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Celebration of the Central Adirondack Trail Scenic Byway

Saranac Lake, NY - The Adirondack North Country Association Board of Directors hosted a morning Board meeting followed by the celebration of the release of the Central Adirondack Trail Corridor Plan. The event took place on June 22 at the historic Woods Inn in Inlet, New York, and was attended by more than fifty guests representing municipal, organizational, tourism and business interests in Oneida, Herkimer, Hamilton and Warren counties. Attendees received a CD of the Corridor Plan that represented the interests of the four counties, including thirty-five towns, villages and cities, and the more than two hundred participants who provided input through two Local Action Committees covering the 140-mile byway.

The historically renovated Woods Inn in Inlet where the ANCA Board meeting took place on June 22, 2006, overlooks Fourth Lake

Terry Martino, ANCA Executive Director, opened the afternoon meeting by welcoming guests in celebration of their accomplishments and work in the development of the plan. She said that with them ANCA has addressed the hard questions. “We don’t just name the problems—we offer action recommendations to revitalize our communities with answers and solutions that came from you.” She commented, “The plan is the reward of a grass roots dialogue. It’s not just an academic exercise with a short life span, but instead a dialogue with you to build on your best aspirations for your community.”

The afternoon presentation by Sharon O’Brien, ANCA Scenic Byways Coordinator, highlighted the successes of the local planning discussions over the two-year project. O’Brien reviewed the use of the Central Adirondack Trail label to benefit local communities, marketing and promotion strategies for byway resources and attractions, byway route signage and interpretation, and local and regional implementation strategies. O’Brien discussed how the program stimulates economic development and tourism and opens new inroads to funding sources. By reviewing New York State signage guidelines and presenting contact information about NYS Department of Transportation staff, O’Brien provided the important linkages for local communities to have dialogue with the NYSDOT about transportation projects.

Both Martino and O’Brien thanked the three contract agencies that worked with ANCA in the development of the plan—Lani Ulrich with CAP-21, Jan McGraw with Herkimer County Area Development Corporation, and Laura Moore, Warren County Planning Department. In addition, they acknowledged the work of Ann Ruzow Holland, Project Facilitator, in the project organization, community outreach and plan development. Ulrich spoke of the Central Adirondack communities’ commitment to the byway and new opportunities, such as the market potential for Adirondack Cuisine at local eateries, that were invigorated through the planning work. Phyllis Pfendler of the Oneida County Convention and Visitors Bureau addressed the importance of byway planning and linkages to the visitor outreach in Oneida County. Moore spoke of the work underway to expand the Central Adirondack Byway corridor to additional communities in Warren County. She emphasized how she works to direct travelers throughout the region along the byway. In combination, the speakers reinforced ANCA’s commitment to working with organizations along the byway to reinforce the regional planning work at the local level.

At the conclusion of the program, O’Brien said, “I am pleased to present you with an important planning tool that contains recommendations that will sustain the region’s businesses, and draw visitors to the area to support our local tourism economy.” Martino pointed out that the plan is an important mapping, not only of community assets, but a blueprint for regional development that can build on others opportunities, including bikeway and waterway planning.

The Central Adirondack Trail Scenic Byway project was funded by a NYS Department of Transportation Byway Program grant through the Federal Highway Administration and Transportation Equity Act for the 21st Century. The Adirondack North Country Association is committed to economically viable communities and an improved rural quality of life. For more information about ANCA please call 518-891-6200 or visit www.adirondack.org.