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Orchard Park North trail section spruced up. < Back Volunteer Crew Clears Weeds Kathleen McCrone Aug 14, 2023 Orchard Park North trail section spruced up. An energetic group of ECRT volunteers spent an evening on the trail recently to cut back the weeds that were encroaching on the trail. A lot was accomplished in just one evening and we're very grateful that we have such hardworking volunteers. Trail users and adjacent homeowners appreciated the trail crew's clean up efforts, too. You can help build your trail in a variety of ways by becoming a volunteer! Learn more at ecattrail.org/volunteer . Previous Next

Celebrating a year of meaningful community gatherings < Back Gatherings During This Season of Gratitude Mary Brummer Dec 1, 2025 Celebrating a year of meaningful community gatherings December 2025 Dear Friend, How fitting as we enter this season of gratitude that we at Erie Cattaraugus Rail Trail celebrate a year of meaningful community gatherings. We gathered to walk, to share meals, to explore ideas, and to voice concerns. We gathered to ride bikes through the countryside, raising funds to develop the trail. Sometimes we ventured alone on the trail, gathering only our thoughts as we enjoyed nature. In whatever manner our gathering happens, important connections are forged. Memories are created, friendships deepened, and teamwork results. A happy consequence of all this gathering is this year’s progress on the trail: · ECRT generated a funding plan to resurface the trail in Orchard Park. · ECRT purchased a utility vehicle to enhance maintenance operations, so the trail may remain safe and clear for all to use. · ECRT opened a new section of trail in West Falls, utilizing millings from local road construction to install a smooth new surface. · ECRT was awarded a grant to resurface an additional section of trail in the Town of Aurora. · ECRT began evaluation and design work on the historic Cascade Bridge in the Town of Concord. You may “gather” from these results that Erie Cattaraugus Rail Trail development has momentum, and you would be correct. We are advancing projects in each community along the trail, and we are making progress. The key to maintaining this forward movement is your support. Please give to ECRT today , to ensure that development of the only multi-use recreational trail in the Southtowns continues. Together, we are creating a wonderful community asset to benefit our region today and for generations to come! Many thanks for your gift. May your holiday gatherings bring you great joy! Happy trails! Mary Brummer President, Erie Cattaraugus Rail Trail, Inc. Click here to Donate Prefer to send a check? Please write “ 2025 Holiday Appeal ” in the memo area and mail it to ECRT, PO Box 584, Orchard Park, NY 14127. Make your gift go further: Does your employer match employees’ charitable donations? You might be able to double your gift to ECRT! To find out if your company matches donations, check with your HR department, use an online matching gift search tool, or look for a "matching gift" or "employee benefits" section on your company's website . Each company has different rules, so the best way to know for sure is to check directly with them. Scan this code to Donate Previous Next

Springville/Concord Friends group leader Mary Carol Dearing will lead this hike on a lovely but seldom explored section of trail. < Back Explore a Section of ECRT in Concord ECRT Oct 18, 2025 Springville/Concord Friends group leader Mary Carol Dearing will lead this hike on a lovely but seldom explored section of trail. We will meet at Kissing Bridge - Central parking lot and from there head south toward Genesee Road. The total distance we'll cover ( there and back) will depend upon the abilities of the walkers, but the total duration won't be longer than 2 hours. While enjoying our hike, we'll have the opportunity to identify a variety of plant species along the trail. Mary Carol will introduce you to several apps, including iNaturalist and iMapInvasives , that not only assist in identification but also serve as a tool for citizen science. While this section of the trail is sometimes a little overgrown, it will be mowed and tidied up beforehand. As the footing can be uneven at times, st urdy hiking shoes are recommended. Bring bug spray, water and a snack. Register here to let us know you're planning to attend. Hope to see you there! Previous Next

Orchard Park Donor Recognition Day Major donors to the Orchard Park Trail Fundraiser were honored with a special celebration and their names inscribed on the commemorative Donor rock. Year: 2023 Previous Next

Ride safely on or off road with your bike this riding season < Back EA2EVL Safety Sponsor offers safe cycling tips Deborah Stellrecht Jun 16, 2023 Ride safely on or off road with your bike this riding season Craig Small, of the Small Law Firm, is our 2023 EA2EVL Safety Sponsor. Watch this video for tips to ride safely this season. ( https://video.wixstatic.com/video/0373ea_042d58a6b0194336a974626f8ab6979e/1080p/mp4/file.mp4 ) Start with a tune up. Take care of your bike; your bike will take care of you. Maximize your roll. Tire inflation to the correct pressure can make a huge difference in the energy you'll expend riding. It's all about the fit. Make sure your helmet fits, using the 2 x 2 x 2 rule. Replace old or damaged helmets. Fuel your ride. Pack snacks and water, and electrolyte tablets or powdersadded to your water can reduce muscle cramping and fatigue. Light it up. Bike lights make you more visible to drivers, even in daylight hours. Bright & reflective clothing helps you to be seen, too. Don't forget the sunscreen and sunglasses: protect your eyes and your skin rom the sun's rays. Previous Next

