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Tim Bienkowski Mary Carol Dearing Mary Carol Dearing has served as the Erie Cattaraugus Rail Trail's Friends Leader for Springville since 2016, promoting the trail by hosting numerous public events, and working with local groups to expand the trail beyond the original Pop Warner Trail. Born in Buffalo, Mary Carol grew up in the Northtowns area. She is the youngest of 6 children, with most of her siblings living in Western New York. After earning her Masters degree at SUNY Albany, she worked primarily as a school social worker in the Williamsville school district for over 30 years. Mary Carol moved to Springville in 2015 and she retired 2 years later. Mary Carol and her partner, George, now live in the Town of Concord where they strive to steward and restore the native habitat of their property. She loves to hike, cross-country ski and snowshoe, and enjoys spending many hours outside in her garden. Mary Carol is an active member of several community organizations in Springville, including Grow with Springville and Springville Center for the Arts . She also serves on the Board of Directors of Art’s Cafe and manages their rooftop garden. She loves to hike the ECRT trail in Springville and Concord with friends. Mary Carol believes each section of the trail offers a unique view into its community. In Springville, the old industrial buildings along the Pop Warner Warner Trail serve as a backdrop to the recent Sculpture Alley, where several outdoor sculptures and painted murals line the trail (an initiative of Springville Center for the Arts). “The potential for the trail, especially for this community of Springville, is beyond measurable,” Mary Carol relates. She continues to be a major force in its development. November 21, 2024 Written by: Tim Bienkowski Previous Next < Back

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audio Concept Renderings Springville section of Erie Cattaraugus Rail Trail. Click to Enlarge. Orchard Park section of the future Erie Cattaraugus Rail Trail. Jewett-Holmwood Intersection Rendering of trail-head. Adjacent to Deer Run & Curley Drive Ellicott Road conceived trail head Jewett-Holmwood Intersection Rendering of trail-head. 1/4 Current Conditions  T he two-mile section of right-of-way between Jewett Holmwood and Ellicott Road in Orchard Park is a small segment of the 27 mile section of the B&PR in Erie and Cattaraugus counties. In 2010, the corridor was cleared, graded and the rails and ties removed. The right-of-way is 125’ wide at Jewett Holmwood Road and 69’ wide at Ellicott Road. It is accessible from town owned property. It is adjacent to a town park and a Smokes Creek tributary. Today, residents trespass on the right-of-way and use it as an unofficial hiking and x-country ski trail, sharing it with deer and other wildlife. The corridor is also used for dumping, hunting and other activities. The following examples are intended to provide a picture of what the B&PR right-of-way might look like if developed as a rail trail. It is intended as a starting point for a community conversation. The visualization is not the only option or final word on trail development. It remains for the residents to decide what is best for their community. Orchard Park Rendering Click to Zoom Orchard Park Rendering Click to Zoom 1/1

Find answers to frequently asked questions regarding Erie Cattaraugus Rail Trail. Frequent Questions Just the Facts Become a trail expert. More Info General Questions Learn more about the future trail, how it's anticipated to be built and maintained, and more. More Info Trail Users Discover which uses are anticipated for the trail at this time as well as details on when and how you can explore the trail in the future. More Info Trail Neighbors Specifically for our neighbors with property adjacent to the rail corridor, get answers to specific questions about privacy, safety/security, liability, home values, and more. More Info

Thank you for registering for our Full Moon Trail Walk! We look forward to seeing you on April 12th. Here are a few extra reminders for this event: We will walk from the Orchard Park train depot to Jewett Holmwood Rd and back, which is approximately 2.6 miles. On Saturday, April 12th the sun will set at exactly the same time as the full moon rises - 7:54pm. The moon will be at peak illumination at 8:22pm. The April full moon is known as the pink moon, not because it will be pink, but because it corresponds to the early springtime bloom of a certain wildflower native to north America commonly called creeping phlox or moss phlox. Anyone under 18 must be accompanied and supervised by an adult at all times. This is an outdoor event at night, so please dress for the weather. Only red-light headlamps or flashlights should be used; please bring those if you have them. We will have a limited number of red-light flashlights for use if you don’t have those. The walk is subject to cancellation due to inclement weather. If we have to cancel, registered members will be notified by email that day. We cannot control mother nature, so we're unable to guarantee a nice sunset or clear view of the moon that night. We will still proceed with the event even if it is cloudy. See you on the trail, Mary Brummer, President Erie Cattaraugus Rail Trail Event Timetable: Location: Orchard Park Train Depot – Erie Cattaraugus Rail Trail (ECRT) Check-in Time: 7:30pm - Orchard Park Train Depot Trail Talk: 7:40pm Walk Start Time: 8pm Light refreshments to follow: Approximately 8:45pm Walk distance: 2.6 miles – from Orchard Park train depot to Jewett Holmwood Rd and back Parking: Available on-street parking and in the Orchard Park Library parking lot adjacent to the OP Train Depot

