Edward M. SmathersThe Troy Narrows, Urban Trail Development Project
This Dig The Falls project was announced last year and will be an ongoing fixture of our blogging for the next couple of years. Possibly several years, in fact. It is the single largest project Dig The Falls has been able to assist directly, and will be a testament of why our work is so important and how passionate we are to help!
Below is a walkthrough of the project, which only covers half the trail systems planned. For a more comprehensive view of the final plans, please visit the Map & Overview section of the Narrows website.
With a total of at least a dozen waterfalls, you can see why Dig The Falls would be so invested in aiding in this project in any way, shape or form. And we couldn’t be more pleased with the people in charge of it! John E. Johanson (Project Lead), Joseph Durkin (Project Coordinator) and their team, along with the fine folks with the City of Troy, have been absolutely wonderful to work with. We look forward to the road ahead, knowing we will be working with such a fine team of individuals!
If you look closely to the photos posted to the story map above, you will see many beautiful places, but what is not seen is the sheer amount of work that needs to take place. There are many places that are not fit for anyone to walk through due to the amount of glass on the ground. Other areas have tires, rims, car batteries, and vehicles that need to be removed! This area is part of a smaller community within the city of Troy, but it will affect more than just this community or the city itself.
The trail system will eventually be linked to the Mohawk Hudson Hike Bike Trail, and span all the way to Prospect Park. The Burden Pond Environmental Park and John B. Staalesen Vanderheyden Preserve will also be linked to the main trail systems of the Narrows Project, with the addition of some steel pedestrian bridges. The trail will also pass a well-known local spring called Troy Springs, on Spring Ave., on the way down to the Poestenkill Gorge Park.
We will be continually providing you with updates about our successes with the project, but also items in which you can personally add value to. The need for funding will not be as large as the need for volunteers, and we WILL need your help with this. Volunteers like you will be the only way this project will be completed within the next two years (possibly sooner if we can get everyone to contribute at least a day of their time.)!
Support the Narrows directly, or get in touch with Dig The Falls to ask how and when you can make a contribution. Every minute and every penny will be stretched to make sure we get the most out of the areas included in this project and the communities it will enhance and enliven!
For more information on New York State waterfalls, please visit our New York waterfall map.