Volunteers needed for Springville trail clean-up < Back Springville Trail Clean Up Deborah Stellrecht May 20, 2025 Volunteers needed for Springville trail clean-up Friends, let’s get our hands dirty! Bring a shovel, rake (preferably metal), clippers, garden gloves or whatever you have and come to the Springville Depot’s 1st annual Spring Rail Trail garbage and brush clean-up! We will be getting the trail summer-ready while helping to improve water flow in the ditch across from the Depot. Do as much or as little as you are able to, and no experience is needed! Please sign up here to let us know you're coming. We look forward to seeing you there! We'll gather at the Depot’s rear parking lot and barn at 10 am on Saturday, May 24th , and work until noon. We'll have water and snacks for you! Let's work together to keep our trail beautiful and safe! Thank you, Mary Brummer, President Erie Cattaraugus Rail Trail Previous Next

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

Register now for EA2EVL Fondo 2026! < Back EA2EVL Fondo 2026 Deborah Stellrecht Oct 3, 2026 Register now for EA2EVL Fondo 2026! 42-mile charity ride supports ECRT Trail Here we roll again! Register NOW for the sixth annual EA2EVL Fondo. The EA2EVL Fondo is a non-competitive charity ride for cyclists of all skill levels. The ride starts in East Aurora at 42 North Brewery and travels south down scenic Route 240, riding parallel to the ECRT trail from West Falls into Concord. With water stops along the way, the course continues south to the intersection of Route 242, where it heads west into the town of Ellicottville, culminating at a finish line party at the Holiday Valley, which is open to the public. Times: 10 AM: Fondo start at 42 North Brewing Company (25 Pine Street, East Aurora, NY) 1 – 4 PM: Aprés Bike Party with craft beer, food, vendors, and live music TBD. Paid bus transportation back to ride start is available. Thanks to our sponsors, and the funds raised by our riders, the past five years' rides have raised over $200,000 to help us open, build, improve and maintain the 27-mile ECRT Trail that runs from Orchard Park to Ashford, NY. We’re making so much progress because of YOUR SUPPORT! So REGISTER TODAY , and be sure to invite your friends! Watch this aerial tour video for a taste of the ride! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cyOcwe1ypmg Here's how YOU can help! RIDE ON: If you are a bicyclist, register (starting May 13th)! YOU are the secret to the success of this major source of funds needed to build the rail trail - so we ask you to FUNDRAISE as well! NEW FOR 2026 - We are including a food and drink ticket with your entry fee! In addition to your registration fee, participants are encouraged to raise additional dollars to support ECRT and, by doing so, earn the following rewards: ● $100 - Commemorative event t-shirt. (T-shirts will be ordered September 23rd - riders meeting fundraising goal after this date may not receive T-shirt on ride day and they will be mailed.) ● $500- Above PLUS: EA2EVL bike jersey (Jerseys will be ordered September 13th - riders meeting fundraising goal after this date may not receive jersey on ride day and they will be mailed. The top fundraiser will be awarded the coveted EA2EVL Fondo yellow jersey! While fundraising is not mandatory to participate, we encourage you to raise some funds to help support the continued expansion and improvements to the Erie Cattaraugus rail to trail. So sign up, ask your friends, family and coworkers to donate ( here ), and enjoy a great fall ride! Don't forget to register for the bus shuttle back if you and your bike need a lift back to East Aurora. (2:30 and 4:15 pm departures from Holiday Valley Resort.) REGISTER HERE . VOLUNTEER: We will need volunteers for the start line at 42 North Brewing Company in East Aurora, three water stops (Colden, Concord and West Valley), course pointers and traffic control on the route, and at the finish line party at Holiday Valley. Volunteers sign up HERE . We’ll be in touch closer to the race date with more specific instructions for your role. DONATE: If you can't join us, you can still help by supporting one of the riders on our registration site here . SPREAD THE WORD! Invite others to join in the fun. Post this link to your social media: givesignup.org/Race/NY/EastAurora/EA2EVLFondo , or share this QR code: https://www.givesignup.org/Race/NY/EastAurora/EA2EVLFondo See you on October 3rd! 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

