The Kingston Greenline & Ulster County Trails Summit was made possible with funding from the Land Trust Alliance's Conservation Partnership Catalyst Grant Program. The Summit included a keynote presentation from Jeff Olson, author of The Third Mode and principal with Alta Planning + Design. Lindsay Zefting, planner and engineer with Alta Planning + Design presented the final report for the Kingston Point Rail Trail Feasibility Study. A panel comprising representatives from the Kingston Land Trust, Ulster County Planning, the Hudson River Valley Greenway and Parks & Trails NY discussed the emerging trail network in Ulster County.
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Kingston Greenline & Ulster County Trails Summit - Summit Presentation
1. Welcome and Sign-In
We will begin at 9:30 sharp!
Please sign-in at the table in the back of the
room
Emergency exits are indicated by lighted exit
signs
Refreshments in the conference room outside the
door to your right – do not bring into chambers
Please silence your cell phones
Wifi password is cityhall2001
Kingston Greenline & Ulster County Trails Summit1
2. Trail image here
The Kingston
Greenline & Ulster
County Trails Summit
July 20, 2013
Kingston City Hall
Made possible by a Land Trust
Alliance Conservation
Partnership Catalyst Grant
The Kingston Land Trust presents:
3. Join us in thanking our funders
Kingston Greenline & Ulster County Trails Summit3
Part 1: Intro
Conservation Partnership Catalyst Grant
Funded through the Environmental Protection Fund
4. Our agenda
Part 1: Introductions from the City of Kingston and Ulster County
Part 2: Keynote Presentation by Jeff Olson
Part 3: Presentation of KPRT Engineering Study
Part 4: Panel Presentation and Q&A
Part 5: Wrap-Up and Call to Action
Part 6: Networking and Discussion
Kingston Greenline & Ulster County Trails Summit4
5. Welcome and introductions
Gregg Swanzey, Chair of the Kingston
Land Trust’s Rail Trail Committee
Mayor Shayne Gallo, City of Kingston
Chris White, Deputy Planning
Director, Ulster County Planning
Kingston Greenline & Ulster County Trails Summit5
Part 1: Intro
6. Building more vibrant
communities through mobility
Jeff Olson is the author of The
Third Mode: Towards a Green
Society and a principal with the
award-winning firm Alta Planning
+ Design
The Third Mode explores how
non-motorized mobility can lead
to a more
connected, healthy, and
sustainable way of living
Kingston Greenline & Ulster County Trails Summit6
Part 2: Keynote
7. A glimpse at Kingston’s future
trail network: the KPRT
The Kingston Point Rail Trail (KPRT) is
proposed for the city-owned stretch of
the former U&D, from midtown to the
Rondout
Alta Planning +
Design was
hired to study
the trail’s
feasibility
Lindsay Zefting
was the lead
planner/
engineer with
Alta
Kingston Greenline & Ulster County Trails Summit7
Part 3: KPRT Study
8. Coffee Break!
Grab some refreshments, stop by some tables, but
come back in 10 minutes!
Kingston Greenline & Ulster County Trails Summit8
This way!
Up Next: Panel Presentation
9. Building the ―Hub and Spokes‖
of Ulster County’s Trail Network
Kingston Greenline & Ulster County Trails Summit9
Part 4: Panel Presentation
Tim Weidemann
Kingston Land Trust
The Kingston
Greenline: A
City-Wide
Vision
Chris White
Ulster County Planning
Ulster County
Trails: A
County-Wide
Vision
Plugging Into
the Hudson
River Valley’s
Trail Network
Beth Campochiaro
Scott Keller
Hudson River Valley Greenway
Building and
Advocating for
a Statewide
Network
Martin Daley
Parks & Trails NY
10. Introducing the Kingston
Greenline
An urban trail system, comprising
linear parks, bike-ways and
complete streets
Serves as a non-
motorized, accessible alternative
for residents’ enhanced mobility
Acts as the ―hub‖ for Ulster
County’s trail network, linking
trails and providing tourism-
supporting amenities
Kingston Greenline & Ulster County Trails Summit10
Urban trail image
Part 4: Kingston Land Trust
“NY Builds On Its
Assets by Turning
Trails into Trail
Systems”
12. 2013 (so far!)
TMNY relinquishes portion of
lease for 40 years. Clean-ups
recommence
LTA grant funds survey of KPRT
KLT establishes “Greenline” brand
with funding from PTNY
Feasibility study completed
2013: The Tipping Point?
Kingston Greenline & Ulster County Trails Summit12
Part 4: Kingston Land Trust
2012
Clean-ups cancelled due to
liability concerns by TMNY
KLT receives funding from
City, Greenway for KPRT study
KPRT feasibility study begins
2010 - 2011
KLT Rail Trail Connection Project
begins, committee forms. KPRT
identified as priority trail.
