A new water trail, aimed at canoers and kayakers, will be announced in June as part of a major new initiative along the state’s canal system.
Carmella Mantello, director of the New York State Canal Corporation, said the system will identify public access points along the four canals and what amenities are available at each, such as restrooms, showers, boat launches and drinking water.
“That’s a very new initiative,” she said. “We’re very excited about it. We worked very hard and identified close to 100 sites. We learned there are a lot more canoes and kayakers using the canal. The canal’s becoming a destination point — not only in New York, but the world.”
Mantello said the announcement of the trail will coincide with the launch of a new Web site. She said the second phase of the project will be identifying gaps in the system, noting that users of personal watercraft like to have an access point every 10 to 15 miles — 20 miles, tops — to be able to get out and maybe shop, eat at a restaurant, wash up or spend the night. The third phase will be creating new access points and working with the various community and private partners along the 524-mile waterway, which includes the Erie, Cayuga-Seneca, Oswego and Champlain canals. The canals were to be filled this week in time to open Saturday.
“I think it’s always something that we look forward to from the beginning of the crew training season, but also the activity up and down the waterway,” said Pittsford Village Mayor Bob Corby. “The canal is certainly one of our key features that really keeps the village an important destination, because it’s the centerpiece of a variety of recreational activities. I can’t over-emphasize how important the canal is to life in the village and our entire community. What’s so exciting about it is it just seems to morph into more and more things for people to do and ways to use that waterway for purposes we never dreamed of a couple of decades ago.”
Town Supervisor Bill Carpenter called it “a ribbon of green” running through the village, with activities on both sides from Schoen Place to the white waters by Lock 32.
“We see it as a tremendous asset that people like to be near and like to take advantage of,” he said. “We probably have the highest level of foot traffic than any other place along the Erie Canal. Schoen Place on a summer’s night is just filled with people feeding ducks, going shopping.”
Mantello said the canal hours will remain the same this year, as will canal tolls. She said that since it’s a subdivision of the New York State Thruway Authority, funding for the Canal Corporation is not included in the state budget so it’s not impacted by that process — although efforts have been made in the last five years to reduce costs through overtime reductions, attrition and doing things more efficiently with less money.
“We’re very excited about the upcoming season,” Mantello said. “It’s always exciting entering a new season. We expect to have a fantastic year this year. The momentum continues to build. Communities like Fairport are truly recognizing that the canal is the front door to economic development and recreation.”
Hours
May 1-26 — 7 a.m. to 5 p.m., seven days.
May 27-Sept. 8 — 7 a.m. to 10 p.m.
Sept. 9-to closing (around Nov. 15) — revert back to 7 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Costs
All boats passing through a lock or lift bridge on the canal system must purchase the appropriate pass. Tolls for recreational vessels are based on vessel size. Passes may be purchased by mail or locally at Lock 32 in Pittsford. Visit www.nycanals.gov for complete details.
Under 16 feet — $25 for the season, $12,50 for a ten-day pass or $5 for a two-day pass
16 to 25 feet — $50, $25 and $10, respectively
26 to 38 feet — $75, $37.50 and $15
Over 39 feet — $100, $50 and $20
Navigation guide
Mariners should obey posted speed limit signs, which are at strategic locations throughout the canal system, including at every lock location, to indicate the maximum allowable speed ahead for that section. Mariners should navigate with caution and good judgment, in compliance with Coast Guard Inland Navigation Rules, New York State Navigation Law and Canal Corporation Rules and Regulations and any other applicable law. They should extend other boaters every courtesy and come to a no-wake speed when passing or meeting other vessels.
The Canal Corporation encourages all mariners to practice safe boating throughout the navigation season. Notices to mariners are available by calling 1-800-4CANAL4 (choose prompt 3). People may also sign up for free TRANSalert e-mails or faxes to get information on major canal incidents and emergencies that may affect navigation on the New York State Canal System. Call (518) 471-5016.
