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	Regional Map Join Us Contact Us Recent News Newsletter Annual Report Board Members Publications Project Partners Staff		The Celebration of the Adirondack Trail and Olympic Scenic Byways: The Intersection of Tourism Planning and Community Development April 27, 2005 - On April 27, 2005 stakeholders from nine counties gathered in Saranac Lake where the Adirondack North Country Association hosted a meeting to release the New York State Department of Transportation (NYSDOT) approved Corridor Management Plans for the Adirondack Trail and Olympic Scenic Byways. The official travel routes cut north and south, and east and west across the North Country Region More than sixty attendees including county representatives, local town and village government officials, business owners, and not for profit groups joined to explore the strengths of the NYS Scenic Byway program in helping promote tourism, stimulate economic development and open new inroads to funding sources. Jefferson, Lewis, St. Lawrence, Franklin, Hamilton Fulton, Montgomery, Essex and Clinton Counties participated in the planning effort. Terry Martino, Executive Director at ANCA said, “The CMPs will serve as a blueprint for action for communities along both corridors.” The documents are important planning tools that focus on marketing and promotions/ recreation /community and economic development/stewardship/transportation and safety. She said, “Byway planning is about how we use the road corridor—the way we enter and leave our communities—to contribute to making the community a tourism destination.” Martino acknowledged the support and funding that ANCA has received for tourism planning and community development along North Country Byways from NYSDOT and the Federal Highway Administration. Representatives from the NYSDOT included Nancy Alexander, State Program Manager and Mark Woods, State Program Coordinator and NYSDOT Regional Coordinators, Anna Forbes (R-7) and Raj Malhotra (R-1). Alexander provided a state perspective of the Scenic Byway Program including its history and potential for future funding. “New York State has been a national model in byway planning and we welcome your community participation,” Alexander stated. ANCA’s Scenic Byway Corridor, Sharon O’Brien, gave an overview of the contents of the two plans including the vision, goals, themes, and recommendations for action as put forth by the Local Action Committees and regional Steering Committees. The committees worked for over two years with ANCA in the creation of the plans. During local grassroots work sessions hundreds of natural, recreational, historical and cultural resources were named along the routes. Byway maps on display at the meeting showed the location of each resource and were accompanied by strategies on how to promote, maintain, interpret, and steward these valuable assets that were included in the plans. Through this type of planning, the entire length of the byway corridor becomes the travel destination offering a variety of exceptional experiences. Opportunities for Scenic Byway Program funding were discussed as well as other potential funding sources that will help Byway groups to maintain and enhance their section of the 188-mile Adirondack Trail and 170-mile Olympic Scenic Byway. Community members were instructed on how to use their new status of official Scenic Byway Community and the Byway theme when promoting themselves as travel destinations to encourage visitation and increase tourism dollars. By linking the corridor’s assets and integrating the significance of the resources available along each travel route themes were developed to tell the Byways’ stories. The Adirondack Trail selected “Woods, Water, Wilderness: The Real Adirondack Experience” and the Olympic Scenic Byway will use the “Olympic Spirit” to tell the story awaiting visitors. O’Brien also explained the electronic communication system established by ANCA to keep local communities informed of funding opportunities and Byway initiatives, an important component for Byway planners throughout the nine counties. She said ANCA will continue to take the lead to procure funding for projects along the North Country’s integrated system of Scenic Byway. Attendees were provided with contact information for regional staff at the NYS Department of Transportation who will work with them to implement the plans. In the afternoon community exchange session, Byway town and village representatives talked about their goals to link communities through existing lakes, rivers, streams, and ponds to increase tourist visitation and support community development. The return to the use of the North Country’s waterways, —the area’s historical transportation corridors—opens new access to communities and appeals to visitors who want to experience history, and take in nature while engaging in outdoor recreational activities. As marketing studies show the interest in nature tourism continues to grow, Byway communities will be encouraged to post their resources and link to the Byway internet website under development by ANCA to connect with this sector. ANCA has been a long-standing supporter of the work of the Northern Forest Canoe Trail. Olympic Byway community members were also updated on the progress of the Racquette River Corridor organizers. Those in attendance commented that the CMP will help them to build new partnerships to improve their communities. By participating in this regional effort they look to align with other towns, villages and groups to more effectively secure funding and carry out projects in their community and surrounding communities. Other regional opportunities discussed included the potential for the Byway area to become a premiere biking destination where visitors would enjoy riding on the bicycle touring routes and mountain biking trails. Community members also discussed marketing and connecting with birding enthusiasts through the development of educational guides and brochures and other promotions that will feature the wide variety of species found along the routes. ANCA received comments from village representatives that they are pleased to have the comprehensive action plans in hand and can use this important tool to initiate and direct their own projects. Each attendee received a copy of the plan on CD. The Adirondack North Country Association is a non-profit private corporation that strengthens the economy and quality of life in the 14 counties of northern New York through informed, open debate and advocacy on economic issues critical to the region and through region wide action on projects in agriculture, business and community development, forestry, human services, the arts and tourism. Visit ANCA’s website at: adirondack.org to learn more about the Adirondack North Country Byways or New York State’s Scenic Byways at www.dot.state.ny.us/scenic/nysb.html. Contact Sharon O’Brien by email or by calling 518-891-6200.