Genesee Valley Trail Towns Invest in People and Places
New York State is home to nearly 600 municipalities that range in size from densely populated, large urban cities, to smaller rural villages. Every year these communities compete for state funding to support a myriad of projects that benefit the people that live, work, and spend time in these places, and shape the way visitors experience New York’s unique landscape, history and culture.
In the Genesee Valley, the Villages of Perry and Geneseo, two of the communities involved in the Genesee Valley Trail Town initiative, have been selected for the state’s premier economic development programs, the Downtown Revitalization Initiative and New York Forward.
Perry, nestled between Silver Lake and Letchworth State Park, and Geneseo, on the east bank of the Genesee River, will receive funding from the sixth round of the Downtown Revitalization Initiative (DRI), and the NY Forward program, respectively. Funding will be used to develop a Strategic Investment Plan, allowing each village to evaluate local assets and opportunities, and identify projects that can further the goals of these communities to serve as hospitality hubs and destinations for art, architecture, and adventure in the Genesee Valley region. Findings from the plans will help guide, and prioritize investments, and help each community determine how funding can be used to increase the level of community service opportunities, support downtown business owners, and enhance accessible pedestrian and bicycle routes through the downtown area. The growth of the downtown will only further complement all of the charming attractions, services, and amenities that Perry and Geneseo already have to offer.
Since 2019 both of these communities have been participating in the Genesee Valley Trail Town initiative. This collaborative capacity building and technical assistance program is intended to help communities in the Genesee Valley region capitalize on the growing outdoor recreation economy. PTNY, in partnership with Letchworth Gateway Villages and the Friends of the Genesee Valley Greenway, are working with these communities to create accessible and safe connections from communities to the Genesee Valley Greenway and other surrounding outdoor recreation opportunities, foster place-making efforts, grow outdoor-focused tourism through small business support and hospitality, and promote the region as a recreation destination. Smaller, rural communities offer a unique set of services and amenities to area residents and visitors, and these assets are critical to support and grow our outdoor recreation economy. Many of our rural communities serve as gateways to our state parks, trails, and other public lands. These places are fueling our state’s outdoor recreation economy, which generates over $40 billion and supports over 4.5 million jobs annually. Funding from both programs will enable smaller communities to provide a higher quality of service to visitors seeking safe, walkable downtown areas with hospitality services and public green space.
With new sources of funding from the NY Forward program, and existing programs like the Downtown Revitalization Initiative (DRI), New York State is empowering all communities, big and small, to think about new ways to reinvigorate downtown districts and incentivize new business ventures centered around art, culture and entertainment. This shift towards “place-making” holds great promise for trail towns across the state; these communities are pursuing service-oriented projects, developing new amenities, and supporting bicycle and pedestrian infrastructure to create safe connections to key assets, including outdoor recreation opportunities, to help attract and retain residents and visitors.