13. Kingston Greenline & Ulster County Trails Summit13
“We have a unique opportunity to create a world-class
tourism destination, directly impact public health, and
improve the overall quality of life in our region.”
-Ulster County Executive Mike Hein
Part 4: Ulster County Planning
14. The growing importance of
regional trails
Kingston Greenline & Ulster County Trails Summit14
• Walkway over the Hudson (opened 2009) attracted
more than 780,000 visitors in first year and
now adds more than $24 million annual sales.
• Hudson Valley Rail Trail (Highland/Lloyd) receives
670,000 visitors annually and has become New
York State’s second-most-popular rail trail.
• Hurley (D&H/O&W) Rail Trail receives estimated
81,000 visitors each year.
• Wallkill Valley Rail Trail will soon extend more than 33
miles from Gardiner to Kingston now that the
Rosendale Trestle is open.
• Catskill Mountain Rail Trail is projected to attract
140,000 annual users and add $3.1 million in annual
U.C. sales (2013 Economic Impact Analysis)
Hudson Valley Rail Trail
Rosendale Trestle
Part 4: Ulster County Planning
15. The Ulster
County trail
network
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Catskill Mountain Rail Trail
D&H Heritage Trail/
O&W (Hurley) Rail Trail Wallkill Valley Rail Trail
Hudson Valley Rail Trail/
Walkway Over the
Hudson
Part 4: Ulster County Planning
16. ―Catskill Mountain Rail Trail‖
Kingston Greenline & Ulster County Trails Summit16
Connect Kingston neighborhoods to Catskill Park
& Ashokan Reservoir
Expand tourism business in Ulster County and
Hudson Valley region
Increase outdoor recreation opportunities and
promote healthy lifestyles
Provide “car-free” transportation options
Create links to the Hurley/ O&W Rail Trail &
Wallkill Valley Rail Trail
Project Vision:
A public multi-use recreational trail from the City of
Kingston to and along the Ashokan Reservoir that
will link the Walkway over the Hudson to the
Catskill Park and create a world-class tourism
destination.
Ashokan Reservoir
Walkway over the Hudson
Part 4: Ulster County Planning
17. Kingston Greenline & Ulster County Trails Summit17
Part 4: Ulster County Planning
Accessible to persons with disabilities and the elderly
Open to public use four seasons / 365 days a year
Providing a beautiful and safe linear park for hikers, dog
walkers, bicyclists, and all who seek to enjoy the outdoors
Connecting urban neighborhoods with open spaces
Creating a ―Rail Trail Hub‖ In Kingston
―Catskill Mountain Rail Trail‖
18. The Greenway Act of 1991 calls for the
creation and designation of a Hudson
River Trail from the Capital District to
NYC on both sides of the Hudson
River.
The Greenway Trail System includes:
Riverside Trails: 268.96 miles
Countryside Corridors: 49.60 miles
Connector Trails: 22.06 miles
Hudson River Greenway Water Trail:
256 miles
State Bike Route 9: 147.00 miles
Kingston Greenline & Ulster County Trails Summit18
The Greenway Trail
Part 4: Hudson River
Valley Greenway
19. Goals of the Greenway Trail
Program
Provide physical and visual access to the Hudson River
Promote and preserve the Hudson’s Valley
natural, historic, cultural, recreational, scenic, and
agricultural resources through trail linkages
Contribute to the economic development of local
communities
Promote community driven, voluntary process for
establishing trails
Encourage the development of local trails that link to
major trail corridors, forming larger area and regional
networks
Kingston Greenline & Ulster County Trails Summit19
Part 4: Part 4: Hudson
River Valley Greenway
20. Provide technical assistance for planning and
developing trails
Provide funding for Greenway Trail
development
Offer conferences and workshops for trail
groups
Sponsor special events to highlight the significance of
Greenway Trails at the local and regional level
Recognize and support local trails through Greenway
Trail Designation
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How the Greenway can help
Part 4: Part 4: Hudson
River Valley Greenway
21. Conservancy Small Grant
Program
Kingston Greenline & Ulster County Trails Summit21
Trail planning and design projects
Trail construction and rehabilitation projects
Trail interpretation and education projects
Competitive grant program
Priority placed on those projects that will develop
sections identified in the Draft Greenway Trail Vision
Plan, and improve or interpret designated trails
Funding ranges from $5,000 to $10,000
Greater amounts available for intermunicipal projects
Part 4: Part 4: Hudson
River Valley Greenway
22. Hudson River Greenway Water Trail:
A National Water Trail
Kingston Greenline & Ulster County Trails Summit22
A long distance, recreational waterway between specific
points, made up of access, day use, and camping sites for the
boating public.
New York has 1,200 miles of interconnected, operational water
trails—NYS Canals, Lake Champlain, NY City.
