Erie Cattaraugus Rail Trail Opens Newly Resurfaced Section in West Falls
Community members and ECRT volunteers gathered Sept. 20 to celebrate the newly resurfaced 1.2-mile trail section between Ellicott Road and Old Glenwood Road in West Falls.
PHOTO CAPTION: Pictured L-R: Howy Holmes, Mary Brummer, Joseph McCann, Dorothea Wattles, Deb Fenn, andChuck Snyder.
ORCHARD PARK - Eager friends, members and supporters of the Erie Cattaraugus Rail Trail (ECRT) organization turned out in force on a beautiful Saturday morning, September 20th, to celebrate the opening of a newly resurfaced section of the rail trail in Aurora. The section extends from Ellicott Road to Old Glenwood Road in West Falls, and provides walkers, runners and bicyclists with a scenic 1.2-mile section of smooth surface for outdoor recreational pursuits.
Earlier this summer, ECRT was able to access millings (ground-up asphalt) from area road paving projects, making it possible to undertake the resurfacing project. In a matter of weeks, the railroad ballast was removed, and overhanging brush and trees were cleared. Truckloads of millings were then deposited on the trail bed and packed down to provide a stable, smooth surface.
ECRT sincerely thanks its dedicated volunteers, supporting members, and donors for making this new section of trail possible, and encourages donations to ECRT at https://ecattrail.org/give. Donors are vital to building more of the 27-mile Erie Cattaraugus Rail Trail from Orchard Park to Ashford, NY.
About Erie Cattaraugus Rail Trail, Inc.: Erie Cattaraugus Rail Trail, Inc. is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization that serves as trail manager for a 27-mile recreational trail on the Buffalo Pittsburgh Railroad rail line. In 2018, ECRT, Inc. and BPRR signed a long-term rail banking agreement to allow for trail use and improvements. In 2023, the first 1.5 miles of the trail were resurfaced and opened to the public in Orchard Park, starting at the historic Orchard Park Village Train Depot, connecting to the 2-mile natural surface section that is open between Jewett Holmwood and Ellicott Roads. Another 8 miles of natural surface trail is open in Concord, including the 1.7-mile Pop Warner section in Springville. Erie Cattaraugus Rail Trail, Inc. has over 6,500 friends and community supporters. Find more information at https://www.ecattrail.org/.