The Friends of Chautauqua County Greenways gathered where they discussed the Overland Trails, the waterway trails, Rails to Trails, mountain bike trails, equestrian trails and county parks.

Twan Leenders with the Chautauqua County Watershed Conservancy noted that over the last four years the county has raised nearly $1 million.

County Trail Coordinator Jacob Bodway noted that between Chautauqua County Rails for Trails and the county’s West Overland Trail in Chautauqua Gorge State Forest, more than 58,000 people have used them. This number is calculated from counters installed at both trails.

EQUESTRIAN TRAILS SYSTEM

OBSERVER Photo by Gregory Bacon Pictured are individuals who spoke at the Friends of Chautauqua County Greenways Public meeting. Speakers included (from left): Mina Supervisor Rebecca Brumigan, Jamie Reynolds from the county Parks Department, county Planning Coordinator Rebecca Wurster, Twan Leenders with the Chautauqua Watershed Conservancy, Bill Ward with the Chautauqua County Rails to Trails, county Trail Coordinator Jacob Bodway, and Missy Whittington with the Chautauqua County Equestrian Trails System.

Missy Whittington with the Chautauqua County Equestrian Trails System said this past year they were able to create a connector trail in North Harmony State Forest between two different state land trails.

They also had a successful Chautauqua Challenge endurance event, where horse and riders do a 15, 30, or 50 mile ride. It’s sanctioned by a national equestrian organization.

This was the second year of the endurance event which had 52 riders register. Riders were from Ohio, Maryland, Pennsylvania, Virginia, South Carolina, as well as local participants.

It was held at the Cabins at Farrington Hollow in Cherry Creek.

COUNTY PLANNING DEPARTMENT

County Planning Coordinator Rebecca Wurster noted the launch of the county interactive trails map last year has been a success. They’ve had more than 26,000 views, with viewers located in Ontario, Pennsylvania, Virginia, Ohio, as well as New York.

She noted the county is making progress on a trail from Barcelona to Chautauqua Institution. The trail was first proposed in 2013. Some of the trail portions have been constructed, but other parts need to be modified, including possible reroutes. Once the trail is completed she said it will be branded as a “lake-to-lake” trail, highlighting the fact that it will allow users to go from Lake Erie to Chautauqua Lake.

She also noted the county has begun exploring funding opportunities to have trails constructed for off-road vehicles, including ATV, UTVs, and side-by-sides, etc. “We don’t know what that looks like yet so that’s why we need this study to further look into that,” she said.

The county is also working on Phase 5 of the Overland Trail in Boutwell Hill State Forest. Bodway, the trail coordinator for the county, said state wetlands regulations delayed the work until next summer.

RAILS FOR TRAILS

Bill Ward with Chautauqua Rails To Trails said the local organization is working to close the gap between Sherman and Corry, Pa.

The county Rails to Trails group is working with Warren and Erie county, Pa. trail groups so that one day there will be trail connections between Pennsylvania and New York state. From there, a trail system could connect trail development regionally and nationally. “We have caught the attention of national trail systems,” Ward said.

He noted they’re already working with Erie-Pittsburgh trail organizations as well as the

Industrial Heartland Trails Coalition, which has a vision of establishing a 1,500 mile multi-use trail system in the United States.

COUNTY WATERWAYS

Leenders said the CWC has been working on the county’s waterway trails for the past three years as well as the Chadakoin River in Jamestown for the past year and a half.

The Marden E. Cobb Waterway Trail is 25 miles long and goes from Cassadaga Lakes until it converges with Conewango Creek. The Conewango Creek flows in from neighboring Cattaraugus County into Kennedy and ultimately to Warren, Pa.

Leenders noted how the emerald ash borer killed about 25% of the ash trees in the county and many of those trees ended up into the waterways, making them unnavigable. “The reality has been the system has been overwhelmed with trees,” he said.

Leenders said their focus has mainly been removing logs and trees so that users of the waterway trails can get through with a canoe or kayak.

Leenders said by the spring someone should be able to paddle from Kabob in Stockton for 40 miles.

The waterways are mostly cleared now, however due to the recent drought some parts of the Marden E. Cobb Waterway Trail are closed.

OTHER GROUPS

There were a number of other organizations that had representatives speak as well, including the County Parks Department, Boutwell Ski Hill Club, and the WNY Mountain Bike Association.

In addition, Mina Supervisor Rebecca Brumigan said they are looking to promote and develop new trails in the town, especially around Findley Lake.