Canal preservation, promotion plans detailed

Planning for the future of not only the Erie Canal but for potential partners who see value in collaborating on goals toward the promotion, preservation and management of the canal were unveiled at a recent meeting in Spencerport, one of several being held across New York state.

The largely informational meeting on July 12 gave members of the Erie Canalway National Heritage Corridor an opportunity to share their hopes and visions for the National Heritage Corridor which spans 524 miles of the canal system, covers 4,834 square miles in 23 counties and includes 234 municipalities adjacent to the Erie, Oswego, Cayuga-Seneca and Champlain canals and the Cayuga and Seneca Lakes.

Bill Andrews, the Village of Brockport's historian emeritus, attended the meeting and said the presentation made explained the work that's been done by the commission. "It was nothing new or unusual," he said. "I've been through the Western Erie Canal Corridor Commission report and the one presented Tuesday wasn't much different."

Andrews did say that several people at the meeting said more promotion of the canal needs to be done. "The canal isn't well enough known even in the communities it goes through," he said. "I think one of the biggest projects of the commission will be to publicize the canal more."

One of the plans mentioned was to provide for more winter recreational use of the canal as well as offering better support for boaters in the way of providing services and amenities.

The meeting in Spencerport was the second of eight hosted to gather community input on the proposal designed to breathe life back in the areas bordering the canal.

The commission was put into place in late 2000 by Congress and the 27 member panel was charged with overseeing preparation and implementation of the preservation and management plan of the canal with the National Park Service's assistance.

The proposed plan will help guide resource preservation, education and interpretation, and recreation; promote heritage-based tourism, economic development and community revitalization; and help build cooperative partnerships. The commission will not directly own properties, regulate or manage resources. The commission will provide leadership, advocate, and use financial, technical assistance and other incentives to achieve its purposes. The Secretary of the Interior and the Governor of New York must both approve the final plan.