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National Trails Day 2024 It was a spectacular day to celebrate National Trails Day Year: 2024 Previous Next

Open to the Public for Questions and Commentary at the meeting's end. < Back West Falls NY Forward LPC Meeting Next Tuesday Deb Fenn Jul 16, 2024 Open to the Public for Questions and Commentary at the meeting's end. On Tuesday, July 23rd at 6 pm the West Falls NY Forward Local Planning Committee will hold its 3rd meeting at the West Falls Fire Company. Members of the public are encouraged to attend these meetings but, as a reminder, these are working meetings of the LPC, and the public will have the opportunity to make comments and ask questions at the end. https://www.westfallsnyforward.com/ Previous Next

Debbie has enjoyed a varied career, owing to a curiosity about everything! She served for 5 years in the Canadian Air Force as an Avionics Technician, then went on to do work in the fields of Technical writing, computer programming and web design. In 2013 she took a break from IT to manage the office end of her home parish of St. George in West Falls. Although retired from full time employment with the parish in 2021, she continues part-time as the parish bookkeeper and website manager. Debbie believes that time spent in nature is essential to our spiritual, mental and physical wellbeing, and she enjoys running the open portions of the trail whenever possible. Her goal is to do everything she can to increase financial support for trail improvements and community engagement with the ECRT organization. < Back Deborah Stellrecht Debbie has enjoyed a varied career, owing to a curiosity about everything! She served for 5 years in the Canadian Air Force as an Avionics Technician, then went on to do work in the fields of Technical writing, computer programming and web design. In 2013 she took a break from IT to manage the office end of her home parish of St. George in West Falls. Although retired from full time employment with the parish in 2021, she continues part-time as the parish bookkeeper and website manager. Debbie believes that time spent in nature is essential to our spiritual, mental and physical wellbeing, and she enjoys running the open portions of the trail whenever possible. Her goal is to do everything she can to increase financial support for trail improvements and community engagement with the ECRT organization. Previous Next

Multiuse trail now open from the Depot to Jewett-Holmwood Road. < Back New section of Rail Trail Opened in Orchard Park Village! Debbie Stellrecht Jun 17, 2023 Multiuse trail now open from the Depot to Jewett-Holmwood Road. Thank you to ECRT volunteers and supporters who made it possible to open another 1.3 miles of multiuse recreational trail in the Village of Orchard Park on June 17th! What a gratifying day with so many incredible, supportive, positive people who loved being able to enjoy a sunny walk or ride on a beautifully surfaced, safe trail! The trail is now open from dawn until dusk daily for pedestrians and bicycles. Let's keep the trail safe for everyone A reminder that the trail is off limits to motorized vehicles. Violators will be prosecuted. If you see a motorized vehicle on the trail, please contact your local non-emergency police or sheriff office and provide a description of the vehicle and driver, the location and the direction of travel. With your help, we can keep the trail safe and pleasant for everyone's use. Thank you! Report other trail issues to our maintenance volunteers using this online form . Previous Next

Orchard Park Trail Opening Day Photos from the Grand Opening of the Orchard Park Village Trail section Year: 2023 Previous Next

Sign up today - the price goes up to $89 on 8/21! < Back 100 Riders are Registered ! Are YOU? Beth Lasky Jul 2, 2024 Sign up today - the price goes up to $89 on 8/21! https://www.givesignup.org/Race/NY/EastAurora/EA2EVLFondo Previous Next

