The Catharine Valley Trail Improvement Project, which aims to remedy erosion and resurface nearly 8,000 feet of the trail at its southern end, is underway and expected to be completed by fall. The project is a collaborative effort between New York State Office of Parks, Recreation & Historic Preservation and the Friends of the Catharine Valley Trail (FCVT), with funding from the New York State Park and Trail Partnership Grants and New York’s Environmental Protection Fund. The Park and Trail Partnership Grants are administered by Parks & Trails New York, in partnership with the NYS Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation. Additional funding was provided by the Community Foundation of Elmira-Corning and the Finger Lakes, with in-kind support from the Chemung Soil & Water Conservation District and GST BOCES.
“The scope of the project funded by this grant and the partners supporting it, including FCVT, are impressive,” said Fred Bonn, Regional Director for Finger Lakes State Parks. “By combining capital improvements and providing quality interpretation, the CVT is poised to become a leading destination in the Finger Lakes and Southern Tier regions.”
The Catharine Valley Trail is a year-round, multi-use trail stretching 17 miles from Seneca Lake to Horseheads and connects Watkins Glen and Mark Twain State Parks. Portions of the trail had been degraded by increased use (especially since the COVID-19 pandemic) and heavy seasonal rainfall. The trail improvement project involves clearing, grading, and installation of culverts, crushed stone base and top layers, crusher run, and hydro-seeding. Upon completion, project partners will install two interpretive kiosks at strategic locations where public access and visibility are greatest.
FCVT President, Scott Shaw, a retired engineer and county planner who supervised GST BOCES students during earlier stages of construction, added “The quality and timeliness of their work was impressive and a testament to the importance of the vital community resource and the value of the project and partnerships that make it happen.”
FCVT hosts an annual volunteer workday for “I Love My Parks Day” in May and a First Day Hike on January 1st. For more information, or get involved, visit @FriendsoftheCVT on Facebook.
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