Pittsford events
May 1 — Lock 32 Grand Opening, Pittsford, Lock 32 Whitewater Course 5 p.m. to dusk, 328-3960, www.geneseewaterways.org
Fridays, June 11-August 13 — Summer Concert Series, Port of Pittsford Park, Pittsford, 7 p.m., 248-6229
June 12 — Positively Pittsford, State Street Festival venue, noon to 9 p.m., 248-6229, www.townofpittsford.org
July 9 — Summer Concert featuring Gap Mangione Band, 7 p.m., Port of Pittsford Park, 248-6229
July 9-11 — Lockapalooza Whitewater Kayaking Festival, Genesee Waterways Center, Lock 32 in Pittsford, 328-3960, www.geneseewaterways.org
Sept. 11 — Pittsford Celebrates September, noon to 9 p.m., Pittsford, 248-6229, www.pittsfordchamber.org
Other events
May 8 — 4th Annual Community Pride Day, 9:15 a.m., T. Spencer Knight Canal Park, Newark, (315) 331-4773.
June 3 — Free Gazebo Concert Series opens with the Perinton Band, 7 p.m. at the Gazebo in Kennelley Park, Fairport, www.perinton.org
June 4-6 — Fairport Canal Days, one of the largest arts and crafts fairs in the Northeast, 234-4323, www.fairportcanaldays.com
June 5 — 7th annual Canalway Trail Celebration, coinciding with National Trails Day, all along the system, www.ptny.org/canalway/celebration/index.shtml
June 11-13 — Family Fun Festival, downtown Newark, 331-5000, www.newarkfest.net
June 11-19 — Xerox Rochester International Jazz Festival, Rochester, 454-2060, www.rochesterjazz.com
June 16- 20 — Firemen’s Carnival and Parade, village of Spencerport, 352-4771, www.spencerportfire.org
June 18 — Movie in the Park at dusk, Palmyra Village Park, (315) 946-5467, www.palmyrany.com
Sundays, July 4- Aug. 29 — Music on the Erie, 1 to 4 p.m., Newark Canal Port, (315) 521-2077
Tuesdays, July 6 -Aug. 3 — Summer Concert Series, 7 p.m., Central Park, village of Newark, (315) 331-4192, www.villageofnewark.com
July 10 — Armond Bassett Canoe and Kayak Race, NYS Championship Race, Rochester, 328-3960, www.geneseewaterways.org
July 10-11 — Corn Hill Arts Festival, Rochester, 262-3142, www.cornhill.org
July 11-18 — 12th annual Cycling the Erie Canal Bike Tour, 400-mile bike ride from Buffalo to Albany, www.ptny.org/biketourintro/index.shtml
July 24 — Rose Festival, 2 to 10 p.m., T. Spencer Knight Park, Newark, (315) 573-4067, www.newarkfire.org
July 24-25 — Spencerport Canal Days, 352-4771, www.spencerportcanaldays.com
July 25 — Summerfest, 1 to 6 p.m. Perinton Park, Fairport, 223-0770, www.perinton.org
July 31-Aug. 1 — Brockport Arts Festival, Brockport, 260-7764, www.rochesterevents.com
Aug. 6-8 — Pirate Weekend, village of Palmyra and Port of Palmyra Marina, www.palmyrany.com
Aug. 13-15 — 5th Annual Canal Splash!, a coordinated series of locally organized events and activities that celebrate the beauty, history, culture and recreational appeal of the canal system. Registration information will be available in the spring.
Aug. 28 — Fairport Music Festival, noon to dark, village of Fairport, www.fairportmusicfest.com
Sept. 12 — MVP Health Care Rochester Marathon to benefit the Arthritis Foundation of Upstate NY, Rochester, 264-1480, www.rochestermarathon.com
Sept. 18 — 14th annual Rochester River Challenge Outrigger Canoe Sprint Races, A Wounded Warrior Disabled Sports Event, Rochester, 292-6107, www.adaptivecanoeing.org
Sept. 18-19 — Palmyra Canaltown Days, Main Street, Palmyra, (315) 597-6700, www.palmyracanaltowndays.org
Sept. 19-24 — World Canals Conference, Rochester, www.wccrochester.org
Sept. 25 — Wine Walk, Newark Canal Port, Newark, (315) 521-2077
Oct. 8-10 — Rochester River Romance, Genesee River Corridor, Rochester, 428-5990, www.cityofrochester.gov
Oct. 9 — Fairport Scarecrow Festival, 9 a.m. to 9 p.m., 234-4323, www.fairportcanaldays.com
Oct. 9-10 — Head of the Genesee Regatta, Genesee Valley Park, Rochester, 328-3960, www.geneseewaterways.org
