This view of the new West Shore Trail in the Village of Churchville looks towards the village. A contribution from Dr. Nancy Perkins Weyl helped make the project possible.The new West Shore Trail in the Village of Churchville, that starts at Howard Avenue, follows the path of the former New York West Shore & Buffalo Railroad, crosses Buffalo Road and continues into the Monroe County Park, was dedicated with a ribbon cutting ceremony presided over by Village of Churchville Mayor Nancy Steedman on Saturday, October 20. The dedication was attended by many from the community and those who contributed to the trail’s completion. Others taking part in the ceremony were New York State Assemblyman Stephen Hawley, who gave the Mayor a citation from the New York State Assembly for the achievement of the trail, New York State Senator Michael Ranzenhofer, and Monroe County Executive Maggie Brooks.
On hand for the dedication and ribbon cutting for the West Shore Trail in the Village of Churchville, left to right Don Suter, deputy mayor of Churchville, Dr. Nancy Perkins Weyl, who gave a monetary gift for landscaping the trail, New York State Senator Michael Ranzenhofer, Village of Churchville Mayor Nancy Steedman, Monroe County Executive Maggie Brooks, New York State Assemblyman Stephen Hawley, Village of Churchville Trustees Diane Pusateri, John Hartman and Scott Cullen. Also in the background are many who helped with West Shore Trail. In her comments, Mayor Nancy Steedman said a concept like this “does not just happen on its own … but takes the vision, dedication, funding, and sweat of many.” She went on to thank all those who made the trail possible including the West Shore Trail Committee, those who worked on the trail design, trail construction, landscaping, and construction of the comfort station. She especially recognized Dr. Nancy Perkins Weyl, a Churchville resident, who gave a gift of $10,000 for the landscaping of 150 trees and shrubs planted along the trail. Other funding for the trail was provided by a NYS Parks and Recreation Grant of $82,550 and Monroe County Community Development Block Grant of $60,000.
The mayor also talked about the history of the trail and concluded with future plans that include working cooperatively with the County of Monroe and the Churchville-Chili Central School District to extend the trail through the Churchville County Park to Black Creek, the boat launch, through Sprucewood Nature Center to Church Lodge, and the Ice Skating Rink, then over North Main Street continuing through the cemetery along Black Creek to the dam on Buffalo Road. At some time, the trail will continue to points west of Churchville and to the east, linking to the Genesee Valley Greenway via the Black Creek Trail Corridor which is currently under a feasibility study by the Village of Churchville and Towns of Riga and Chili.
