Mile 30 to Mile 27 (traveling NORTH); 7.5 miles (round trip) 3.5 miles to Wegmans marker and back. See description at beginning of this Events List. Sponsored by GVG State Park. Questions: [email protected] or (585) 493-3614
Fran Gotcsik and Joan Schumaker attended the "Friends of the Park - Statewide Friends Conference 2019" in Saratoga on Nov. 15 - 16. It was an excellent conference, where we attended special sessions, In Depth Fundraising and another on Building Your Facebook Footprint. There was also a very good panel of four Friends Groups, with their Park Managers, titled Better Together. The Friends of Letchworth were represented by President Carol Rathbun and Park Manager Doug Kelly who had a very good presentation.
I especially want to let you know about Best Practices, a new publication for Friends Groups. We received paper
copies but the publication is available online at. https://www.ptny.org/our-work/support/nys-park-friends/resource-kit I have not had time to study this pamphlet, but it covers most of what Friends Groups need to know. Topics include Boards, Membership, Technology, Fundraising and Grants, Marketing and Social Media, and Events and I Love My Park Day. Please take a look..
Joan Schumaker
Statewide News for Friends Groups Like Ours
2020 Greenway Events
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The Fall 2019 issue of the Greenway News included $6.5M Greenway Funding Announced. The improvements include resurfacing 17 miles of the Greenway with a crushed limestone surface and addressing culvert/drainage issues and weight loads on right-of-ways where resurfacing occurs. The trail sections to be resurfaced are noted here with additional improvements:
Ballantyne Road, Rochester to Rt. 5 in Avon: Resurfacing trail, wayfinding signs, trail user counting equipment
Leicester/Mt.Morris Bridge over Genesee River: Move Handicapped Accessible zero grade entry closer to the bridge, upgrade kiosk/gazebo, composting toilet, view spot on south side of bridge
York Landing: Parking lot upgrade, composting toilet, lean-to with fire ring, covered horse stall
Rt. 63, Piffard to Fowlerville Rd. between the Abbey and north York culvert fix plus resurfacing trail
There are also funds for a "Strategic Action Plan" included with this first round of funding. It will evaluate, set priorities, build public consensus and establish a road map for the next steps necessary to establish a first-class trail experience along the entire 90-mile length of the GVG. It will include looking at how to fill remaining gaps in trail connectivity, long-term asset management needs, permitting and processing needs, and roles and responsibilities and relationships with key partners. It will also include evaluation of how to fully integrate the GVG with other trails, including trail networks within major resources adjacent to the trail such as Letchworth and Allegany State Parks.
The Wilson Foundation has set aside an additional $2.5M to address needed Greenway improvements identified in the “Strategic Action Plan.” This funding is dependent upon New York State providing matching funds of $2.5M.
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$6.5 Million Improvements for the Greenway Joan Schumaker
Have you been on the Greenway at York Landing recently? If yes, you found that a Porta-John has been added for the convenience of Greenway users. In June 2018, the Friends joined with the Caledonia Trailblazers Snowmobile Club to provide the Porta-John, dividing the cost between the two organizations. We thank the Caledonia Trailblazers for their support in this venture which will continue into next summer. However, this is temporary! Projects to be completed with the new Greenway funding announced in August include a composting toilet for York Landing. (See article above)
Joan Schumaker
York Landing Additon
Joan Schumaker
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Building on Outdoor Recreation Economy in the Genesee Valley The USDA (REDI) Initiative – October 4, 2019 Workshop
Joan Schmaker
This Workshop, organized by Letchworth Gateway Villages, attracted about 70 people. The Greenway was represented at the workshop by GVGSP Manager Kristine Uribe and FOGVG Board members Coleridge Gill, Fran Gotcsik, Carl Schoenthal, Irene Szabo, and Joan Schumaker. “What is an Outdoor Recreation Economy and why does it matter for rural economic growth?” was a major topic of the Workshop. Fran (representing PTNY) was a panelist presenting results of a 2014 Erie Canalway Trail (ECT) Study that found “significant impacts on local economy and resident quality of life in 200+ communities along its length.” Fran reviewed the numbers (visitors, $ spent, jobs created), importance of overnight visitors and theme/itineraries, the need for “cyclist welcome” programs, and a major growth opportunity by marketing the ECT as a premier bicycling