I am in support of a bike path along the West River, and I also believe that the 55 mph Parkway is a redundant and unnecessary expense. To turn it into a bike path would be a great move for Grand Island tourism and for the quality of life there. The existing overlooks should be used as the parking areas and the general layout of the parkway / parking areas retained. If needed, additional parking should be in Buckhorn State Park, and/or in Beaver Island State Park, rather than on the Parkway itself. West River Residents should retain dock rights, and the entire package should be presented in a way that ensures perpetuity.
B
Brad Bowman
10 years ago
I think this is a great idea, I understand some of the concerns about the parking areas. I would suggest those be eliminated. The existing overlooks be expanded, and two new ones being created. The most important thing is that the grass HAS to be maintained...
L
Lenore Tetkowski
10 years ago
We need the bike path for present and future generations to fully enjoy access to our beautiful waterfront.
P
Paul Leuchner
10 years ago
The West River multi-purpose trail is an opportunity that we must not forego. It is already funded by a grant in the amount of nearly two million dollars and will be a tremendous recreational asset for the Town of Grand Island. It is unfortunate that three of our Town council members have to resort to back room politics as they try to keep this trail from becoming a reality. The decision to oppose this trail option was not vetted before the Town of Grand Island Parks and Recreation Advisory Board nor was the public given an opportunity to weigh in on the flawed decision made by an uninformed majority of Town Council members. With regard to the former, It seems that whenever an important issue like trapping on public lands or a new trail proposal comes before the Town of Grand Island its Parks and Recreation Advisory Board is deliberately left out of the decision making process. Further, these same Town board members failed to give the NYS Office of Parks time to address the concerns of the general public preferring instead to jump the gun with an official condemnation to this trail proposal. Decisions like this one made without all of the facts and clearly driven by emotion are not examples of good leadership but something far less than that. We all need to stop all the recriminations and work together to achieve the goal of making Grand Island a grand place to live. The West River trail will help us get there.
M
Marianne Buscaglia
10 years ago
Promises made are not the same as promises kept. We are weary of past mistakes whereas duty ends up falling on the shoulders of the homeowners to fulfill the shortcomings of responsible parties in order to maintain the beauty of the neighborhood.
M
Marianne Buscaglia
10 years ago
If you live on West River, you would know that snow on the Parkway is not a deterrent from its use.
M
Marianne Buscaglia
10 years ago
The Parkway is not unused. It's traffic is more than 8:1 compared to the service road, NYSDOT statistics average 1,700 vehicles per day compared to the 200 vehicles on the currently tranquil service road. If you lived here, you would know that the waterfront is already open to everyone with spacious overlooks with ample parking, kayak, boat launches, and scenic views. Grant $ could only improve what we already have in place.
M
Martin J Napier
10 years ago
The original vote was illegal as it did not offer proper notice or time frame to residents
H
Harvey Williamson
10 years ago
All this rhetoric from the naysayers about the State of New York and broken promises is nothing but a monotinous whine. This trail is a progressive step forward. Don't let a bunch of cave dwellers keep the public from using and enjoying state owned parkland that our taxes pay for. New York State Parks needs to complete this project. This project will open up one of the most scenic vistas of the Niagara to the general public. West River homeowners opposing this trail have no right to expect that all of us taxpayers should maintain this waterfront land solely for their personal pleasure at the exclusion of everyone else.
E
Elizabeth Wright
10 years ago
I would like to see the state parkway turned into a bike path on West River that would connect Beaver Island to Buckhorn and allow families to walk, run, and bike in a safe manner away from traffic.
A
Anonymous
10 years ago
Listen to the public and build this trail. Don't let a few narrow minded private property owners keep the public from using and enjoying a trail that will be placed on land that belongs to all of the people of New York State.
D
Damon Wright
10 years ago
I would like to see the state parkway turned into a bike path, which would allow Beaver Island and Buckhorn State Parks to be connected to one another via the West River.
J
Judy Schmidt
10 years ago
The West River has been home to my family for over 60 years. When NYS decided to put a marina in our backyard, the thought of losing the tranquility of our stream and marshland was disturbing. Can you imagine our thoughts when we envisions hundreds of boaters and fishermen invading "our" space. It's probably very similar to how some of the current West River resident feel. I know some of them that keep their boats there now so our perceived inconvenience is now their convenience, right? However, now we accept that marina in our backyard. Myself and my parents before me have found the ability of walking to our boat slips far outweighs that feared intrusion. I look at the conversion of the parkway into a bike path as another opportunity to increase the recreational activities available on the Island. And provide a much safer path along the river. Those naysayers might learn to embrace the change too.
