Committee hosts forum regarding trails and bikeways planning

PINE PLAINS — Early on the morning of Saturday, Oct. 22, Pine Plains residents gathered at the Heart of Pine Plains Community Center to listen to lectures about the creation of trails and bikeways in the local region and to voice ideas, thoughts and concerns about the creation of similar trails and bikeways in Pine Plains.The Trails and Bikeways Committee, headed by Scott Chase, was formed to create a trail map that will be added to the Pine Plains comprehensive plan to detail the development of trails and bikeways over the next 10 to 20 years.During the forum, three lecturers ­— Karl Beard of the National Park Service, Ruth Elwell of the Wallkill Valley Rail Trail Association and Dick Hermans of the Harlem Valley Rail Trail Association — gave the audience valuable information about their experience with similar undertakings.Beard works with the River Trails and Conservation Assistance Program to help communities create parks and trail systems.One of the communities he has worked closely with is Hyde Park, where a town-wide trail system was developed to include nature preserves and historical sites.The project included a way-finding system to prevent people from getting lost that was made up of maps, brochures, trail blazes, trail markers, signs and kiosks.The development plan included outreach programs to increase the public knowledge and visibility of the trail system as well as events and incentives to attract people to the trails. Multimedia elements, like podcast trail guides, help entice people from all age groups.The plan to maintain and improve the trail system took advantage of youth groups and the Eagle Scouts to create signs and complete small project.Beard also discussed the economic impact of creating trail systems.On average, he said, people who use the trail systems spend $3 to $13 per day, and those people often use the trail regularly, which maintains a steady influx of money into the local economy.Overall, he said that the total benefit to the communities averages $1.2 million to $1.9 million every year, including $200,000 to $600,000 in “new” money, or money that comes from outside the immediate community.Beard said that property values generally see a 0 percent to 6 percent increase in value if they are located close to the trail systems.He warned the committee that the planning process of creating a trail system takes a number of years, but he told the audience not to be discouraged by the slow process because the benefits are worth the wait.Up next, Elwell detailed the process of creating the Wallkill Valley Rail Trail, which includes 12.5 miles of trails and plans for expansion.She echoed Beard’s cautionary tales about the slow process, saying that it took 14 years for her town’s trail system to reach its grand opening. She said that a strong support system and a large group of willing volunteers would make the process much smoother.The Wallkill trails are packed dirt, not blacktop, to make them appealing for the equestrian community. The trails were made on some of the abandoned rail beds.She spoke of the issues in creating the trail — namely the cleanup of the proposed locations and the concerns of neighbors that the trails would be used improperly for unsavory activities — and explained the steps that her town took to remedy the problems, which often included communication with the local residents and a healthy dose of volunteerism.She also touched on more technical aspects of the trail creation, including ownership, land trusts and easements.To illustrate some of the ways the trail system has been used by the community, Elwell showed photographs of events that take place along the trails, including music concerts, art exhibits and fundraisers.As the people who spoke before him, Hermans also noted the long-term commitment involved with the creation of a trail system. He said that the Harlem Valley Rail Trail Association has been holding meetings for over 25 years.Since the Harlem Valley Rail Trail is so close to Pine Plains, it shares some of the same issues that the Pine Plains trail system might encounter.The abandoned rail beds in Millerton cut through wetlands and are home to endangered species, which is slowing the expansion projects.Cost has also been an issue. The Harlem Valley Rail Trail cost roughly $150,000 to $200,000 per paved mile, but that was 10 years ago, before gas costs sky-rocketed.Hermans stressed the positive impact of the trail system, saying that it has generated an ever-present stream of people in town using the trail, which has strengthened the local economy.During the second half of the forum, the audience was broken into several smaller groups so that people could give their input regarding what they want or don’t want on the trail, what concerns they want addressed and any additional ideas they want to contribute.Members of the Trails and Bikeways Committee took notes, then presented the thoughts to the whole audience to initiate additional dialogue.The discussions will be the basis of the maps and plans developed by the committee.For more information about the Trails and Bikeways Committee, contact Scott Chase at 518-398-5247.