A major addition to Tanglewood Nature Center in Elmira that’s been on the drawing board for more than 20 years and in serious planning for the last six years is finally under construction.
Officials of the nature center on Upper Coleman Avenue joined with local officials and community leaders Friday, April 3 for a formal groundbreaking to signal the start of the center’s new Treetop Walkway project.
Tanglewood officials announced last summer a public fundraising effort was underway to help finance the $5 million project, following an announcement in August 2024 by U.S. Rep. Nicholas Langworthy that the Appalachian Regional Commission approved a $1 million grant for the walkway.
The Tanglewood Treetop Walkway will offer a panoramic view of the area’s northern mixed hardwood forests, nature center officials said.
Getting to this point has been a long process but it will be well worth it, said Tanglewood Executive Director Elaine Smith.
“It’s going to be an exciting attraction for locals and tourists. It will be exciting for everybody in our area,” Smith said.
“Everybody who has a treetop walkway, it’s a tourist destination, they’ve doubled their visitorship at least, and over time it continues to be a place that people want to come,” she said. “It gets you into a different part of nature. We’re used to walking on a trail, which is great and you’ll still be able to do that here. But this will get you above the trail, so you’ll be able to see things that you probably can’t see from the road.”
The Treetop Walkway will be a a 900-foot, handicap-accessible pathway suspended 70 feet above the ground. Construction is expected to be complete by the end of the year with an official opening expected in the spring of 2027.
Edger Enterprises was awarded the construction contract for the walkway project, and Fagan Engineers will handle project management.
Tanglewood member Lynette Rexford, who donated funds to support the project, can’t wait for its completion.
“It’s going to be the most wonderful thing,” Rexford said. “People don’t realize how big this project is going to be. I cannot wait. I’m so excited.”
In addition to being educational, the Treetop Walkway is expected to be a major tourist draw, attracting an estimated 24,300 new day visitors and 16,200 overnight visitors annually.
“It’s going to be huge for this area,” said Alexis Rolston, tourism manager for the Chemung County Chamber of Commerce. “It will be the second walkway in the state. It will draw vacationers from major cities. We’re excited to see the numbers continue to grow.”
This article originally appeared on Elmira Star-Gazette: Why Tanglewood Nature Center treetop walkway ‘will be huge for area’
Reporting by Jeff Murray, Elmira Star-Gazette / Elmira Star-Gazette
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
