A new report conducted by Parks & Trails New York (PTNY) and the New York Office of State Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation (State Parks) confirms that statewide greenway trail expansion continues to lead the nation, with 45.2 new miles of trail completed between January 2023 and June 2024.
In coming years, New York will see further trail expansion as 39.4 miles of trail are under construction and an additional 583.2 miles are in various stages of development.
New York State is a leader in greenway trails, with over 2,000 miles of multi-use paths across the state–including the 750-mile Empire State Trail, the longest statewide shared-use trail network in the US.
The report documents nearly 200 projects total, including 36 completed trail projects (new construction, trail renovation, and new amenities), 26 construction projects nearing completion, and 133 projects that have advanced during the last eighteen months (plans and feasibility studies completed or in progress, or grants awarded for planning or construction).
This expansion of New York’s greenway trail network reaches every corner of the state, including the Adirondacks, North Country, Western New York, Capital Region, Central New York, Hudson Valley, Long Island and New York City.
Notable projects include:
Design progress on 25 miles of the Long Island Greenway and funding for the design of 50 additional miles;
Six key trail corridors to advance with implementation planning in New York City’s outer boroughs, expanding the network with 40 new miles of trail;
Completion of the first 10 miles of the Adirondack Rail Trail from Lake Placid to Saranac Lake and major progress on phases 2 and 3;
Initiation of a feasibility study for the 57-mile O&W Rail Trail from Kingston to Port Jervis. Completion of nearly five miles of the O&W Rail Trail in the Hudson Valley, and a 1.8-mile O&W Connector to Kingston;
3.2 miles of the Harlem Valley Rail Trail resurfaced, with design in progress for an 8-mile extension;
Plans for extension of the Black Diamond Rail Trail in Ithaca north to Trumansburg, south to Buttermilk Falls State Park, and on to Robert H. Treman State Park; and
A major federal planning grant for 52 miles of the Southern Tier Trail in Cattaraugus County
The report further details projects in each region of the state, sources of funding, legislative advocacy, and programs to support greenway expansion, including PTNY’s Trail Towns initiatives. These programs support trailside communities by identifying opportunities for economic growth and developing plans to capitalize on their location along the Empire State Trail and Genesee Valley Greenway State Park.
You can view the full report here.
To learn more about greenway trail expansion in New York State, attend the “Greenways Across New York: Growth & Updates” webinar hosted by Parks & Trails New York on November 25 at 12 pm –register here.
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