destination to a national and international audience. Cole also served on the panel, presenting the views of an Adventure Cyclist. He noted that there is already significant demand by adventure cyclists with people coming from all over the world to cycle here. Cyclists like homestays, off-the-beaten track experiences, connecting with local culture, and often return to favorite villages bringing family and friends. There is a huge opportunity to grow this tourist segment, but we need to make businesses and municipalities aware of this potential. Also, business practices need to be adapted and amenities/services created to meet the needs of cyclists. The Workshop continued with a review of technical assistance utilizing the WealthWorks model (www.wealthworks.org) and the November 2018 work on the Value Chain, a network of people, businesses, organizations and agencies that form partnerships. Gaps and the need to focus efforts on transactional (core partnerships) and support functions of the value chain were identified. Workshop attendees broke up into working groups to strategize and discuss action plans and then reconvened to discuss next steps. FOGVG hopes to make use of technical assistance through REDI for our Trail Town Initiative. Since the Oct. 4 Workshop, attendees have been invited to join one of several Working Groups that align with the strategic priorities outlined in the workshop. These Working Groups
will have conference calls/meetings to prepare for the next REDI Workshop in Cuba in late January or early February 2020. The Working Groups are: Marketing/Collaboration – Map Guide Municipal Planning (becoming a hospitality hub/trail
town) Business Coaching / Support Transportation Interpretation Signage and Wayfinding Planning and Resources Trails
Coleridge Gill and Fran Gotcsik speaking at the first workshop, with Nicole Manapol, manager of the project. Photo by Joan Schumaker.
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Geneseo Studies Potential Greenway Connection Sites Irene Szabo
Marilee Patterer
Livingston County Planning has allowed us to reveal that they are studying potential connection sites to link recreational places on the east side of the Genesee River, including several fairly close to Geneseo, in order to connect some of their attractions with the route of the Greenway. Of course, every single possible route bumps into that danged meandering river! And if you study the river’s map through that part of the valley, you will appreciate how much the river curves back and forth, including how much its route has changed over time, since there are oxbows and cut-offs created that show even on topographical maps, which depict the river’s route over a mere 120 years!
Parenthetically, I remember canoeing for hours one July day thirty-some years ago, and being shocked when I realized our
forward progress had been miniscule as we paddled by a valley factory for the second time that day, hours apart, because the plant is located on a major river loop.
Nonetheless, the Friends of the Genesee Valley Greenway applaud the county’s efforts to create connections and we look forward to their hoped-for successes. Since several miles will be involved in most potential connections, bicyclists will be most favored with potential side trails. It’s also pretty exciting that other recreational projects WANT to connect with the Greenway. It’s been a long time coming since 1992, but we may finally have arrived!
On Saturday July 13th, a group of four hikers, under the expert leadership of Parks’ Ken Wallace met at the Genesee Valley Greenway parking area at York Landing. York Landing is located just north of the Abbey of the Genesee Retreat House, on the east side of River Road near York. The hiking gods were truly on our side, for they arranged perfect July weather for our hike, warm and sunny, but not too hot or humid. In fact, the gods of the trail performed a minor miracle, because the hike had originally been scheduled to take place from route 20A to Chandler Road; however, due to the Air Show in Geneseo the hike’s site was changed at the very last minute. Several of the hikers did not hear of the change in venue until the wee hours of Saturday morning, so it was fortuitous that they found the new starting point.
At York Landing, Ken pointed out that the now bucolic site had once been an important and busy commercial port along the Genesee Valley Canal. We viewed the remains of a canal turning basin and saw a photograph of a canal warehouse once located nearby, the picture posted on a trailhead kiosk. There was much of interest to see as we marched along. Early on, a small, lithe, fast-moving garter snake crossed our path. We observed vast poison-ivy vines, with hundreds of ripening berries, just waiting for birds to pluck and drop their seeds along the trail, thus spreading the poison-ivy even further afield.