Explore the proposed Erie Cattaraugus Rail Trail! View renderings, photos, video, and more. Explore Explore the future Erie Cattaraugus Rail Trail! Follow the links below to see concept renderings, photos, videos, maps, and online resources related to the future trail. Concept Renderings E xplore the renderings of the Buffalo and Pittsburgh Railroad Corridor, created b y Erie Cattaraugus Rail Trail in conjunction with the UB Urban Design Project.  Here you will find current photos and concept renderings of the future trail as it travels through Orchard Park, NY. Explore Photos View photos of the rail corr idor in it s current condition as well as photos of Erie Cattaraugus Rail Trail events, other completed rail trails, and more. View Photos Videos View videos and presentations from Erie Cattaraugus Rail Trail speakers and other trail managers. View Videos Links, Resources, Presentations Here you can explore other completed rail-trails, find links to trail studies, and download Erie Cattaraugus Rail Trail presentations, letters of support, and more! More Info B&PR Trail Communities Learn more about the B&PR Trail Com munities. Learn More Aerial Tour Enjoy this virtual tour of the ECRT Trail. The ECRT is over 27 miles long and runs from Orchard park to Ashford, crossing through five municipalities and two counties. Watch the Aerial Tour video See the Trail Map

A story about Karen Parysek, volunteer grant writer for the Erie Cattaraugus Rail Trail organization. Karen Parysek Karen Parysek has been an active volunteer with ECRT for over 10 years and the author of several successful grant applications as exemplified in Concord’s redecked bridges, an accessible ramp to the historic Springville Trout Pond, and our efforts to connect an elementary school bike path to our trail in Colden. Raised on a farm in Eden, NY, Karen grew up with three siblings, as well as four children from Buffalo, fostered by her parents during her childhood years. She attended Eden Central School where she excelled in math and science. Karen was awarded a full scholarship to the University of Rochester, majoring in chemical and engineering. After graduating, she joined Linde-Praxair where she used her problem-solving skills in a wide variety of positions: energy systems engineering, market development for materials, procurement, Six Sigma, marketing and sales. She finished her career in R&D, where she developed collaborations for emerging clean energy technologies with universities, startups and national labs, learning about the grant making ecosystem in the process. It was this experience that she has been able to directly transfer to the benefit of ECRT. Karen raised two sons, now in their 30’s, both of whom found success following in their mother’s engineering footsteps. Back-country canoe camping and wildflowers are among her outdoor passions. Throughout her adult life, she has been a dedicated and active volunteer, supporting a number of worthy non-profits, most significantly Roswell Park Cancer Institute and the Lounsbury Adaptive Ski Program at Holiday Valley where she volunteers as an adaptive ski instructor. “My philosophy of life has always involved making the world a better place, and working with like-minded friends on projects we enjoy.” And that, gratefully, includes Erie Cattaraugus Rail Trail! More volunteers

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Other ways you can give to Erie Cattaraugus Rail Trail. More Ways to Give Legacy Donations There are several ways that through your legacy you can help with ECRT’s vision to develop and connect a network of safe and accessible trails from Orchard Park to Ashford, for all families and visitors to the area. A Bequest in Your Will The simplest way to include the Erie Cattaraugus Rail Trail in your planned giving is to write us into your will. The following is sample language that you can use: I give and bequeath to the Erie Cattaraugus Rail Trail, Inc., PO Box 584, Orchard Park, NY 14127, _____% of my estate (or the sum of $_____, a specific piece of property, or asset) to be used as advised by the board of directors. IRA, 401K, or Life Insurance Policy Do you have an IRA, 401(k), life insurance policy, or any other assets not included in your will? If so, these are called non-probate assets, and you must plan your beneficiaries for them separately. If you’d like to do this on your own, simply include our full name and address when filling out your beneficiaries: Erie Cattaraugus Rail Trail, Inc., PO Box 584, Orchard Park, NY 14127. Donor-Advised Fund If you are using a donor-advised fund for your annual giving, consider directing your fund administrator to designate Erie Cattaraugus Rail Trail, Inc. as the beneficiary of any remainder. As a Contingent Beneficiary If you have family members or friends that you plan on leaving your assets to, consider including the Erie Cattaraugus Rail Trail, Inc. as a contingent beneficiary. This ensures that, no matter what happens, your assets will end up protected and designated. Let Us Know! Have you already included a gift to us in your will or trust? We would love to thank you for your generosity! Please let us know by contacting us to ensure that we know your vision and goals. Thank you. Without supporters like you, our miles of trails would not be possible! Make your gift go further: Does your employer match employees’ charitable donations? You might be able to double your gift to ECRT! Prefer to send a check? Please mail it to ECRT, PO Box 584, Orchard Park, NY 14127. NYS Charitable Donation Disclosures ECRT is an all-volunteer charitable organization. All funds received are dedicated to promotion, design, and construction of Erie Cattaraugus Rail Trail. The latest financial report from ECRT may be obtained from the NYS Attorney General's Charities Bureau website at www.charitiesnys.com , or by written request to Erie Cattaraugus Rail Trail, PO Box 584, Orchard Park, NY 14127. Information about charities may be obtained by calling the NYS Attorney General at (212) 416-8686.

