New York State Trails Council

Delegate Info Kit

A few ground rules:

- Meetings are held three or four times per year. Meetings are held on Saturdays, 11 am to 3 pm. We strive to have two meetings in the greater Albany area, and two at field locations (State Parks or State Forest lands) where we can enjoy trail pursuits afterward.  Please feel free to bring your lunch. Coffee and donuts are provided. Mileage and tolls to and from the meetings are reimbursed from funds provided for this purpose by the Federal Recreation Trails Program.

- Participation is limited to delegates of user groups and to certain state and federal personnel. Delegates will be asked to give a brief report on behalf of their user group: trail troubles and triumphs, issues in need of resolution, questions that affect other groups...

Family members and friends may attend and observe meetings of the Council, but may not participate. During the meetings, they do not confer with delegates or receive material that is given to delegates. Without specific permission from the Chair, they do not make any material available at the meeting site. These are not open meetings nor public hearings.

Representatives of other entities, and other guests may be invited to contribute. Please make such suggestions to the Chair.

- The minutes of the meetings are given only to delegates and selected state and federal personnel, as a record of the meetings, and for use in informing the leadership of their respective groups. Since the minutes are reports of work in progress and not final decisions of the Council, they must not be published verbatim for any reason. If a user group wishes to solicit input from its members on any topic, they are expected to provide only a digest of pertinent information.

- Resolutions of the Council may be distributed.

- Agenda items may be submitted in advance to the Chair, or brought to the table on the day of the meeting. If a subject may be lengthy, advance notice is appreciated.

- Correspondence concerning the Trail Council should be directed to:

Trails Coordinator, Bureau of Planning and Research, NYS Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation, Empire State Plaza, Agency Bldg. 1, Albany, NY 12238, (518) 474-0414, or the current Chair.

Documents with which you should become familiar:

 Available from the NYS DEC, 625 Broadway, Albany, NY 12233-4250, tel. 518-402-9405

  Unit Management Plans: A list of Plans currently in process is available here

The New York State Open Space Plan ("OSP" ) - the 2005 Draft comment period ended January 18, 2006 so a new version of this document will be released in 2006.

The Draft Comprehensive Snowmobile Plan for the Adirondack Park - the 2005 comment period ended and input is being reviewed by DEC at this time.


Available from the NYS DOT, State Office Campus, Building 4 Room 206,1220 Washington Avenue, Albany, NY 12232-0424:

New York State Bicycle and Pedestrian Plan (1997)



Available from the NYS OPRHP, Trails Coordinator, Bureau of Planning and Research, NYS Office of Parks, Recreation, and Historic Preservation, Empire State Plaza, Agency Building 1, Albany, NY 12238:
 

The Empire State Trails booklet - the NYS Trails Council had significant input into this document.


Statewide Comprehensive Outdoor Recreation Plan ("SCORP" - 2003)

New York Statewide Trails Plan (1994) - due to be updated 2006. (only hardcopy available at this time)


Available from Parks and Trails New York, 29 Elk Street, Albany, NY 12207:

Preserve and Protect - Challenges facing the New York State Park System   - The comprehensive 1993 Rockefeller Institute of Government report on the state of the parks.  Order from PTNY

Many more interesting publications are available from PTNY at: http://www.ptny.org/publications/index.shtml#tp&p

 

How the NYSTC was formed: a timeline

(compiled by R. Reinhardt, OPRHP)

June, 1980 - Trails Workshop at Saratoga

- 17 government representatives
- 9 motorcycle
- 1 equestrian
- 1 hiker

October, 1980 - New York Statewide Trails Symposium

- 160 participants

- Purpose: To bring together trail users, planners, organizers and administrators from both the public and private sectors, to discuss issues and exchange information, ideas and perspectives on trail planning in New York State.

- Outcome: Unanimous approval of a proposal by the New York - New Jersey Trail Conference to set the wheels in motion toward the eventual formation of a New York State Trails Council, joining the various trail interests into one body to identify and advance common goals.

February, 1981 - First State Trails Council Steering Committee Meeting

- Present:

government: Bob Anderson, OPRHP Kathy Cramer, OPRHP Thomas Shearer, DOT Joseph LaSpisa, DOT

public: Cap Field (hiking), Bob Hofer (hiking), Ron Cooke (skiing), Mike Adler (snowshoeing), Peggy Cotte (equestrian), John Bleikopf (running), Peter Koeppel (bicycling), Bill Karson (trail biking), Jack Orlinsky (trail biking), Jerry Reider (snowmobiling)

- Major decisions:

- Only users will be on the Council, no commercial interests.
- Each user type will be invited to send two delegates·

April, 1981 - First Organizational Committee meeting for the formation a New York State Trails Council

- Eight trail interest groups were designated as charter members.
- Other interest groups could petition the Council for inclusion.
- OPRHP, DEC, and DOT were advisory and non-voting members.
- Trail interest groups were limited to a maximum of 3 delegates.
- Draft by-laws were being developed
- Annually elect a Chairman and Vice-Chairman

April - May, 1981 - Conduct a Trail Opinion Survey

July, 1981 - Final Meeting of Organizational Committee

- Based on the Trail Opinion Survey, five purposes/objectives for the Council were identified:

  1. To advocate trail interests to all levels of government and to the public; 
  2. To provide a reliable source of information on trail based recreation and the needs of trail users; 
  3. To coordinate efforts to construct and maintain recreational trails; 
  4. To foster responsible trail user ethics; 
  5. To provide a forum for mediating differences among trail-user groups.