As we approached our turn-around point near route 63 in Piffard, we were able to observe how a large portion of the Greenway had been washed out and closed for several years. However, we had the pleasure of hiking on a new trail in prime
condition that circumvented the washed-out area. We learned that the Greenway State Park worked with the leadership of the Abbey of the Genesee to arrange an easement for our trail to walk Abbey property parallel to the original canal route. Last summer the new route was built and many young trees planted along the way.
Nature was decked out in all of its July finery. We viewed large yellow mullein, birds-foot trefoil, catnip, fleabane, Jerusalem-artichoke, purple vetch, dame’s rocket, tulip-poplars, and cottonwoods, to name just a few of the Greenway’s flora that we encountered. As a special treat, we were able to view World War II-era P-51 Mustangs overflying our hiking route, as they practiced for the day’s airshow in Geneseo. Ken was a perfect guide, sharing his knowledge, his insect repellent, and his experience with Native American arrowheads with the hikers.
July 13, 2019 Hike Summary York Landing to Abbey Greenway Restoration Area
Mark Getzen
Old galvanized-clad milepost
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Membership News
DID YOU FORGET TO RENEW?
The FOGVG membership year is from September 1 through August 31 and we are missing some of our regular members. Check the updated 2019-20 Membership List below to see if you are listed. If you are not presently a member, please renew or become a new member. Please let us know if you think our records are wrong. Note: You may have been confused by the membership list in the last newsletter. It was mistakenly labeled 2019-20 Members, but only those in bold were already members for 2019-20. Sorry about that! To join or renew, use the membership envelope in this newsletter or go to our website at www.fogvg.org where you can either download a form or complete your membership and payment online. Join the Friends to ensure that you continue to receive the newsletter electronically or by the USPS. As a member you may elect to have paper newsletters mailed to you.
As usual, a BIG THANK YOU to MEMBERS & FRIENDS for your generous support.
2019-20 Members Ron & Mary Abraham Stuart & Yu Chin Allen Joan Armbruster Andrea Barber Richard M. Bigg George & Nancy Brinkwart #*William Burt Michael S. Buskus Tom and Barb Byrnes Caledonia Trailblazers Snowmobile Club Ronald De Groff Jim DeVinney *Tony D'Imperio & Louise Michaud Cody & Katie Donahue *Roger L. Easton Jr. Dwight Folts Mark Getzin Coleridge Gill Jeff Goodyear *George & Fran Gotcsik Peter Gradoni Carole & Timothy Grooms Mary R. Gulesano *Jeffrey Hennick Myra Herlihy Pam Hill * Hill and Gully Riders Snowmobile Club Edward “Ned” Holmes Alan Hopenwasser
Peter & Sally Humphrey *James C. Hutton *Allen Kerkeslager David L. Kipp *Lakeland Rovers Hiking Club Patricia Martin James & Jeanette Maxim Michele Mc Call & Amy Stanley James Mc Master Than Mehlenbacher *Sanford & Jill Miller April Miller #Michele Miller Davies Nagel Joe & Marilee Patterer Rich & Val Perkins Ric & Sandy Perry *John Ridge Jennifer Ries-Taggart Anne Roth-Blizzard Gary & Cheryl Rouleau *Fred & Gerry Sauter *Carl Schoenthal *Joan Schumaker Larry & Joy Seaman Stephanie Spittal Greta Stephany David & Grace Strong David & Lisa Swaciak *Irene Szabo Jo Taylor Alice Thompson
Lawrence/Mary Tyndall Family George D. Van Arsdale # Louise & Will Wadsworth Jeanne & Rob Walk Tania Werbizky & Brad Edmondson *Norman Wetterau Robert Wheeler Donald & Roberta Whitney Dave Wood Charles Woolever Peter Wybron John Yunker Business Memberships *Drawing Borer'd Inc. #*Maple Lane RV Park Non Member Donations Melissa A Chinnock Robert & Sarah Booher *Ken and Colleen Kallio Kristin Paganin Megan Walter Memorial Gifts *Lakeland Rovers Hiking Club in Memory of Donna McCagg * Membership/Donation of $100 or
more – Thank you! # New Member in 2019-20
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Davies Nagel
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