The effort will bring various trail organizations together and determine how best to work together to provide mutual support and seek funding.

In 2012, the Chautauqua County Department of Planning and Economic Development released a comprehensive Greenway Plan that identified areas for eco-tourism, private/public partnerships, natural recreational greenway opportunities and projects to expand greenway development within the county. While some of the planned projects have been completed, there has been a renewed interest in completing other projects identified in the plan.

“I am thrilled that there is renewed interest in implementing projects and initiatives recommended in the Greenway Plan that we worked so hard on more than 10 years ago, and that this is happening organically,” said Mark Geise, deputy county executive for economic development. “Some of the key recommendations from the plan stated that we should create a ‘Friends Group,’ and we should take care of what we already have while also seeking to increase our offerings. That is exactly what is happening. Kudos to the passionate volunteers who are putting in the hard work to make this happen, and to the county Legislature, the Sheldon Foundation, and others for allocating funding for the purpose of improving upon the incredible assets we already have.”

Jacob Bodway, a member of the county Parks Commission and an avid trail user, has been partnering with the county Department of Planning and Development to facilitate initial discussions among various trail organizations, legislators, and mayors.

“The ‘Friends Group’ will help get everyone on the same page and will enable us to seek larger grant dollars for future trail projects,” he said. “This moment represents a once-in-a-generation opportunity to upgrade and expand the county’s greenspaces and to market the county as a regional leader in outdoor recreation.”

The potential for a “Friends Group” comes on the heels of Chautauqua County setting aside $250,000 in funding from the American Rescue Plan Act for trail maintenance and upgrades. The county plans to purchase new trail maintenance equipment to improve efficiency, and repair bridges on the Overland Trails, among other projects. Funding was also allocated for various trail projects, including major improvements to the Westside Overland Trail in Chautauqua Gorge and Mount Pleasant State Forests, the installation of trailhead kiosks on the Overland Trails and the Chautauqua Rails-to-Trails, new trail signs on the Overland Trails, and trail maintenance projects on the Chautauqua Rails-to-Trails.

“Chautauqua County is fortunate to have an outstanding network of recreational trails for hiking, mountain biking, snowmobiling, horseback riding, and more,” said Rebecca Wurster, planning coordinator for the county Department of Planning and Development and Chautauqua County Partnership for Economic Growth. “The trails are a major draw for locals and visitors alike, and it is essential that we continue to maintain and develop them.”