Pine Plains committee talks trails

PINE PLAINS — With a vision of creating athletic, perhaps even adventurous, outdoor pathways throughout Pine Plains, a new committee has formed and made its first presentation before the Town Board. Trails and Bikeways Committee member Charlie Norman appeared at the board’s  meeting on Thursday, Nov. 18; he also spoke about the new group’s plans later in the week.

“The goal is we’re trying to form bikeways and hiking trails throughout town and outside of town to kind of inspire people who might not normally come to Pine Plains to come for athletic outlets or just to see the surroundings,� he explained, adding that the committee had its inaugural meeting in November. “We got together and were throwing ideas around about what we want to achieve. The biggest goal is to try to stimulate economic growth for the town through these various outlets.�

He cited the village of Millerton, which has a trailhead for the Harlem Valley Rail Trail along Main Street, as a prime example.

“You can grow economically through that,� he said.

Pine Plains can promote itself based on its many assets, said Norman, before listing them.

“Really our assets to the community are the people who live here and the surrounding environment,� he said, adding that one couldn’t really say that Pine Plains is “undiscovered.�

“There was a time when we had lots of businesses and camps around Stissing Lake, but that sort of died off,â€� he said. “We have to  try to regenerate that. We have a beautiful lake and mountains, with roads that people only travel by car. It would be nice to get people out of their cars and onto their bikes and their feet to travel around.â€�

The idea isn’t so farfetched. This summer the town hosted its first triathlon, the Stissing Sprint. It attracted more than 150 people, though some had to be turned away. Norman said he expects the 2011 race to draw around 300 athletes. The money goes right back into the Recreation Department’s coffers, earmarked for trails and bikeways (after expenses). This summer, the department netted roughly $6,800. Community donations added to the race’s profits.

“Ideally, out of something like this, we would like to see the town grow,� Norman said. “We would like more businesses and people coming to town just to hike and bike. Maybe a bike shop will open up, or an athletic clothing outlet, or perhaps somebody will decide to build a skate or bike park for kids. Ultimately the idea is to develop more commerce in town. If you can do so by bringing people here to visit, eventually a younger generation will be more attracted to town and [the town will continue to grow].�

Norman stressed the committee is in the very beginning stages, just formulating ideas at this point. He also said it will pursue grants and government-funded programs to help finance future projects, to ease any burdens that could potentially be placed upon the town. The group has also been speaking with local land owners, like Alexander Durst of the Carvel Property Development, about creating a bike lane on the Dursts’ land.

“They’re willing to work with us and help out, and as a major land owner that’s what we want to encourage, to get people who do own larger chunks of property to allow municipal use on their property,� Norman said, adding that committee members are also scouting out land for pre-existing, now-defunct rail lines and logging roads that could easily be converted to paths and trails.

The committee, meanwhile,  received full support from the Town Board at the Nov. 18 meeting.

Councilwoman Rosemary Lyons-Chase endorsed the idea of the board appointing the committee with the members who have volunteered thus far, with an option to appoint more later.

Town Supervisor Gregg Pulver suggested the board wait for a more complete list of members (in case more people join the committee at its December meeting) and make the appointments at the town’s annual reorganization meeting in January.

Councilwoman Sandra David also voiced her support of the committee; she will be the liaison between the volunteer group and the Town Board.

Although he was unable to attend the Town Board meeting as he was out of town, the chairman of the Trails and Bikeways Committee is Scott Chase.

The committee plans to meet on a regular basis on the first Wednesday of every month at 7:30 p.m. at Town Hall. The December meeting was scheduled to meet on the first. Anyone interested in joining the group should notify Chase or Pulver via Town Hall at 518-398-7155, or attend the next meeting.