The county then worked on implementing the key suggestions. Among them was the recommendation to develop a countywide, interconnected trail system. In 2012, the county developed a Greenway Plan, which sought to conceptualize the development of trails throughout the county, utilizing existing rights-of-way and corridors, thereby connecting towns, parks, and trails in a network.

For Geise, deputy county executive for economic development, CEO of the CCIDA, and co-chair of the Partnership for Economic Growth, the Greenway Plan was a trailblazing moment for the county, as it sought to “capitalize on our natural assets to establish Chautauqua County as a mecca for outdoor recreation and active living in order to attract more people to visit and live here.”

Between 2012 and 2020, the county and key stakeholders made a significant amount of progress, including:

¯ Development of a conceptual plan for a general-use trail that connects Barcelona Harbor to Chautauqua Institution (B2CI), generally following the historic Portage Trail blazed by pioneer traders;

Pictured is a sign at one of the county’s Overland Trails.

¯ the procurement of more than $400,000 in funding through the Appalachian Regional Commission to develop the Chautauqua County Equestrian Trail System’s 15-mile trail network in Boutwell Hill State Forest;

¯ construction of a 1.5-mile trail in Mayville, extending from Route 430 to Lakeside Park;

¯ construction of a 1-mile trail loop in Westfield;

¯ procurement of a state grant to secure about a dozen easements in Westfield for the B2CI Trail; and

¯ construction of six kayak launches in strategic locations on Lake Erie and Chautauqua Lake.

This kiosk at the Chautauqua Rails to Trails on the Webb Trail was constructed with the help of students at Chautauqua Lake Central School.

It was during the COVID-19 pandemic when Jacob Bodway, the former president of the Western New York Mountain Bicycling Association, entered the picture.

“Moving back to Chautauqua County was a dream come true. I was already aware of the 2012 Greenway Plan, and I was eager to assist the county in meeting some of the objectives outlined in the Plan,” Bodway said.

Bodway first secured Volunteer Stewardship Agreements from the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation, contacted the Chautauqua County Department of Public Facilities, joined the county Parks and Trails Commission, and became a board member of Rails to Trails. From there, he got in touch with the Department of Planning and Development and its public-private development collaborative, the Chautauqua County Partnership for Economic Growth.

After identifying the county Overland Trails as an initial maintenance project, Bodway soon began hosting meetings with local trail groups and other interested parties to share ideas and to form a coalition. These meetings became the genesis for the Friends of Chautauqua County Greenways.

With funding from the Sheldon Foundation’s Strategic Partnership and Restructuring grant, the Partnership for Economic Growth hired Camoin Associates to explore the feasibility of forming a nonprofit Friends of Chautauqua County Greenways group. The conclusion that they reached was that the FCCG should be housed under the umbrella of CCPEG.

Pictured is a section of the Chautauqua County Rails to Trails. Submitted photos

For Twan Leenders, one of the inaugural co-chairs of the FCCG, the next few years should produce “collaborative efforts to see a sustainable system of interconnected greenways that protects important ecological functions such as erosion control, watershed protection, habitat for wildlife, and scenic beauty, while providing a beautiful infrastructure for a variety of recreational activities.” Leenders furthermore sees these efforts as a means to “incentivize others to come visit Chautauqua County or to consider relocating here.”

Since 2020, things have really taken off.

¯ the county set aside over $400,000 of ARPA money for improvements to the Chautauqua Overland Trails, the Chautauqua Rails-to-Trails, the purchase of trail maintenance equipment, and a new master plan for the Marden E. Cobb Waterway Trails;

¯ Rails to Trails has completed various resurfacing projects;

¯ the trailhead in Boutwell Hill State Forest was resurfaced and expanded for equestrians;

¯ improvements have been made to the Overland Trails, including new trailhead benches and kiosks;

¯ CCPEG has allocated $50,000 as leverage/matching dollars to help leverage State and philanthropic investments in trail maintenance;

¯ the County Department of Planning and Development and Department of Public Facilities, among other partners, have allocated funds to continue design and engineering work, and the acquisition of easements, which will lead to the full development of the Barcelona to Chautauqua Institution Trail in Mayville and Westfield (B2CI);

¯ Two new shared-use mountain bike trails in Whalen Memorial State Forest;

¯ CCPEG has launched its #LiveCHQ marketing campaign, highlighting outdoor recreation opportunities, while also emphasizing the county’s eco-tourism assets; and

¯ CCPEG is in the process of developing an interactive online and mobile responsive Outdoor and Recreation & Amenities Map to increase use of existing trails, complimentary recreational assets, and related attractions and amenities throughout the county.