Van Buren officials announced a $135,600 grant has been awarded to make improvements to Van Buren’s portion of the Erie Canal Trail. The town was the only recipient for this specific grant in Central New York.
Planned improvements include building a canoe/kayak access, clearing deadfall to allow navigation of the canal by canoe/kayak, trimming banks along the towpath and building a rest station near Bennetts Corners in Memphis. Officials plan to connect the trail to the existing trail in Camillus.
“I hope everybody gets involved,” said Councilor Ronald Dudzinski, who serves on the town’s Erie Canal Trail committee.
The grant includes an in-kind service match. The town is still awaiting federal approval of the grant.