Sign up today for EA2EVL Fondo 2024! 42-mile Charity Ride Supports ECRT Trail < Back Join us for the Fourth Annual EA2EVL Fondo Beth Lasky May 27, 2024 Sign up today for EA2EVL Fondo 2024! 42-mile Charity Ride Supports ECRT Trail Join us on October 5th for the 4th annual EA2EVL Fondo, a 42-mile epic road ride from East Aurora to Ellicottville. The ride will venture down Route 240 through the fall foliage and rolling hills of Western New York and end with a celebration at the beautiful Holiday Valley. The best part: 100% of the proceeds benefit ECRT! Register today! This event has SOLD OUT for three years and raised $150,000 to support the ECRT trail. We've used those funds to remove rails and ties, improve drainage and resurface the first 1.3 miles of the trail starting at the Orchard Park Village Depot. In June of 2023 this beautiful section opened to the public, connecting to the 2 miles of natural surface trail open at Jewett Holmwood Road. EA2EVL 2024 funds will be used to expand and improve the trail further south. Here's how YOU can help! RIDE ON: If you are a biker, register today ! YOU are the secret to the success of this major source of funds needed to build the rail trail - so we ask you to FUNDRAISE as well! If you raise a minimum of $100 in donations , you get an event t-shirt and tickets for food and drinks at the finish line party. If you raise $500 or more , you also get an event jersey. The top fundraiser gets to wear the coveted yellow jersey. So sign up, ask your friends, family and coworkers to donate ( here ), and enjoy a great fall ride! REGISTER HERE . VOLUNTEER: We will need volunteers for the start line at 42 North Brewing Company in East Aurora, three water stops (Colden, Concord and West Valley), course pointers and traffic control on the route, and at the finish line party at Holiday Valley. Volunteers sign up HERE . We’ll be in touch with more specific instructions for your role. DONATE: If you can't join us, you can still help by supporting one of the riders on our registration site here . SPREAD THE WORD! Invite others to join in the fun. Post this link to your social media: givesignup.org/Race/Volunteer/NY/EastAurora/EA2EVLFondo or share this QR code: See you on October 5th! Previous Next

Sign up today for EA2EVL Fondo 2025! < Back EA2EVL Fondo 2025 Deborah Stellrecht Oct 4, 2025 Sign up today for EA2EVL Fondo 2025! 42-mile charity ride supports ECRT Trail Join us on October 4th for the 5th annual EA2EVL Fondo, a 42-mile epic road ride from East Aurora to Ellicottville. The 42-mile route will venture down Route 240 through the fall foliage and rolling hills of Western New York and end with a celebration at the beautiful Holiday Valley. The best part: 100% of the proceeds benefit ECRT! Register today! This event has SOLD OUT for four years and raised $192,000 to support the ECRT trail. We've used those funds to remove rails and ties, improve drainage and resurface the first 1.3 miles of the trail starting at the Orchard Park Village Depot. In June of 2023 this beautiful section opened to the public, connecting to the 2 miles of natural surface trail open at Jewett Holmwood Road. EA2EVL 2024 funds will be used to expand and improve the trail further south. Here's how YOU can help! RIDE ON: If you are a biker, register today ! YOU are the secret to the success of this major source of funds needed to build the rail trail - so we ask you to FUNDRAISE as well! If you raise a minimum of $100 in donations , you get an event t-shirt and tickets for food and drinks at the finish line party. If you raise $500 or more , you also get an event jersey. The top fundraiser gets to wear the coveted yellow jersey. So sign up, ask your friends, family and coworkers to donate ( here ), and enjoy a great fall ride! Don't forget to register for the bus shuttle back if you and your bike need a lift back to East Aurora. (2:30 and 4:15 pm departures from Holiday Valley Resort.) REGISTER HERE . VOLUNTEER: We will need volunteers for the start line at 42 North Brewing Company in East Aurora, three water stops (Colden, Concord and West Valley), course pointers and traffic control on the route, and at the finish line party at Holiday Valley. Volunteers sign up HERE . We’ll be in touch with more specific instructions for your role. DONATE: If you can't join us, you can still help by supporting one of the riders on our registration site here . SPREAD THE WORD! Invite others to join in the fun. Post this link to your social media: givesignup.org/Race/NY/EastAurora/EA2EVLFondo , or share this QR code: https://www.givesignup.org/Race/NY/EastAurora/EA2EVLFondo See you on October 4th! Previous Next

< Back Kathleen McCrone Previous Next