A feasibility study has been released that assesses the extension of the Saranac River Trail from downtown Plattsburgh 26 miles to link neighboring towns. Planners say it could be an economic boost to the region and are seeking public input on the plan.
The Saranac River Trail Greenwaywould connect the city and town of Plattsburgh with the towns of Saranac and Schuyler Falls through a 26-mile non-motorized multipurpose recreation trail along the water. A planning team has issued a feasibility study assessing what corridors and routes could extend from the currently under construction Saranac River Trial in the city to create the greenway.
Friends of Saranac River Trail President Jesse Feiler says the extension of the trail from within the city outward would create a “braided network” of trails along the Saranac River. “So all of these things can fit together. What I love about that idea is it makes it very clear that we’re putting a whole bunch of things together into a unified idea. But we’re not saying we’re going to do some humongous thing next week. It’s an overall plan and putting pieces together.”
The greenway would begin at Peace Point Park on Lake Champlain and travel just over 26 miles west to Pup Hill Road in the town of Saranac across a variety of landscapes. Alta Planning and Design is the consulting firm drafting the plan. Transportation Planner and Project Manager Sam Piper explains that the trail will adjust to the terrain. “The portions of the trail closer to the city will likely be paved consistent with the existing Saranac River Trail. As we travel west the trail user experience will change to be more routed upon stone dust trails as well as natural surface trails along with some on-road alignments that will be improved through design elements that make them comfortable for pedestrians and bicyclists to walk and bike upon.”
The greenway plan includes opportunities to connect to public lands, camping and waterways, and it’s hoped it will attract both residents and tourists. Alta Planning and Design Principal Jeff Olson finds the popularity of greenways is growing. “When you look across the North Country here and see so many communities working on these kinds of projects, whether that’s Saratoga or Glens Falls or here in Plattsburgh and the communities surrounding, this is part of a grassroots movement that communities really see this as something that’s important. And it’s something that people can get involved in at any level, as volunteers, people want to come out and do trail work, who want to help is a big part of that.”
Plattsburgh City Engineer Kevin Farrington emphasizes the intermunicipal cooperation that has been occurring as the plans are crafted. “You have six separate municipalities that have all agreed by government resolution to participate in an intermunicipal board and this group is working cooperatively to do a regional project that helps each, hopefully, work to the benefit of each individual municipality and to the overall benefit of the region as a whole.”
The Saranac River Trail Greenway would be built in phases and could take up to 10 years to complete. A public meeting will be held at the Plattsburgh City Hall Community Room on Monday October 26th to discuss the feasibility study.
