Central New York Land Trust wants to build 1-mile hiking trail in town of Clay

By Glenn Coin, syracuse.com, link to original post

The Central New York Land Trust has asked the state for permission to build a mile-long hiking trail through the woods and wetlands of the Riverwalk Nature Preserve in the town of Clay.

The trail would be built on about 100 acres donated to the trust in 2011 by the Bragman Companies, which built the adjacent Riverwalk development. That 178-home development was featured in the 2012 Parade of Homes.

The trust’s land near the Oneida River has numerous wetlands, which are regulated by the state Department of Environmental Conservation. Building the trail would require a number of bridges over wetlands areas.

Take A Hike – Finger Lakes

The trail, which has already been laid out, will meander through forest of old, large trees, including shagbark hickories, hemlocks and red and sugar maples, said Jeff Devine, executive director of the land trust. “The trail system will take visitors on an interpretive journey that highlights the various ecological communities and connects the interesting natural features of the site in a manner that preserves their integrity,” Devine said.

The area is open to the public now from a parking area on Guy Young Road, Devine said, but hiking is difficult. “You need boots,” he said. “It can get pretty wet in spots.”

Planning for the donation of the land and building of the trail started nine years ago, Devine said. He said he did not know when trail construction would start or when the trail might open to the public. “That depends on how quickly the permit gets approved,” he said.

In 2006, students at the SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry studied the property and proposed a variety of plans for the trail.

DEC is accepting comments on the proposal until May 23. Comments can be e-mailed or sent by regular mail to:
Kevin R Bliss
NYSDEC Region 7 Cortland Sub-Office
1285 Fisher Ave
Cortland, NY 13045

Copies of the plans are available in the DEC Cortland office.

For other hiking option in Central NY, pick up a copy of Take A Hike – Family Walks in New York’s Finger Lakes Region.

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Syracuse Erie Canal Heritage Area Walking Tour – June 9

Click here for details: Syracuse Erie Canal Heritage Area Walking Tour – June 9

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Old Growth Trail at Green Lakes State Park

Old Growth Trail at Green Lakes State Park

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New walking/biking resource for Onondaga County

Walk/Bike CNY is a new website sharing information on walking and biking opportunities in the Syracuse area.  In addition to highlighting the county’s trails, the site offers tips to stay safe while walking and biking.

source: PTNY newsletter

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Kayaking Seneca River and Onondaga Lake, with photos

Kayaking Seneca River and Onondaga Lake, Liverpool

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Swedish Kayak Company Moves Manufacturing to Syracuse, NY

To best fulfill large stocking orders from U.S. sporting goods retailers, Swedish company Point65°N has moved production of its Apollo, Snap OnTop Kayaks to the Roth Global Plastics manufacturing facility in Syracuse, NY. Roth Global Plastics owns the world’s largest blow mold machine which can extrude up to 1,000 pounds of high-density polyethylene, enabling the production of items up to 15 feet long and 6 feet in diameter in its Syracuse plant. (The next largest machine in North America handles 250 pounds.)

“We are exceptionally pleased to bring the manufacturing of these products to Syracuse,” says Richard Ohman, Founder & Owner at Point65°N Kayaks, Sweden. “Roth provides not only the expertise and efficiencies we require to produce these boats, but offers technology not available in China.”

“It’s rare that foreign companies bring manufacturing into the United States and we are thrilled to be a part of it,” said John Pezzi, the Roth’s Vice President of Plant Operations. “The seasonality of the recreational water sports is perfectly counter-cyclical to that of our septic tank manufacturing business and helps keep the facility at a higher overall level of utilization throughout the year.”

“As the exclusive U.S. Distributor for Point65°N kayaks, we find significant advantage in having these products manufactured just across town,” states Geoffrey Lewis, president of WYNIT Distribution, LLC. “Our product management team now has exceptional access to key stages of the production process, ensuring that all requirements for the delivery of these products to our retail customers are on-track and properly executed.”

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Free Erie Canal guide highlights all the things to do along its corridor

The Erie Canalway National Heritage Corridor Commission has released its free, 2012 Erie Canalway Map & Guide to introduce residents and visitors to the many things to see and do in the Erie Canalway National Heritage Corridor. People can obtain a copy at visitor centers, libraries, cultural heritage sites, and canal locks all along the New York State Canal System.

The guide is also available for download online.

“Whether you like boating, cycling, history, nature, or simply spending time with friends and relatives, you’ll find things to do and places to discover all summer long,” said Erie Canalway Director Beth Sciumeca.

The eight page newspaper-style guide includes a map of the National Heritage Corridor, as well as a list of canal-related cultural heritage sites, boat rental and tour companies, places to cycle on the Erie Canalway Trail, and more.

New York State Canal Corporation Director Brian Stratton said: “The annual Erie Canalway Map and Guide is a great way to get the word out on all there is to see and do across New York’s historic, scenic Canal Corridor throughout the year. We are proud to partner with the Erie Canalway National Heritage Corridor on this excellent publication to help make it possible.”

Funding support for the guide was provided by the New York State Canal Corporation and Brookfield Renewable Energy Group. The guide reinforces Brookfield’s message regarding the importance of safety on the waterway.

The map and guide, along with the website , are among the efforts by the heritage corridor commission to increase awareness about the waterway, trail, and national significance of the Erie Canal.

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Hiker impressed by ‘Inukshuk’ he found on Finger Lakes Trail, south of Syracuse

Click here to read: Hiker impressed by ‘Inukshuk’ he found on Finger Lakes Trail, south of Syracuse

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The Cranx Indoor Bike and Sports Park in DeWitt offers fun for everyone

The Cranx Indoor Bike and Sports Park in DeWitt offers fun for everyone

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Revised Erie Canalway Biking Guidebook Now Available

If you’re interested in biking across New York, the latest edition of “Cycling the Erie Canal” is now available.

The 144-page guidebook, published by Parks and Trails New York, features trail maps and up-to-date listings of bike shops, lodgings and other necessities, while documenting areas to stop and visit. “Cycling the Erie Canal” follows the 400-mile Erie Canal Trail route stretching from Buffalo to Albany, and covers everything from trip preparation to historical sights along the canal way.

For more information about this year’s guidebook, visit: http://www.ptny.org/guidebook/ or call: (518) 434.1583.  The guide is also available at bookstores and gift shops.  “Cycling the Erie Canal” retails for $23.95.

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