Springville trail and art supporters celebrate new works in Sculpture Alley. < Back “Sculpture Alley” Debuts on Erie Cattaraugus Rail Trail in Springville Mary Brummer Aug 4, 2023 Springville trail and art supporters celebrate new works in Sculpture Alley. Erie Cattaraugus Rail Trail (ECRT) is showing its artistic side in the Village of Springville. In partnership with Springville Center for the Arts, ECRT commissioned Bennington sculptor J. Brian Pfeiffer of A Sculptor’s Soul studio to create the inaugural two sculptures for “Sculpture Alley”, a section of ECRT just north of Franklin Street behind the Peerless Winsmith building. “Incorporating materials reflecting this area’s industrial past into art along this section of the trail is a creative way to enhance the outdoor experience here,” said Seth Wochensky, Executive Director of Springville Center for the Arts, and originator of the “Sculpture Alley” concept in Springville. “The goal of ‘Sculpture Alley’ is to bring interactive art into an outdoor environment that is accessible to all,” said Mary Brummer, President of Erie Cattaraugus Rail Trail. ECRT is a multi-use recreational trail on the corridor of the former Buffalo & Pittsburgh Railroad. The trail is open to all free of charge 365 days per year from dawn until dusk. J. Brian Pfeiffer has created two sculptures using his favored medium of poured concrete over a rebar frame. The first sculpture is an abstract figure of a traveler sitting on a platform next to a suitcase which holds a spinnable sphere painted as a world map. The figure is positioned as if peering down the tracks awaiting the arrival of a train. The second sculpture is a tall form with a spherical base from which emerges a straight shaft topped by a colorful disc, echoing historic railroad signaling gear. The art pieces are mounted on either side of the trail some distance from each other, so they may be appreciated as the trail user approaches and passes each one. The art is meant to be engaging and interactive, as people are invited to linger with the works and to touch them. ECRT President Mary Brummer, Sculptor J. Brian Pfeiffer, and SCA Executive Director Seth Wochensky celebrate new art installed in 'Sculpture Alley' along Erie Cattaraugus Rail Trail in Springville." The two sculptures were installed at the “Sculpture Alley” site in late July and were celebrated on August 4 as members of Erie Cattaraugus Rail Trail and Springville Center for the Arts gathered to thank J. Brian Pfeiffer for the creativity and sparkle that these works bring to the trail. As children climbed on one of the sculptures, Brian Pfeiffer noted, “To have an adult contemplate my artwork is wonderful, but to have a child run up to one of my sculptures and make it part of their adventure in that moment - now that is the ultimate reward!” This project is made possible with funds from the Expanding Access to Arts Funding in WNY, a regrant program of New York State Council on the Arts with the support of the Office of the Governor and the New York State Legislature and administered by the Cullen Foundation. "Springville art supporters and members of Springville Center for the Arts gather around one of the newly installed sculptures along Erie Cattaraugus Rail Trail’s “Sculpture Alley” in the Village of Springville on August 4." Previous Next

Retzlaffs lend muscle power to trail clean up near Springville Depot < Back Springville Depot owners help with Trail clean up Dorothea Wattles Apr 16, 2024 Retzlaffs lend muscle power to trail clean up near Springville Depot When ECRT Trail Maintenance volunteers Dorothea Wattles and Dave Stahley started clearing storm debris from the trail near the Springville Depot, it became clear that their wheelbarrow wasn't the ideal choice for the volume of limbs and twigs that needed to be cleared up. Matt and Valerie Retzlaff, proprietors of the Springville Depot, came out to lend their hands and some additional hauling power to the operation! We thank them for their help and their enthusiasm for the Erie Cattaraugus Rail Trail! Matt Retzlaff helps haul the debris out with his tractor and trailer. @eriecattaraugusrailtrail #eriecattaraugusrailtrail @springvilledepot #springvilledepot Previous Next

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Deb Fenn Steve Williams As we turn our thoughts to ones of gratitude during the holiday season, ECRT feels especially grateful for the hard work and positive energy that so many of our volunteers have contributed this past year. And Steve Williams, a resident of Orchard Park, is one of them. You may have seen or spoken with him at the Orchard Fresh Farmer’s Markets last summer, enthusiastically engaging with the public on behalf of ECRT. “This past summer volunteering at the Orchard Park farmers market was a great experience to reach out to neighbors and share our mission to make ECRT a reality,” Steve reports. “The response was overwhelmingly positive with great anticipation by all.” Steve believes that joining the Orchard Park Friends of ECRT allows him to connect with nature and support his community. He wants to make his love for bike riding and the outdoors safer and better for everyone. Connecting with nature Steve boasts a lifelong enjoyment of the outdoors. As a young boy on Long Island, he would ride his bike to meet friends, play in the woods, travel to baseball games and deliver newspapers. And he’s still riding locally and in Florida, Boston and everywhere in between. Today every member of his family always had a bike—and they still do! Supporting the community Steve’s career in banking allowed him to work in NYC, Wilmington DE, and Buffalo. In 1988, he moved to Orchard Park, with his wife Theresa, and their two sons, Chris and Dan. While raising their family, Steve was also an Odyssey of the Mind coach and a Quaker Marching Band dad. Now that Steve is retired, he has more time to spend with family and friends. “As time flies by, my childhood, school, career, marriage, parenting, and now growing older, I want to be outside and enjoy nature even more,” says Steve. “OP is a beautiful place to raise a family and enjoy the outdoors. As a grandparent, I look forward to one day riding/walking the trail with my grandson, Lucas!” Thanks, Steve, for all you do for your family, the community, and for ECRT! December 1, 2019 Written by: Deb Fenn Previous Next < Back

