The grant is to help non-profit clubs with projects on public lands that are affiliated with the state Department of Environmental Conservation. The Boutwell Hill Ski Club is required to provide a 10% match to secure the grant, part of which is coming from the Chautauqua County Partnership of Economic Growth. The remaining matching money will come from donations and in-kind volunteer labor.

The funding will be used to provide environmentally friendly and sustainable trail rehabilitation of the “Homestead” cross-country ski trail in Boutwell Hill State Forest, located in Charlotte and Cherry Creek. The improvements help keep the trail dry in the winter months and will open the trail to horse riders, horse carriages, hikers, and bikers during the summer months. In addition, the club will work with the DEC to install a 40-inch culvert to replace a bridge that is currently in disrepair.

The Boutwell Hill Ski Club was founded in 2017 and maintains and grooms seven miles of trail for cross-country skiing during the winter months. Bill Scherman, club president, said this grant represents a watershed moment for the club.

“The grant will make the ‘Homestead’ trail far more accessible to the public and for additional trail-users,” Sherman said. “Our goal is to share the trail with as many people as possible, to get people outside to enjoy nature, and to attract more people to our area. We are excited to see birders and hunters enjoy the trail as well. We encourage volunteers to get involved with our club so we can ensure the sustainability of our trails for years to come.”

A group of cross-country skiers take advantage of the “Homestead” cross-country ski trail in Boutwell Hill State Forest. The trail recently received a major state grant to assist with upgrades and repairs to make it accessible for both skiing and equestrian use. Submitted photos

Jacob Bodway, Chautauqua County Partnership of Economic Growth trail coordinator, said the collaborative nature of the grant request realizes some of the major objectives of the Friends of Chautauqua County Greenways.

“This grant is a team effort between the NYSDEC, BHSC, CCETS, the County Parks Department, and CCPEG. It is exciting to see that all the hard work and collaboration is paying off in such a big way,” Bodway said.

The timeline for construction on the “Homestead Trail” is June through August 2024.

“CCETS played a pivotal role in the grant-writing process and in introducing BHSC to this grant opportunity. This grant goes a long way to building an even stronger relationship between the various trail-user groups in Chautauqua County,” Scherman said.

The BHSC Homestead Trail DEI (Diversity, Equity, Inclusion) Expansion Project was supported 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.