Master Plan
(Requires Acrobat)
The development of the Cay-Sen canal trail has been under consideration and planning for over five years. When it is completed, it will run from the lakefront in Geneva to Waterloo, Seneca Falls and then to the Montezuma Wildlife Refuge. The majority of the trail will be off road, following the Cayuga/Seneca River. At the present time, people may use the trail that travels along the lakefront in Geneva through Seneca Lake State Park (approximately 2.5 miles one-way). Also there is a section of trail called the Ludivico Heritage Trail that is available in Seneca Falls that follows the canal. Design engineers are now at work designing that portion of the trail that runs from Geneva to Seneca Falls. Upon completion of their work, approval of the design by the Seneca County Board of Supervisors is required and then land acquisition discussions need to take place. A master plan for phase 1 of the trail has been completed and Phase 2 from Seneca Falls to the Wildlife Refuge is nearing completion. As progess continues, the website will be updated.
Cayuga-Seneca Canalway Trail Committee Receives State Award

September 30, 2004 @ 10:44 AM

The committee working to create a trail along the Cayuga-Seneca Canal has received a major state award for its efforts. Friends of Cayuga-Seneca Canalway Trail were presented the Canalway Trail Tender Award at the annual New York State Canal Conference in Glens Falls. The award recognizes outstanding contributions to the development and enhancement of New York State's historic canalway trail. It was the first time the award has been presented to a group.

Accepting the award on behalf of the 20-member committee were chair Vince Scalise of the Geneva Chamber of Commerce, Seneca County Tourism Director Moe Koch, Waterloo Village Trustee Dave Duprey, and volunteer Doris Wolf.

In presenting the award, Larry Frame, interim director of the Canal Corporation, said the "extraordinary efforts to make the trail a reality" by the Friends of the Cayuga-Seneca Canalway are "a model for others." He pointed out that members of the group represent a broad variety of interests including Chambers of Commerce, businesses, municipal and county officials, and volunteers. "Each member has made important contributions of time and effort," Frame said. "No one person could be singled out."

The committee, convened four years ago by the Chambers of Commerce of Geneva and Seneca County, has obtained a $5,000 grant from the state Department of Health to develop a conceptual plan, a grant of more than $400,000 in federal transportation enhancement funds to develop the trail from Geneva to Waterloo, and funds from the Town of Seneca Falls and Geneva Growth to begin planning the second phase of the trail, from Waterloo to Montezuma National Wildlife Refuge.

Frame saluted the committee for its "impressive public outreach efforts" including a public meeting that drew about 100 people. "We talk so much about bottom-up strategies and grassroots effort," Frame declared. "This group is a shining example of that." Speaking for the committee, Doris Wolf said the 20-mile trail will connect one city, two villages, three towns and four counties when it is completed. She said the Cay-Sen Trail is "the Tiffany" of the necklace of jewels that make up the Erie Canalway Trail system. It will include one state park, two national parks and the Frank J. Ludovico Sculpture Trail and will feature both the birthplace of Memorial Day and the birthplace of Women's Rights. Connecting trails will include the village of Waterloo walking trail and the Arthur L. Baker bicycle trail to Cayuga State Park in Seneca Falls.

Wolf saluted the Canalway Trail Association of New York, of which she is secretary, for providing information and encouragement and Salim Chishti Adler of Parks and Trails New York and John DiMura, Canalway Trail director for the Canal Corporation, for their support, guidance and expertise as the project has developed. Scalise said the project has taught him the importance of patience. He said the number of people involved in developing the trail makes it both challenging and interesting. He saluted Rick Manning, who has developed the plans for the project, Seneca County manager Keith Ashby, who is negotiating with New York State Electric and Gas to obtain the right of way for a portion of the trail and members of the Seneca County Board of Supervisors for their continued support.

Scalise said the award would help the committee as it takes the next two major steps: to work with engineers from Clough, Harbor and Associates to complete the design of the trail and to work with NYSEG to finalize the right of way.  He said he expects the engineers to complete their work by December and he is very optimistic about the ongoing progress of the negotiations with NYSEG.

Members of the Cayuga-Seneca Canalway Trail Association are: chairman Vince Scalise, Geneva Chamber of Commerce; Salim Chishti Adler, Parks and Trails New York; Francis Caraccilo, Seneca Falls Village Planner; Dominic Christopher, Seneca County Chamber of Commerce; Caren Cleaveland, The Gridley Inn, Waterloo;  David Duprey, Waterloo Village Trustee; Harriet Haynes, Seneca County Development and Planning Department; Jim Hogan, Geneva Bicycle Center; Kathy Jans-Duffy, Town of Tyre; Tom Jasikoff, Superintendent, Montezuma National Wildlife Refuge; Maureen Koch, Seneca County Tourism Director; Jeff McDonald, NY Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation; Bob Peterman, Town of Fayette; Wilhemina Pusmucans, Frank J. Ludovico Sculpture Trail; Peter W. Same, Supervisor, Town of Seneca Falls; Gary Westfall, Village of Waterloo Administrator; Doris Wolf, volunteer,  Canalway Trails Association of New York; Ted Young, Town of Waterloo. Advisors: Keith Ashby, Seneca County Administrator; John DiMura, New York State Canal Corporation; Tina Orcutt, Superintendent, Women's Rights National Historical Park.

The Cayuga-Seneca Canalway Trail is part of the 524-mile Erie Canalway Trail system, which also includes the Erie, Champlain, and Oswego Canalway trails. More than half of the main line Erie Canalway Trail has been completed with several more projects planned for next year. The work is part of Gov. Pataki's five-year, $35 million program, funded by federal grants, money from the Canal Corporation, and private contributions.
The annual canal conference is hosted by the Canal Society of New York
State and co-sponsored by the New York State Canal Corporation and the
Erie Canalway National Heritage Corridor Commission.