- Nominating Committee organized to identify suitable candidates for Chairman and Vice- Chairman. 
- Discussed representation on the Council by ATV users, snowshoers and bikers

October, 1981 - Trails Council Officially Organized

Council comprised of delegates representing nine trail activities.

· ATV · Bicycling · Cross-country Skiing · Hiking · Horseback Riding (Equestrian) · Running · Snowmobiling · Snowshoeing . Trail-bike Riding

- Albert "Cap" Field elected as the first Chairman
- Peter Koeppel elected as Vice-Chairman

- Discussion topics:

  • Draft of the NYS Trails Council flyer/brochure
  • Press release
  • "On The Trail" to be the official publication of the Trail Council
  • Temporary representation to the Council
  • ATV representation
  • Status of legislation on registration system for motorized trail vehicles
  • North Country Trail
  • Trail Council stationery
  • Member distribution of Council information to their respective organizations
  • Trail inventory

     

Recent Issues (1981- 1997)

  • Multiple use of trails
  • Adirondack Railroad, Remsen to Lake Placid Line
  • Barge Canal Recreationway
  • Catskill Railroad
  • Acid Rain
  • Abandoned Railroad Rights-Of-Way for Trail Development
  • National Recreation Trails
  • Bottle Bill
  • Herkimer to Poland ROW
  • DEC's Forest Resources Planning Study
  • New York State Comprehensive Outdoor Recreation Plan
  • Aqueduct Branch ROW
  • Three Wheeled Vehicles
  • Motorized Vehicles on DEC lands
  • Hector Land Use Area
  • Plattsburgh to Lake Placid ROW
  • Long Path
  • Article in NYS Environment
  • Sagamore Land Exchange
  • Forest Preserve Centennial
  • Hydroelectric Development
  • Mountaineering Bicycles
  • Clinton County Multi-Use Trail Proposal
  • DEC's Unit Management Plans
  • Forest Rangers
  • Snowmobile Legislation
  • Catskill Bicycle Planning
  • Rochester Branch ROW
  • Trails Inventory/Brochure
  • EQBA
  • OPRHP Recreation Survey
  • Snowmobiling Trails Plan
  • SCORP/Action Program
  • Clifton Park Good Neighbor Trails Network
  • Salem to Hampton ROW
  • Harlem Valley ROW
  • Scottsville to Letchworth ROW
  • Sterling Forest
  • Hudson River Greenway
  • Mountain Biking
  • Iroquois Gas Line
  • Navigation Rights
  • ATV Trail Fund
  • Genesee River & Canal Hydroelectric Project
  • Wilderness Management
  • NPS Trails Inventory
  • 1986 Bond Act
  • Wilderness Management
  • General Obligation Law
  • National Recreation Trail Act
  • Trail Signage
  • OPRHP Trail Assistance
  • New York City/Metro Bikeway Plan
  • ISTEA
  • NPS Rivers and Trail Program
  • Taconic Ridge Trail
  • Open Space Plan
  • National Trail Symposium
  • NYS Trails Plan
  • Washington County Trail
  • National Trails Day
  • Land and Water Conservation Fund
  • Teaming for Wildlife
  • Trapping
  • Equestrian Use Fees
  • Environmental Bond Act
  • Canalway Trail
  • Snowmobile Trails Map

     

NYSTC Multiple-Use Trail Policy

The following text was approved with no negative vote (one abstention) 
by the NYS Trails Council in Albany on 4 May 1990.

Multi-use recreation trails on state land

Preamble.

As users of trails increase in number, it becomes increasingly important that efforts be made to prevent or resolve conflicts in a methodical manner.

It is a function of the State Trails Council to further understanding and cooperation among trail users. Although these principles will apply directly only to state lands, it is hoped that they will serve as guidelines throughout the state.

Principles

1. Trails must be constructed and managed to ensure the integrity of the land and to maintain its ability to provide desirable qualities into the future.

2. Terrain differs widely in its suitability for the several types of trail use.

3. Some trails can sustain simultaneous multiple use. Others must be restricted to a single use.

4. Some types of trail use, because of their impact on the land or upon other trail uses, must be restricted to specified trails.

5. Some trails can sustain some uses in one season and other uses in another.

6. There should be consistent statewide trail signing that makes clear the permissible uses of each trail. Markers are essential where single-use trails and multi-use trails cross, join, or diverge.

7. Public participation in development of policy and regulations relative to trail use should be encouraged.

8. Trail users should be educated to proper uses of land and facilities.

S. State policy and actions should encourage and facilitate participation of volunteers and private-sector entities in order to maximize appropriate trail-based activities.

Multi-use of trails

1. In determining trail use, first consideration for exclusive use should be given to the original category for which the trail was established and/or maintained.

2. Other considerations include:

--suitability of terrain

--expected intensity of use.

--impairment of enjoyment of other ~-ail users by noise, odor, and other disruptions

--differences in mobility and speed that threaten safety and enjoyment

3. The user who is overtaken generally has the right of way until a suitable passing point is reached.

4. Grooming of trails for specific use should be minimized.

 

Internet Reference List

Please see our links page.

Page updated 06/07/2006