A nearly quarter million dollar Appalachian Regional Commission grant to Chemung County will fund a seven-mile connection between the Lackawanna and Catharine Valley trails, a boon to regional economic development and local tourism, federal officials say.
The $248,815 award will fund a paved trail connector that will route pedestrian and bicycle traffic through the Village of Elmira Heights and the City of Elmira, 23rd District Republican Rep. Nick Langworthy announced July 9.
According to Langworthy, the project will result in a continuous 29-mile trail which will ultimately connect to the regional 580-mile Finger Lakes Trail System.
By improving recreation access, the project will help the community attract new visitors, officials said, increase spending in the local economy, attract new businesses, increase property values, and support the region’s tourism and outdoor recreation sector.
“This investment in the Chemung Canal Connector is a win for our community, our economy, and our quality of life,” Langworthy said. “By linking key trail systems through Elmira and Elmira Heights, we’re opening the door to thousands of new visitors, stronger small businesses, and a more vibrant outdoor recreation economy.”
The Lackawanna Rail Trail starts at Eldridge Park in Elmira and parallels Interstate 86 before it terminates at the Wellsburg-Lowman crossover.
The Catharine Valley Trail follows along Catharine Creek and ends in Watkins Glen.
The connector trail will be built in phases, and the first phase — from Eldridge Park to I-86 — is slated to get underway in the summer of 2026, according to the Elmira Chemung Transportation Council.
The council hosted a public information meeting on the project last month.
Officials said the transportation agency is currently conducting preliminary engineering studies to further develop details of the project design, including the trail route, bridges, trailheads and landscaping.
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This article originally appeared on Elmira Star-Gazette: Chemung County awarded nearly $250,000 to connect Lackawanna and Catharine Valley trails
Reporting by Neal Simon, Elmira Star-Gazette / Elmira Star-Gazette
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