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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

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

Aerial tour of the future trail via drone! Enjoy this Virtual Tour of the ECRT Trail! The Erie Cattaraugus Rail Trail is over 27 miles long and runs from Orchard Park to Ashford, crossing through five municipalities and joining two counties. While the ECRT Board is wo rking with key partners and funders to build the blueprint for the trail, we invite you to enjoy a virtual tour of the trail built from drone footage of the following sections: Springville E. Concord Colden West Falls Orchard Park Springville Section is Open Now is a great time to get outside and reconnect with nature, a constant throughout this COVID-19 crisis. And the perfect place to do that safely is on a trail. That includes the open section of the Erie Cattaraugus Rail Trail, the Pop Warner trail in Springville. It’s a great resource for the whole family!

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

Jim Slominski ECRT relies on board member Jim Slominski for his deep knowledge and dedication to preserving railroad history. A current trustee of the Western New York Railroad Historical Society and chair of the Orchard Park Depot Committee, Jim became involved with ECRT due to a primary interest in preserving the integrity of the former Buffalo-Pittsburg Railroad right-of-way. He recalls what happened in Hamburg when the Buffalo & Susquehanna line was discontinued: “The right-of-way was completely obliterated. Today, you’d be hard pressed to find any intact sections of original corridor.” A lifelong resident of Orchard Park, from a very early age, Jim grew up near train tracks. “I was fascinated with anything that had to do with trains. When we lived on Liberty Drive off Taylor Road, I could watch trains come and go from our family room.” The Orchard Park Depot Committee was formed by like-minded railroad buffs in 1980 with a common desire to restore the depot and its storied surroundings. Jim joined in 1981 and has been an active member ever since. The hard work of restoration began in the early 1980s when then depot owner, Ed Burke, expressed interest in donating the site to the organization. In the decades following, everything from new wiring and plumbing to exterior restoration projects were undertaken with support from generous individual donations and from the efforts of local legislators. Most recently, Scott Bieler, CEO of West Herr Automotive Group, provided funds enabling significant renovations to both the interior and exterior of the site. The depot is now dedicated to his family. One very large project remains: restoring and retiling the roof, a project that could cost up to $1,000,000. “We also need to find a company with the skills and the will to undertake this hands-on, labor-intensive project.” Jim graduated from Canisius College with a degree in accounting. Prior to graduation, he participated in a work-study cooperative program with the IRS. Upon graduation, he began a 34-year career with the IRS advancing from a revenue agent to that of an appeals officer and finally as a liaison to the Congressional Joint Committee on Taxation. During the course of his career, Jim was a member of the IRS instructor cadre, worked closely with the IRS litigation division, served on a number of task forces and authored various training books and procedural manuals. An ECRT board member since 2012, Jim is delighted with the trail’s noticeable, significant progress over the past four years or so. “I can’t wait for the new section to open up connecting the trail to the depot. It will have an enormous, positive effect on the Village. You’ll see people using the trail on a regular basis to come to the Village to visit the library, to shop or to attend events. I predict we’ll see a lot more interest in and activity around depot which, of course, we welcome!” The Orchard Park Depot Committee is always looking for people interested in volunteering. “My wish list would include new members willing to help with events and interact with visitors to the depot. And if you have a background in construction, maintenance or any of the trades, we’d welcome your time, skills and support!” More volunteers

