For all those interested in trails advancement in our region- the next round of public input and meetings for the Genesee-Finger Lakes Regional Trails Initiative is here!

Since the fall of last year, folks have been working hard on the Regional Trails Initiative Plan Update, and Livingston County has participated actively with input coming from municipalities, trail groups or organizations, and trail users.  The next opportunity for public input is this weekend and early next week.  See the attached flyer for details.  The main goals at this time are to obtain public comments, determine how to refine the recommended network, and set priorities for implementation.   I anticipate being in attendance at the Public Open House in Batavia.  I look forward to seeing you there!

Pubic Open Houses:
Saturday, April 11, 2015, 9 am- 1 pm.  Rochester- City of Rochester Public Market.
Monday, April 13, 2015.  6 pm – 8 pm.   Batavia – Genesee County Building No. 2
Tuesday, April 14, 2015.  5 pm – 7 pm.  Geneva – The Ramada.

If you would like to review and comment on the network now – please do!  Check the website and wiki map – and please pass the links along to your fellow citizens.  I have also included a copy of the RTI map, in pdf format, zoomed into Livingston County.  The full Region map can be viewed at the website link.

The Livingston County Planning Department is also participating on the Regional Trails Initiative Steering Committee.  The next Steering Committee meeting is scheduled for Wednesday, April 15, 2015.  If you have any questions or have input that you would like to provide, please feel free to contact me before this meeting so I can share your input.   Please feel free to distribute this email and attached resources.  We would like to hear from all who are interested.

*** PLEASE NOTE – – –  This is NOT a scheduled Springwater Trails hike.  It is an option for a hike at Watkins Glen, a hike led by a park naturalist, as held on numerous dates.  Sunday August 9th (when there is no scheduled S/T Sunday hike) being one of those dates.. ***

Likely Watkins Glen is a bit far to do a S/T hike, perhaps except by distance exception. (On the outer reaches of travel area to hike.)  However for those S/T hikers with specific interest in going to Watkins Glen S.P., recently rated #3 state park in the U.S.A. (by-the-way Letchworth S.P. was recently rated #1 state park in all of the U.S.A., maybe you’ve not yet heard this), &/or who are perhaps looking for a Sunday 8/9/2015 hike (if they feel they are missing a Sunday hike from their weekend plans) and who maybe can not make the Saturday August 8th S/T hike this may be an option.

There are also other dates for this same “Walk Behind the Waterfalls Gorge Tour” hike.  Please take note of the varying availability of dates and times this hike is offered as a park naturalist guided nature walk.

Perhaps at the Saturday 8/8/2015 S/T hike (Canadice Outlet Woodswalk), some of our S/T hikers may wish to confer about possibilities of coalescing a group of hikers who may wish to hike at Watkins Glen on 8/9, or on another date, to do this Watkins Glen Waterfall hike.

And, … of course once you are at Watkins Glen S.P for this hike, nothing stopping you from continuing your hiking time at the park outside of the park naturalist guided walk.  Heck, you made the drive, why not see some more of the place.  And if it is a hot day, there is an olympic-sized swimming pool in the park sure to cool you off if you take the plunge.  And for cemetery appreciators (and with a vista viewpoint none-the-less), there is a large cemetery (Greenwood Cemetery) immediately contiguous the northeast section of Watkins Glen State Park, and yes park trails connect to the cemetery.  It is left to you to explore the possibilities, no “spoiler” here, albeit said there is an open-sided pavilion in the cemetery with picnic tables.

Also noteworthy, not too far west of the far western end of the park, is a section of the FLT, and in the towns of Orange, Tyrone, Reading & Dix (all in Schuyler County) is the Sugar Hill State Forest and here you will find the Sugar Hill Fire Tower trails, and YES, you can climb the fire tower to the top.  And occasionally the “cab” of the fire tower is open.  (Hint: look for Tower Hill Road.)

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Here is the listing info provided on the park website for this recurring date hike.

http://nysparks.com/events/event.aspx?e=142-14059.5.7

Walk Behind the Waterfalls Gorge Tour

Daily Dates through: Tuesday, September 8th, 2015, inclusive (No hikes SCHEDULED ON mONDAYS)

Join a park naturalist on a guided nature walk one mile up the Gorge Trail to explore the origins and history of the gorge. Meet at the gorge entrance at the end of the main parking lot off of Franklin St./NYS Route 14.

Tuesdays – Sundays, 10am & 1pm. No fee; no reservations required.

– See more at: http://nysparks.com/events/event.aspx?e=142-14059.5.7#sthash.REqLupxe.dpuf