HRGWT has 97 sites (110 with NYS Canals) and covers 256 miles
from Hadley and Whitehall south to Battery Park in Manhattan.
Economic Benefits: $27 to $135/day/paddler.
Access Points: Launches & Landings (10 miles, both sides)
Campsites: (Overnight Accommodations, 15 miles, 1 side)
Day Use Sites: Destinations--Natural Areas, Historic
Sites, Downtowns—wherever we can find them!
In Kingston/Esopus/Ulster/Rhinebeck there are 10 designated
sites.
Part 4: Part 4: Hudson
River Valley Greenway
23. Kingston Greenline & Ulster County Trails Summit23
Obesity rates in adults (2009) Percent of population
engaged in leisure time
physical activity
Part 4: Parks & Trails NY
24. Why we must act today
Annually, NY’ers spend approx. $11.8 billion
on adult obesity-related health problems.
$136.3 billion over the 10-year period from
2011 to 2020
Kingston Greenline & Ulster County Trails Summit24
OFFICE OF THE STATE COMPTROLLER
Thomas P. DiNapoli, State Comptroller
Soaring Health Care Costs Highlight
Need To Address Childhood Obesity
October 2012
Part 4: Parks & Trails NY
26. PTNY’s Vision
New Yorkers are only minutes from a trail.
Throughout the state, trails will be acknowledged
as an essential and mainstream element of
community infrastructure, much as utility lines and
sidewalks are thought of today.
Beyond its borders, New York will be recognized as
one of the most trail-rich and trail-friendly states
and will attract visitors from across the nation and
abroad to experience the historic communities
and varied and beautiful landscapes accessible
through the state’s trail network.
Kingston Greenline & Ulster County Trails Summit26
Part 4: Parks & Trails NY
27. Specific Goals
1. A statewide, interconnected network of trails
2. Additional funding for trails & trails organizations
3. Close the Gaps – Complete the Canalway Trail
System
4. Greater visibility & level of support for trails in New
York State
5. Greater encouragement & support for trail
volunteers
Kingston Greenline & Ulster County Trails Summit27
Part 4: Parks & Trails NY
28. How we achieve those goals
1. Direct 100% of the new Transportation Alternatives
program funds to trails & infrastructure that support
walking and bicycling.
2. Reconvene the NYS DOT bicycle-pedestrian task force.
3. Establish dedicated funding for trails in the state
budget
4. Implement Complete Streets principles.
5. Provide full, dedicated, permanent funding for the
LWCF
6. Highlight the health, economic, & community benefits
of trails.
7. Develop roll-on service for bikes on Amtrak trains.
Kingston Greenline & Ulster County Trails Summit28
Part 4: Parks & Trails NY
29. Questions for our panelists
Kingston Greenline & Ulster County Trails Summit29
Part 4: Panel Q&A
Tim Weidemann
Kingston Land Trust
The Kingston
Greenline: A
City-Wide
Vision
Chris White
Ulster County Planning
cwhi@co.ulster.ny.us
Ulster County
Trails: A
County-Wide
Vision
Plugging Into
the Hudson
River Valley’s
Trail Network
Beth Campochiaro
Scott Keller
Hudson River Valley Greenway
Building and
Advocating for
a Statewide
Network
Martin Daley
Parks & Trails NY
mdaley@ptny.org
ptny.orghudsongreenway.ny.govulstercountyny.govkingstonlandtrust.org
30. What’s Next?
Signup for Greenline trail walks
Four Greenline ―quadrants,‖ each with
one or more walking tours and planning
sessions
Sessions will occur throughout the
summer, during August and September
Sign-up at the KLT/RTC table in back!
Watch for updates on the KLT web site
and Facebook
Kingston Greenline & Ulster County Trails Summit30
Part 5: Call to Action
31. What’s Next?
Join us for an upcoming event
Trail cleanups and maintenance
Thursday, August 8 at 9AM @ KPRT
Saturday, August 24 at 9AM @ KPRT
Stay tuned for more!
Sign-up at the KLT/RTC table
Hudson River Valley Ramble
Saturday, September 14, 3PM @
KPRT
Kingston Greenline & Ulster County Trails Summit31
Part 5: Call to Action
32. Thank you!
City of Kingston and
Mayor Gallo
Land Trust Alliance
Our presenters and
panelists
All our partners working
for a stronger, better
system of trails in Ulster
County!
Check out their tables for
more info
Kingston Greenline & Ulster County Trails Summit32
You guys
need help?
Are we
pushing?
No, we’re
pulling!
Part 6: Networking
facebook.com/KingstonRailTrails
facebook.com/KingstonLandTrust
www.kingstonlandtrust.org
for more about the Kingston Greenline
slideshare.net/KingstonLandTrust
to download today’s presentations