T
Terry Funk
10 years ago
After a slow ride down the West River last evening in the truck I will miss it but this bike path will be even better. Remember when EZ pass was started and how many were against it, well now we wouldn't want to be without it and the bike path will be the same. Shame on the board members that voted against it I don't believe they represent mainstream Grand Islanders only a chosen few. I am all for the bike path and commend the board members that can see the light and smell the roses.
D
David Williams
10 years ago
Get outside..
J
James Ehde
10 years ago
I support the bike Path, The state could always auction off the land to the highest bidder
A
Anonymous
10 years ago
I vote YES for the West River Connector Trail.
K
Kristin Sommer
10 years ago
Lifelong GI resident. I support the West River bike path.
J
Joe Smith
10 years ago
I have never seen so many ignorant comments in my life in reference to those against the bike path.....
If any of these silly voices in your head took the time to look at any plans, you would see that no access is being cut off to anyone. This plan enhances everyones use of the river, except now more people can use it for a purpose. And the river is not owned exclusively by a west river homeowner as much as some may think it is.
Would you rather have a highway in front of your house or a leisurely bike path? And if the state decides to maintain the area more, then great. If they decide to keep things the same...well it still looks unmaintained, but you now have a bike path!
There is absolutely no reason to use this the parkway to commute to anywhere. Joy riding and joy riding alone is the sole reason anyone uses this road. Baseline, Fix, Whitehaven, Love, Staley.....these are all roads that lead to the thruway and if you do so happen to love the parkway so much, traveling fix rd to love rd along the parkway you are saving 3 minutes of travel time vs using west river rd.....and if you live on west river, you have to drive on west river rd to get to the parkway for at least 30 seconds which means nobody on west river is getting anywhere more than 2 minutes and 30 seconds faster.....dont believe me? Clock it. And I bet you'll find the view a lot more enjoyable at 30mph vs 55mph
Enough of this circa 1960 mentality. Stop holding Grand Island back with your incredibly ignorant and fearful thoughts. And anyone who thinks this is just about Grand Island needs to get off the island now and then...this is about anyone in the region. Visitors are what makes our community strong.
Anti path reasons that make no sense:
1). Don't make the bike path because the elderly like to drive there (the elderly can also drive west river or park at the overlook, as can anyone else)
2). I want to be able to have access to the water (any access you have now, is only en
J
Jesse Lee Vargas
10 years ago
My family has lived on Grand Island on west river road for over 30 years. We would love nothing more than to have a bike/walking path on the outer parkway. I'm not sure why the interests of the tax paying citizens are not being fairly represented by our appointed officials. Obviously the land owners on west river road all want this so the refusal to recognize this desire is bewilderingly odd.
I am in support of a bike path along the West River, and I also believe that the 55 mph Parkway is a redundant and unnecessary expense. To turn it into a bike path would be a great move for Grand Island tourism and for the quality of life there. The existing overlooks should be used as the parking areas and the general layout of the parkway / parking areas retained. If needed, additional parking should be in Buckhorn State Park, and/or in Beaver Island State Park, rather than on the Parkway itself. West River Residents should retain dock rights, and the entire package should be presented in a way that ensures perpetuity.
I think this is a great idea, I understand some of the concerns about the parking areas. I would suggest those be eliminated. The existing overlooks be expanded, and two new ones being created. The most important thing is that the grass HAS to be maintained...
We need the bike path for present and future generations to fully enjoy access to our beautiful waterfront.
The West River multi-purpose trail is an opportunity that we must not forego. It is already funded by a grant in the amount of nearly two million dollars and will be a tremendous recreational asset for the Town of Grand Island. It is unfortunate that three of our Town council members have to resort to back room politics as they try to keep this trail from becoming a reality. The decision to oppose this trail option was not vetted before the Town of Grand Island Parks and Recreation Advisory Board nor was the public given an opportunity to weigh in on the flawed decision made by an uninformed majority of Town Council members. With regard to the former, It seems that whenever an important issue like trapping on public lands or a new trail proposal comes before the Town of Grand Island its Parks and Recreation Advisory Board is deliberately left out of the decision making process. Further, these same Town board members failed to give the NYS Office of Parks time to address the concerns of the general public preferring instead to jump the gun with an official condemnation to this trail proposal. Decisions like this one made without all of the facts and clearly driven by emotion are not examples of good leadership but something far less than that. We all need to stop all the recriminations and work together to achieve the goal of making Grand Island a grand place to live. The West River trail will help us get there.