An archive of ECRT News articles prior to 2023. News Archive 2023 01.01.2023 Erie Cattaraugus Rail Trail Welcomes New Board President 2022 10.18.2022 Riders in Charity Event Raise $50,000 for Rail Trail 06.16.2022 Town Issues Support for Rail to Trail Efforts in Aurora 06.16.2022 Volunteers Clean Rail Trail on National Trails Day 04.13.2022 ECRT Inc. Retains Local Design Firm for Rail Trail Plan: Nussbaumer & Clarke to Develop Plan for 3.5 mile Orchard Park Section 2021 11.01.2021 Newsletter 10.14.2021 Inaugural Bike Ride Raises $50,000 For Nonprofit 07.29.2021 Girl Scouts community Project Benefits Rail Trail in Orchard Park 06.17.2021 ECRT volunteers clean up trail on National Trails Day 06.05.2021 National Trails Day 05.13.2021 Fundraising Event to Benefit Erie Cattaraugus Rail Trail 04.01.2021 Key Orchard Park benefactors of Erie Cattaraugus Rail Trail Gather in Springville 2020 10.08.2020 Bike Raffle Winners Announced 08.27.2020 ECRT Fundraiser Set for Sept. 12 08.13.2020 OP Section Opening 2019 01.23.19 Rails to Trail Conservancy 01.15.19 Buffalo News Everybody's Column: Linear Park is Beneficial to Our Region 01.07.19 Buffalo News Editorial: Trails are Safer Than Abandoned Rail Beds 2018 12.20.18 Orchard Park Bee: Editorial 09.13.18 Springville Times: Rail Trail Development Gets Boost Following Agreement Signing 09.10.18 Springville Journal: Erie Catt Rail Trail Secures Agreement 09.06.18 Erie County Legislator John Mills Support Rail Banking Agreement 08.30.18 East Aurora Advertiser: Local Rail Trail Secures Agreement 08.26.18 Buffalo News Editorial: Rail-to-Trail Projects Benefit Communities 08.23.18 Orchard Park Bee: Rail Banking Agreement Paves Way for 27-mile Southtowns Trail 08.17.18 WBFO FM-88: Work to Begin On WNY'S Longest Rail Trail 08.17.18 Buffalo News: 27-mile Trail On Old Rail Line to Link Ashford, Orchard Park 08.06.18 ECRT, Inc., Secures Long-Term Rail Banking Agreement With Buffalo Pittsburgh Railroad 2017 01.15.17 WBFO FM 88.7 ECRT Co-Chair Interviewed Regarding Gov. Cuomo's Proposed NYS Trail Syste m 2016 11.25.16 The Buffalo News endorses the Erie Cattaraugus Rail Trail 09.14.16 Springville Section of Erie Cattaraugus Rail Trail to Open October 5 2015 07.09.15 Change of Leadership at ECRT Sees Group Rolling Ahead on Trail Development 2014 03.05.14 ECRT Awarded Mini-Grant from Parks and Trails New York 2013 11.09.13 ECRT is Featured on WGRZ Channel 2, Buffalo 02.15.13 ECRT Awarded grant from Parks & Trails New York 01.15.13 ECRT Awarded Mini-grant from Parks and Trails New York 2012 01.15.12 Annual Newsletter Released 2011  06.02.11 Is this Springville's Own Golden Tourism Opportunity? 05.30.11 Trail Use Benefits Even Harshest Critics 05.24.11 Trails Deserve Support Because of Many Public Benefits 02.06.11 Springville Winter Trail Walk to be Held Sat. Feb. 19, 2011 2010 02.18.10 ECRT Awarded Grants from Parks and Trails New York 2009 10.01.09 Famed Timpanist Shares Trail Success Story with ECRT 05.20.09 Orchard Park Residents Show Strong Trail Support 02.06.09 Orchard Park Press: OP Better Off with 'Official' Rail Trail 02.02.09 Village of Springville Passes Resolution in Favor of Trail

Accomplished engineer and manager of teams of engineers and project managers for major industrial gas company. Project management included interfacing with many agencies, local governments and stakeholders for routing and permitting of pipeline systems. Now enjoying using these skills for non profit work in Western New York. Gary is an avid skier in winter; sails, golfs and cycles in summer; and enjoys keeping up with 5+ grandchildren in addition to his non-profit work. < Back Gary Koeppel Accomplished engineer and manager of teams of engineers and project managers for major industrial gas company. Project management included interfacing with many agencies, local governments and stakeholders for routing and permitting of pipeline systems. Now enjoying using these skills for non profit work in Western New York. Gary is an avid skier in winter; sails, golfs and cycles in summer; and enjoys keeping up with 5+ grandchildren in addition to his non-profit work. Previous Next

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