New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation Planning Unit New York State Trails Council Records

Chronological.

The State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) manages thousands of miles of recreation trails on nearly four million acres of land statewide. The Office of Parks, Recreation, and Historic Preservation (OPRHP) is charged with coordinating and developing a statewide plan for these trails. Working with partners in other state agencies, regional and statewide trail organizations, and dozens of local trail stewards, OPRHP assists in the development and maintenance of an extensive network of trails offering year-round recreational opportunities.

The New York State Trails Council is a citizen's advisory board that was created in 1981 as part of a grass-roots effort to ensure citizen participation in trail planning, development, and management. It was organized pursuant to the New York Statewide Trails Symposium held November 14 and 15, 1980 in Albany, New York, to discuss issues and exchange information, ideas, and perspectives on trail planning in New York State.

The goals of the Council are to advocate trail interests to all levels of government and to the public; to provide a reliable source of information on trail-based recreation and the needs of trail users; to coordinate efforts to construct and maintain trails; to foster responsible trail use ethics; and to provide a forum for mediating differences among trail user groups.

The Council consists of delegates representing 11 different trail user groups and activities, including ATVs, bicyclists, hiking, cross-country skiing, and others. OPRHP is just one of the dozen or so agencies that are also represented on the Council, including OPRHP, NYS Department of Environmental Conservation, NYS Canal Corporation, NYS Department of Transportation, Hudson River Greenway Conservancy, NY State Senate, Federal Highway Commission, National Park Service, Parks and Trails New York, NYS Department of Health, and the Tourism Advocate.

These representatives serve as advisors to the Council, and they represent trail users rather than commercial interests. They do not have voting privileges but may participate in discussions and raise issues for the Council to consider. The Trails Council is provided with technical assistance and support through OPRHP and the DEC. OPRHP is the secretary and record keeper for the Council - which is written into the Council's charter.

The records in this series include meeting agendas and minutes, correspondence, resolutions, bylaws, memoranda, notes, and related background materials. The minutes typically include roll call; reading and approval of minutes of previous meeting; resolutions; budget reports; delegate reports and concerns; agency reports; reports of trail development and preservation studies; other reports on planning, activities, and meetings; and other business. Also included are Trails Day proclamations, brochures, publications, reports and directories, opinion survey information, and records relating to the 1980 New York State Trails Symposium.

Folder list.

There are no restrictions regarding access to or use of the material.