Promises made are not the same as promises kept. We are weary of past mistakes whereas duty ends up falling on the shoulders of the homeowners to fulfill the shortcomings of responsible parties in order to maintain the beauty of the neighborhood.
If you live on West River, you would know that snow on the Parkway is not a deterrent from its use.
The Parkway is not unused. It's traffic is more than 8:1 compared to the service road, NYSDOT statistics average 1,700 vehicles per day compared to the 200 vehicles on the currently tranquil service road. If you lived here, you would know that the waterfront is already open to everyone with spacious overlooks with ample parking, kayak, boat launches, and scenic views. Grant $ could only improve what we already have in place.
The original vote was illegal as it did not offer proper notice or time frame to residents
All this rhetoric from the naysayers about the State of New York and broken promises is nothing but a monotinous whine. This trail is a progressive step forward. Don't let a bunch of cave dwellers keep the public from using and enjoying state owned parkland that our taxes pay for. New York State Parks needs to complete this project. This project will open up one of the most scenic vistas of the Niagara to the general public. West River homeowners opposing this trail have no right to expect that all of us taxpayers should maintain this waterfront land solely for their personal pleasure at the exclusion of everyone else.
I would like to see the state parkway turned into a bike path on West River that would connect Beaver Island to Buckhorn and allow families to walk, run, and bike in a safe manner away from traffic.
Listen to the public and build this trail. Don't let a few narrow minded private property owners keep the public from using and enjoying a trail that will be placed on land that belongs to all of the people of New York State.
I would like to see the state parkway turned into a bike path, which would allow Beaver Island and Buckhorn State Parks to be connected to one another via the West River.
The West River has been home to my family for over 60 years. When NYS decided to put a marina in our backyard, the thought of losing the tranquility of our stream and marshland was disturbing. Can you imagine our thoughts when we envisions hundreds of boaters and fishermen invading "our" space. It's probably very similar to how some of the current West River resident feel. I know some of them that keep their boats there now so our perceived inconvenience is now their convenience, right? However, now we accept that marina in our backyard. Myself and my parents before me have found the ability of walking to our boat slips far outweighs that feared intrusion. I look at the conversion of the parkway into a bike path as another opportunity to increase the recreational activities available on the Island. And provide a much safer path along the river. Those naysayers might learn to embrace the change too.
After a slow ride down the West River last evening in the truck I will miss it but this bike path will be even better. Remember when EZ pass was started and how many were against it, well now we wouldn't want to be without it and the bike path will be the same. Shame on the board members that voted against it I don't believe they represent mainstream Grand Islanders only a chosen few. I am all for the bike path and commend the board members that can see the light and smell the roses.
Get outside..
I support the bike Path, The state could always auction off the land to the highest bidder
I vote YES for the West River Connector Trail.
Lifelong GI resident. I support the West River bike path.
I have never seen so many ignorant comments in my life in reference to those against the bike path..... If any of these silly voices in your head took the time to look at any plans, you would see that no access is being cut off to anyone. This plan enhances everyones use of the river, except now more people can use it for a purpose. And the river is not owned exclusively by a west river homeowner as much as some may think it is. Would you rather have a highway in front of your house or a leisurely bike path? And if the state decides to maintain the area more, then great. If they decide to keep things the same...well it still looks unmaintained, but you now have a bike path! There is absolutely no reason to use this the parkway to commute to anywhere. Joy riding and joy riding alone is the sole reason anyone uses this road. Baseline, Fix, Whitehaven, Love, Staley.....these are all roads that lead to the thruway and if you do so happen to love the parkway so much, traveling fix rd to love rd along the parkway you are saving 3 minutes of travel time vs using west river rd.....and if you live on west river, you have to drive on west river rd to get to the parkway for at least 30 seconds which means nobody on west river is getting anywhere more than 2 minutes and 30 seconds faster.....dont believe me? Clock it. And I bet you'll find the view a lot more enjoyable at 30mph vs 55mph Enough of this circa 1960 mentality. Stop holding Grand Island back with your incredibly ignorant and fearful thoughts. And anyone who thinks this is just about Grand Island needs to get off the island now and then...this is about anyone in the region. Visitors are what makes our community strong. Anti path reasons that make no sense: 1). Don't make the bike path because the elderly like to drive there (the elderly can also drive west river or park at the overlook, as can anyone else) 2). I want to be able to have access to the water (any access you have now, is only en
My family has lived on Grand Island on west river road for over 30 years. We would love nothing more than to have a bike/walking path on the outer parkway. I'm not sure why the interests of the tax paying citizens are not being fairly represented by our appointed officials. Obviously the land owners on west river road all want this so the refusal to recognize this desire is bewilderingly odd.