By Dan King
A topic that is often discussed in Whitehall is how to bring in more tourism, and one group thinks it has an idea.
The Canalway Trail Working Group, along with many elected officials and other area groups, is hoping to put in a biking trail along the Champlain Canal, from Waterford to Whitehall. Officials said that much of the work in the Saratoga County areas of the trail is well underway and that now the focus switches to Washington County, particularly the area from Fort Ann to Whitehall.
“Most of the completed sections are in Saratoga County, because Saratoga is much wealthier and has better luck securing grants,” said Dave Perkins, a member of the group from Hudson Falls. “Washington County is the end of the zipper and the group is really dedicated to bringing it together.”
The area from Fort Ann to Whitehall is particularly difficult, officials said, because much of the land is owned by the railroad. However, the group is still optimistic that there could certainly be a biking path along the canal.
Canalway Trail Working Group officials held a meeting with the public in Whitehall last Thursday to discuss the obstacles and how to address them.
“We really need to get the elected officials on board, between the town board and the village board,” added Perkins.
He said that officials in Saratoga County, as well as other parts of Washington County have been able to apply for grants and secure money to put in the bike path. He explained that next year construction will begin to bring the trail from Kingsbury to Fort Ann.
The group looked at detailed maps to figure out where the best locations would be for the trail, so not to interfere with private property and railroad property. Group members eyed the area around Clay Hill Road in Fort Ann as a good starting place, leading up the east side of the canal to the Ryder Road area in Comstock, then having the trail cross over the canal once and lead up the west side of the canal until it reaches Whitehall’s town park.
“It’ll be the most appealing area,” said Perkins. “If this is put in, it will be a Mecca. There’s a lot of potential in Whitehall for this.”
Village trustee Marge Mohn, who brought the group to Whitehall, said she was excited about the potential of the “Waterford to Whitehall” trail and the potential to bring in more tourists.
She added that she will lobby the town board to look into grants and a feasibility study for the potential bike path.
“I think that this would be great for Whitehall,” Mohn said. “If other elected officials are supporting it, I think we should too.”
Group members called Thursday’s meeting a success and said that they now have a better understanding of some of the land ownership and wetlands obstacles that could stymie the path between Fort Ann and Whitehall.
Ultimately no progress can be made until the town applies for grants and looks into a feasibility study, but Mohn said she plans on bringing that to the attention of the town board.
Those interested in the proposed trail are welcome to attend the Canal Working Group’s meetings. The group’s next meeting will be July 7 at 10 a.m. at the Schuylerville Town Hall.