Many are getting outside to walk, bike or run for their mental wellbeing < Back Practice Self-care for Your Mental Health National Alliance on Mental Health Jul 11, 2024 Many are getting outside to walk, bike or run for their mental wellbeing Self-care for your mental health, from the National Alliance on Mental Illness ( https://www.nami.org/ ). Summer has officially arrived. It’s supposed to be fun and relaxing. But it can also be stressful. How you take care of yourself — and your mental health — matters. That’s why NAMI launched its NEW Summer of Self-Care project, and they asked their subscribers to upload selfies of themselves enjoying their favorite summer self-care activity. The photos are in, and NAMI’s Summer of Self-Care photo album just went live. Check it out at https://supportnami.org/selfcarealbum/ ! It’s striking how many photos are of folks getting outside to walk, bike or run for their mental wellbeing, many of them on recreational trails near their homes. Practice some self-care for YOU today! #mentalhealthawareness Previous Next

ECRT 's NEW Membership Program starting August 1st! < Back ECRT Launches Membership Program Membership Committee Jul 31, 2024 ECRT 's NEW Membership Program starting August 1st! ECRT is excited to announce a NEW Membership Program! As we continue to advance our fundraising efforts to meet our financial goals and complete the development of the trail for the benefit of all users, we have developed a new membership program that offers our contributing supporters tangible benefits in return for their financial support of the trail. These benefits will allow our members to be more actively engaged in ECRT progress and trail-related events. Below are the new Membership levels and their benefits. Individual: $30 Annually ECRT Car magnet - to show you are a supporter of the Trail. We hope that the additional benefits you’ll now receive for a contributing membership will be an incentive to click the button below and sign up for your New and improved! ECRT Membership. Limited Special Benefit: If you sign up during our initial Membership Drive, between now and October 5, 2024 , you will also receive a fun ECRT water bottle koozie to hold your beverage while you walk around on or off the trail . (1 per household) Individual participation in Member-exclusive trail activities such as walks, bike rides, Railroad history talks, etc. Early Access to ECRT's Email Newsletter Early Sign up for ECRT Events: EA2EVL FONDO ride, Trail walks, etc. "Trail Talk", a Winter Member meeting with light refreshments Family: $50 Annually (all must reside in same household) All the benefits of Individual membership, plus : Entire Family household can participate in Member-exclusive trail events Early Sign up for ECRT Family friendly events for children, etc. Patron: $100 Annually All the benefits of Family membership, plus : Recognition: Special recognition in the ECRT's Annual Report. (optional) Exclusive options to have a sneak peek at unopened sections of the trail Exclusive option for the 1st walking tour of newly opened sections of the trail Entry into a drawing to be Grand Marshal at the Fondo Entry into ECRT raffles for exciting prizes Benefactor: $250 Annually All the benefits of Patron membership, plus : Guided VIP tour of a specific trail section or points of interest, with reception to follow with ECRT Board Members Recognition: On special section of ECRT website (optional) Sponsor: $1000 Annually All the benefits of Benefactor membership, plus : Invitation to an exclusive Sponsor thank-you event with the ECRT's leadership Recognition: Your name at a prominent location along the trail - showing your support (optional) We hope that the additional benefits you’ll now receive for a contributing membership will be an incentive to click the Join Now button and sign up for your New and improved! ECRT Membership. With our gratitude for your support, Mary Brummer, President Erie Cattaraugus Rail Trail, Inc. Or go to www.ecattrail.org/join to sign up online. Have questions? Email us at info@ecattrail.org . Previous Next