By John Loyd, Olean Times Herald, link to original, full article
Cuba NY residents may soon have another way to stay healthy thanks to a $589,000 grant the village received that will go toward efforts on the “Cuba’s Landmark Connections to the Genesee Valley Greenway” project.
Village of Cuba board member and Cuba Friends of Architecture President Dr. Michael Doyle wrote the grant for the project. He said they plan to use the grant funding for completion of miles 89 and 90 on the Genesee Valley Greenway, which are the last miles of the walkway. The project will also develop old trail space along the former Genesee Canal into a 12-foot-wide trail.
This work would include improvement of the 5,700-foot trail bed, grooming of the resulting path and building signs and gates to be installed along the trail. But the work doesn’t end there.
To refurbish this part of the trail, a 60-foot bridge will be built to cross Griffin Creek. Mr. Doyle said trailhead parking lots and bicycle racks are intended for Bull Street. Access to the Greenway from West Cuba Road is in the works as well.
Supplementing the Greenway renovations is a 2,600-foot pedestrian walkway from the Greenway to the Genesee Valley Canal Railroad Depot at Empire City Farms. Dr. Doyle said the link will extend from the Greenway at Bull Street, along Prospect and Bristol streets and some landscaping. It will cross a 100-foot bridge to be built above the Western New York and Pennsylvania Railroad at Prospect Street.
He said snowmobilers will be able to enjoy the trails in the winter. Other groups are interested as well. Dr. Doyle said Hometown Fitness in Cuba has looked into holding a 5k run on the trail as it’s developed.
