Parks & Trails New York (PTNY), with generous funding provided by The Ralph C. Wilson Jr. Foundation, distributed $60,000 in grant funding to six municipalities in Western New York. Western New York Trail Town Grants work to boost local economies by leveraging visitation to nearby greenway trails and public lands.
The communities receiving the funding include the Town of Belfast, Village of Avon, Village of Brockport, Village of Mount Morris, Village of Perry, and the Village of Scottsville.
This year’s awardees include:
- Town of Belfast ($15,000) to improve connectivity between the Genesee Valley Greenway and the town core with wayfinding and safety signage, an info kiosk, new bike racks, and an interactive engagement rubbing station project featuring trailside plates and a reward system hosted at the local library to encourage town exploration.
- Village of Avon ($15,000) for parking lot improvements at the Five Arch Bridge trailhead including prep work and asphalt installation to provide safer access and egress for users of Five Arch Bridge/Avon Driving Park trails.
- Village of Brockport ($3,600) to develop and print new brochures to be distributed from the Village’s welcome center. The materials will contain information about Brockport’s connections to the Erie Canalway Trail and other local recreational opportunities.
- Village of Mount Morris ($14,553) to improve safety and accessibility in its frequently used Pocket Park by replacing deteriorated surfaces with a durable brick paver walkway and repairing structural walls. These improvements will create a more welcoming and inclusive gathering space for the community.
- Village of Perry ($4,824) for beautification efforts along the popular Silver Lake Trail including new historical interpretive signage and improved seating.
- Village of Scottsville ($7,022) for placemaking signage identifying three municipal parks and the creation of a pollinator garden at Canawaugus Park.
These grants will enable communities residing along the 90-mile Genesee Valley Greenway and the western portion of the Empire State Trail to take advantage of visitation to these trails and other outdoor recreational resources in the area. Western New York Trail Town Grants help foster place-making efforts, encourage safer, more accessible streets for cyclists and pedestrians, and spur investment in new amenities, materials, events, and programs geared towards outdoor users.
Greenway trails deliver transformative economic, health, and environmental benefits, with the 750-mile Empire State Trail generating $1.87 billion in economic activity and welcoming 9.75 million visits to the trail annually. PTNY’s newly released report represents the most comprehensive study of a trail’s economic impact ever conducted in the United States measuring visitor spending, broader economic value, public health outcomes, and environmental benefits generated by the statewide trail network. Read the full report here.
