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"The point of this project isn't to look at every small point but to connect them on a large scale," said Melissa Barry, a board member of the Rensselaer County Land Trust.
Barry is leading a new group, the Rensselaer County Alliance for Trails, on a mission to map out the possibilities of a regional trail system. The volunteer group received a grant, sponsored by the land trust, from the Hudson River Valley Greenway to collect all the information out there and put it into a package for local recreation committees, town planners and state organizations. If there are opportunities to help develop these trails, the information will already be in the right people's hands, Barry said.
"This isn't what we're promoting. We're just throwing it out there," Barry said. "There are different types of trails and we're not supporting any particular type."
With the grant, RCAT collected Global Positioning System
"The next step would be to take it back to the communities," Barry said. "Our organization is just volunteers and we have no money to build them."
Michael Wyatt of the Department of Transportation said the data will compliment statewide research on trails that is currently being conducted. Linking trails throughout the state is being discussed, and with that funding may be available to develop them, he said.
Wyatt also said that RCAT's information will be on hand in the DOT office and could be considered when projects near possible trails are proposed.
On Wednesday the group came to Hoosick seeking input, and the response what similar to what it heard elsewhere, said Barry. Mentioned at all meetings was a trail looping along the Tomhannock Reservoir in Pittstown and one connecting all of the state parks, Barry said.
An already proposed Corkscrew Trail, which travels along Route 22 and railroad tracks, received a lot of support, she said.
Hoosick residents mentioned another idea that would create a trail from Tibbits State Forest into Vermont. "It compliments our master plan because we're trying to keep open space," said Town Supervisor Marilyn Douglas.
Increasing tourism
There are opportunities to increase tourism, some residents said, including trails leading to historic sections of town, restaurants and cafes in villages, fishing access and state parks. Linking with nearby states will also bring traffic to the county.
Concerns were mainly around trail usage, which Barry said was expressed at every meeting. Hikers, bikers, horseback riders and all-terrain-vehicles would need to learn to live with each other and respect the nearby property owners.
"Trail etiquette should be taught to the general public," said resident Giesela Madigan, who knows first-hand about trails in Massachusetts, New York and Vermont.
Madigan said that in 1988 her and a group of people took a long three-state tour by horseback in honor of American soldiers. Carrying flags along the way, the trip demonstrated freedom, she said.
"I'd like the see the trails," Madigan said.
The general public needs more information though. Madigan owns a farm and said she has seen people walk off the trail and through her fields, destroying crops.
People also tend to feed and pet the animals, she said. It is respect of landowners and an understanding of the land that people need before going on the trails, she said.
Douglas expressed concern over who would have to maintain the trails. People tend to litter and somebody has to clean up the mess, she said. It is difficult for small towns to organizer volunteers to do that.
With the research phase complete, RCAT will now develop and updated map and send it out to communities this summer.
"We are going to be showing proposed trails based on what we heard," Barry said. "We're shooting for early summer, maybe late June."