Learn more about membership and how you can help us build the trail. Become a Member! Join the movement! Become a member and help us build the trail for the benefit of the whole community. By becoming an ECRT Member you will: Show that you are a trail supporter, and you have a true desire to see all 27 miles completed. Help ECRT to have a reliable income stream to fund trail development. Improve development efforts by offering an enhanced connection to the trail for members. Provide ECRT with additional resources to educate the community and broaden our base of support. Create additional excitement about the trail and encourage use and participation. Demonstrate support of the development of the trail to funders and governmental entities. Enjoy additional benefits that are detailed under each membership level in the Member Registration Form below! A Message from our President Prefer to mail a check? Make your check payable to Erie Cattaraugus Rail Trail, Inc. Address to: ECRT, PO Box 584, Orchard Park, NY 14127. Thank you! NYS Charitable Donation Disclosures Erie Cattaraugus Rail Trail is a 501(c)(3) charitable organization registered with New York State and dedicated to building and maintaining a 27-mile multiuse recreational trail from Orchard Park to Ashford, NY on the railbanked Buffalo & Pittsburgh rail corridor. The latest financial report from ECRT may be obtained by request from ECRT at www.ecattrail.org or from the Attorney General's Charities Bureau's Website - www.charitiesnys.com . Information about charities may be obtained from the Attorney General at (212) 416-8686.

Howy Holmes "Mr. Orchard Park" Howy Holmes is a lifelong resident of Orchard Park. His home, built in 1861, was originally located along Quaker Field Stables and was owned by Harry Yates, who, among other accomplishments, was a principal with Buffalo & Pittsburgh RR and instrumental in the design and construction of the OP Depot. Howy’s parents bought about an acre or so of property from Yates and moved the historic house to its current location at Bridal Path and Freeman Rd. Howy and wife Dorothy later purchased the home from his mother in 1982 where they raised their family and continue to live today. “I went from sleeping in the kid’s bedroom to the master bedroom – about 30 feet down the hall,” he quipped. Howy attended OP HS and went on to receive a bachelor’s degree in finance from Miami Florida. There he met his wife Dorothy, in the last few days of his college career and her master’s program. He then joined the Navy reserves and served from 1966 – 1968. He and Dorothy married in 1972. Together, they raised 2 children, now grown: a daughter Chandra who lives near St. Louis, and son Tyler, who lives nearby in Amherst. After college, Howy decided to join the family’s highway construction business, Holmes & Murphy, established in 1917 by his grandfather. His wealth of experience in design and construction has been invaluable to Erie Cattaraugus Rail Trail, and the board continues to rely on him and his considerable expertise. Throughout his adult life, Howy has been an active and avid community supporter. People often refer to Howy as ‘Mr. Orchard Park”, and rightly so! His affiliations and accolades include Orchard Park Citizen of the Year (2004), member and President of the Orchard Park Chamber of Commerce, Co-President of the Orchard Park Historical Society, President of the Quaker Friends Cemetery, board member of the Buffalo Ski Club and Hickory Hill Swim & Tennis Club, and a charter member of the Orchard Park Council of the Arts – the organization that built the Orchard Park Pavilion. “I was ‘Person of the Year’ in 2006 in Time Magazine,” he says, half-jokingly. “Just Google it.” [That was the year Time noted every citizen in that category!] Howy is also known to be a frequent attendee at Town board meetings. “I’m interested in what’s going on. You have to read the local paper and follow what’s happening in your hometown. It’s important. How else can you make good decisions? You need to support and sometimes question your local officials. That’s democracy.” Howy has been involved with Erie Cattaraugus Rail Trail since its inception. “I mow, walk the trail in Orchard Park pretty frequently, take on maintenance jobs and participate in design and development. The new section [of the trail in Orchard Park] is so important. It links residents to the library, the depot and all the village has to offer. It’s such a great asset for the town and village. And this is just the beginning!” More volunteers

BR& P Trail Communities Each community overview includes information about population size, age, poverty, park land, the right-of-way length, location and condition, bridges, adjacent property and six health factors – transportation, education, community, health & lifestyle, environment and economic development. Select the images below to view the community overviews...

Erie Cattaraugus Rail Trail recognizes its volunteers with personal stories. Volunteer Spotlight Archives Dave Stahley Carol & Tim Goff Lisa Rood Jim Cielencki WNY Snowmobile Club of Boston

Contact Erie Cattaraugus Rail Trail Contact Please feel free to contact us with questions, membership requests, or for general information Phone: 716-771-BIKE (716-771-2453) Email: info@ecattrail.org Address: PO Box 584, Orchard Park, NY 14127 Your details were sent successfully! Send