If you’ve got something to say about the proposed 38-mile Schoharie Creek Trail, you’ll want to be in Middleburgh next Wednesday.
That’s when one of the final meetings on the project will be held at St. Mark’s Lutheran Church. 326 Main Street, 6:30-8pm.
Virtual maps of the trail, which would run from Esperance to Blenheim, are available online on GoogleMaps by visiting SaltDevelopment.org/trail study.
The idea for the trail came out of flood recovery efforts after Hurricane Irene and it’s seen as a way to help grow the local economy while maximizing its natural resources.
SALT—Schoharie Area Longterm—has been coordinating the study with help from consultants GPI Engineers and FoitAlbert Associates, funding from the state Department of State and Schoharie County, and public input on the best and most feasible trail routes.
The Trail Study group has also been developing cost estimates and investigating future grant funding opportunities.
The December 6 session will take a look at where the project stands before the project is finalized—an important step in seeking grant funding.
Jerrine Corallo, who’s been leading the effort for SALT, said the final report will prioritize individual segments of the trail based on which are most likely to receive funding and will serve as a guide for future funding applications.
“It’s unlikely that we’ll be able to obtain one large grant for the whole trail,” she said, and it’s even more unlikely that the trail itself will be one continuous stretch.
Instead, individual municipalities will probably seek out funding for their “piece” of the trail; the Town of Middleburgh has already submitted a Consolidated Funding Application for $400,000 for its link.
The trail includes the Towns of Esperance, Schoharie, Middleburgh, Fulton, and Blenheim with some sections proposed as “loops” to other trails and abandoned roads and others linking existing fishing access sites and even Vroman’s Nose and Mine Kill State Park.
For more information, go to Saltdevelopment.org or call (518) 705-5017.