County Receives Snowmobile Trail Grant Funds
Little Valley -- Nine area snowmobile clubs that
maintain trails in Cattaraugus County will benefit from annual
snowmobile registration fees collected by New York State. New York
State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation recently
awarded Cattaraugus County, the municipal sponsor, $190,737.50 in
funding to help improve and maintain the 415 miles of funded snowmobile
trails in Cattaraugus County. The additional 74 miles of trails in
Allegany State Park receive funding separately. An increase in the NYS
snowmobile registration fee has resulted in higher grant awards for the
snowmobile clubs that develop and maintain trails across the state.
These registration fees paid by snowmobilers provide the funding to
perpetuate a statewide system of trails thereby needing no use of
taxpayer funds.
"The key to the snowmobile trail program in
New York is that it is part of a comprehensive system that includes
funding for a Statewide Insurance Policy, Snowmobile Safety Courses,
Law Enforcement, Groomer Training Courses and Trail Maintenance Grants"
stated Gerard J. Fitzpatrick, Chairman of the Cattaraugus County
Legislature. " This interconnected trail system is the result of
said Mr. Fitzpatrick. Jerry Burrell, Chairman of the
thousands of hours of volunteer labor and cooperation of countless
landowners,"
Development & Agriculture Committee commented, "Our Economic
.
Development, Planning & Tourism Department is utilizing a number of
tourism promotion efforts to build the snowmobiling economy here in the
County""An updated snowmobiling brochure was again printed and
said Burrell.
distributed this year providing free trail maps to visitors which in
addition, identifies numerous small businesses along the trail that
offer snowmobilers assorted services"
Jim Boser, Vice of
Chair of the Development & Ag. Committee, pointed out the fact
that, "A broad range of integrated marketing tools are utilized by the
Department to generate tourism revenues from snowmobiling. "Examples
include; the County Travel Guide, Enchanted Mountains website and toll
free Tourism Information Line". "New marketing efforts this year
include a cover story feature in the New York Snowmobiler magazine and
special insert of the County Snowmobile Trail Guide in the November
issue".
Representatives from the Federation of Snowmobile
Clubs, Inc. attended a special ceremony today in the Cattaraugus County
legislative chambers to accept the grant award from the County
Legislature. The Cattaraugus County Federation of Snowmobile Clubs,
Inc. comprised of representation from all nine active snowmobile clubs
in the County, prepared the initial grant application on behalf of the
County and will handle distribution of the funds to all nine clubs
receiving funding this year. The Federation President Jim Lemke, Trail
Coordinator, Tom Hill, and Federation Secretary Lisa Foster along with
countless other volunteers coordinated this lengthy process whereby all
the clubs access trail funding through one municipal sponsor
(Cattaraugus County). Tom Hill stressed the fact that "credit for the
415 mile trail system goes first and foremost to the landowners for
their cooperation, without which, none of this would be possible.""The
he said. The statewide insurance policy provides protection
intent of the statewide system is to keep snowmobilers on clearly
designated trails rather than on lands where their use is not
permitted,"
for those landowners that participate in the approved trail system.
The
Department of Economic Development, Planning & Tourism again
assisted the Snowmobile Federation in securing trail grant funding from
NYS Parks. Thomas Livak, Department Director, explained the importance
of growing tourism niche markets like snowmobiling. The statewide
inter-connected trail system (currently over 10,000 miles) promotes
"snowmobile touring" which is a growing activity among snowmobiling
enthusiasts.
Snowmobiling is a growing family sport that
provides a great quality of life for local residents while also
attracting outside visitors to the area. The small businesses scattered
throughout the County benefit from visitor spending which totals over
$16 million per year. It is important to note that signed snowmobile
trails can be found in virtually every township in the County and many
Villages as well.
Snowmobilers are known for driving long
distances to reach key destinations in Canada, the Adirondacks and New
England, but Western New York offers an excellent close convenient
option. Snowmobiling has become a major economic engine for some
communities already with daily expenditures reaching $100 per
snowmobiler. The total economic impact (direct and indirect spending)
in NYS is estimated at $875,000,000. The reason for such significant
impacts are largely due to the shift in the sport. Snowmobiling has
become more of a touring activity where enthusiasts ride 100 to 200
miles per day spending substantial amounts of money on fuel, food and
lodging which also means sales tax revenues for the County. New York
State currently has nearly 170,000 registered snowmobiles and over
10,000 miles of funded trails providing excellent "touring"
opportunities for the snowmobiler.
For more information on
Snowmobiling in the Enchanted Mountains of Cattaraugus County contact
Cattaraugus County Tourism at 1-800-331-0543 or visit our website at www.enchantedmountains.info.
Remember:
Please ride safe and ride with respect. Please consider joining a
snowmobile club in your area. It is through the hard work of these
volunteer-based not-for-profit groups that residents and visitors alike
have access to such a great network of trails.
Enjoy snowmobiling in the Enchanted Mountains!
Snowmobile Clubs Receiving Trail Grant Funds include:
| Ashford Snowmobile Club, Inc. | $8,400 |
| Elibomwons, Inc. | $28,025 |
| Enchanted Mountain Snowmobile Club, Inc | $20,500 |
| Franklinville Snowsled Club, Inc. | $28,000 |
| Portville Snowmobile Club, Inc. | $15,125 |
| Snow Bounders, Inc. | $58,650 |
| Southern Tier Snowdrifters, Inc. | $11,712.50 |
| Tri-County Drift Hoppers, Inc. | $15,600 |
| Western New York Snowmobile Club of Boston, Inc. | $4,725 |
