The Times Herald

Wednesday, February 23rd, 2000

By Rick Jozwiak

     Cattaraugus Local Development Corp. plans to build a recreational area in Little Valley and buy maintenance equipment with a $59,500 state grant. 

     The Local Development Corp. received confirmation of the grant award from the office of Bernadette Castro, commissioner of the New York State's Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation.  The grant was awarded as part of the National Recreational Trails Program.

     Rick LeFeber, executive director of the Local Development Corp., said the funding will be used to build a recreational area at the end of Main Street in the village of Little Valley.  The recreational area is part of the organization's plans to build a 12-mile recreational trail along the former New York & Lake Erie Railroad bed.

     With the grant the organization plans to build two gazebos, picnic tables and park benches along with restrooms, Mr. LeFeber said.  the funding will also cover cost for buying trail maintenance equipment and the six-wheel, all-terrain vehicle that will serve as an emergency vehicle.

     The trail project is overseen by the organization's Southern Tier Association for Rails to Trails (START), which was founded by Mr. LeFeber.

     Rails to Trails is planning the recreational area as a centerpiece to its trail project, which would run from the Salamanca city line through the recreational area in Little Valley and to New Albion Road in Cattaraugus.   the trail will also link with many local, state, and national trail systems in the area.

     The Local Development Corp.  has applied for a $1.3 million state grant under the 1999 Transportation Enhancement Program to cover the cost of building the estimated $2.1 million trail.  Word is expected soon from the state commissioner of transportation about which projects will receive grants, Mr. LeFeber said.

     Holding up the Local Development Corp. plans to take ownership of the abandoned rail line is the Department of Transportation's inaction.  The trail line is presently owned by the Cattaraugus County Industrial Development Agency.  The agency accepted a plan nearly a year ago by Rails to Trails to build a trail along the railroad bed.    

     But the Department of Transportation has preferential rights, meaning the state is granted the first chance to buy the property or pass off on it.   the Industrial Development Agency has been waiting for word from the state since shortly after the trail plans were announced.