Parks & Trails New York awards capacity building grant to Owasco Flats Nature Reserve

Owasco Flats Nature Reserve is one of nine not-for profit park and trail groups selected to receive a Capacity Building Grant from the statewide advocacy organization, Parks & Trails New York. The awards are designed to help groups increase organizational visibility and generate community support, grow membership, and attract additional volunteers.

“Grassroots groups play a key role in the development and promotion of our state’s many parks and trails which make such a significant contribution to the economy of our cities, towns and villages as well as to the health and well-being of their residents,” said Robin Dropkin, Executive Director, Parks & Trails New York. “Made possible by a generous private donor, these nine grants are a small investment in strengthening our state’s not-for-profit park and trail organizations that will reap big benefits, enabling these groups to leverage more private funding and marshal more volunteer power to better fill the gaps in government spending created by challenging economic times.”

Owasco Flats Nature Reserve received $1,500 for graphic design of a logo and newsletter template and newsletter printing.

“This funding will help us to better communicate the opportunities available in the Owasco Flats Nature Reserve. Our hope is to grow a foundation of support amongst youth, families and communities. A visual presence will help us to do that”, commented Sandie Doran, Chairperson of the Owasco Flats Nature Reserve.

Awards were also granted to:

• Brooklyn Greenway Initiative, Brooklyn, Kings County
• Friends of Grimes Glen, Naples, Ontario County
• Friends of Kinderhook Trails, Kinderhook, Columbia County
• Friends of Taconic State Park, Copake Falls, Columbia County
• Friends of Rockland Lake and Hook Mountain, Inc., Valley Cottage, Rockland County
• Erie-Cattaraugus Rail Trail, Inc., Orchard Park, Erie and Cattaraugus Counties
• Friends of Connetquot, Oakdale, Suffolk County
• Association for Conservation of Recreational and Natural Spaces, Inc., Stafford, Genesee County

Parks & Trails New York received 55 applications from organizations located in 30 counties throughout the state. This is the second year that Parks & Trails New York has offered this funding assistance.

Parks & Trials New York is a statewide not-for-profit organization that has nurtured New York’s park and trail movements for more than 20 years, helping hundreds of groups and municipalities build, maintain, and promote parks, greenways, and more than 1,200 miles of multi-use trails

The Owasco Flats Nature Reserve, Inc. is a 501(C) 3 organization working to protect the ecological integrity of the Owasco Flats through stewardship and conservation. OFNR trails can be accessed from Rte 38 just south of cascade. For more information visit : http://owascoflatsnaturereserve.blogspot.com/protect the ecological integrity of the Owasco Flats through stewardship and conservation.

More information on the grant program and Parks & Trails New York can be found on the website, www.ptny.org or by calling 518-434-1583.

CLUB RECOMMENDS FAMILY FRIENDLY GOALS FOR TRAIL

In May seven Junior members of the Millard Fillmore 4-H Club were asked to serve as consultants to the Owasco Flats Nature Reserve. Youth, afterall, add a unique perspective about trail use - especially when the question is "how can we make this trail and natural area more family friendly".

The youth, grades 4th - 9th, hiked the loop trail and came up with several no-nonsense goals for the Owasco Flats Nature Reserve. The most basic of the responses included formalizing the trail. "How would someone know that this is a trail?" stated Brenna O'Brien as the group hiked the overgrown old railroad bed that parallels Rte 38. Club members also thought that a kiosk with information about the unique plants and animals in the area, and the history of the LeHigh Valley Railroad would be interesting, informative and would attract attention. They also suggested that signs near the water showing the common fish you can catch would be of interest to the fisherman. The other very common observation related to the overgrowth of poison ivy in the area. In many locations it was knee deep, and in all instances it is growing up the trees along the trail path. "There must be a way to get rid of poison ivy, other nature trails have to do it", commented Anna Carmichael, 11.

A couple of other very simple suggestions were offered: "The trail needs a litter clean up and signs to help people remember to clean this beautiful area up", commented Cara Carmichael, 10. Most of the trash found was left by fisherman using the area. Fishing line as well as bait containers and beverage bottles littered the Inlet side of the trail. And while the group counted more than 11 fire rings informally built by fisherman using the area, the youth thought that these areas could be formalized for safety and beautification. "If people are going to build fires here anyway, there should probably be fire pits where there is less of a chance of a forest fire", stated Brenna O'Brien, 11.

More sophisticated ideas were also suggested to enhance the use of this area by families. Club members suggested: a boardwalk over the muddy areas, and another boardwalk into the wetland area as a bird observatory, and occasional benches for watching the water and wildlife. And "If you really want to make this place fun for kids, you should add a forest playground, or swings to the parking area", added Summer MacAdam Gorham, 11. The youth also discussed the benefits of widening the trail for use by mountain bikes.

Club members appreciated being introduced to the scenic landscape and recreational trail offered by the Owasco Flats Nature Reserve. They really appreciated that their opinions were asked and that they were listened to. Since last May the Millard Fillmore 4-H Club has raised money to buy trail markers for the nature trail, helping to fix one of the problem areas that they saw. They have also taken a kayak/canoe trip up the Inlet and are committed this year to learning more about the history of the Owasco Flats and Cascade. No doubt, these youth are pleased to be partners in spreading the word about the gem that we have in this natural area.