Trails Council
Purpose
The New York State Trails Council (NYSTC) was established in October 1981 to ensure citizen participation in trail planning and management. The NYSTC was made the formal Citizen Advisory Council for administration of the National Recreational Trail Act. The Citizen Advisory Council was organized to:
- advocate trail interests to all levels of government and to the public;
- provide a reliable source of information on trail based recreation;
- coordinate efforts to develop, construct and maintain recreational trails;
- foster trail user ethics; and
- provide a forum for mediating differences among trail-user groups
The Trails Council currently consists of delegates representing thirteen trail activities, including all-terrain vehicles, four-wheel drive vehicles, hiking, equine trail interests, nordic skiing (cross-country), off road bicycling, on road bicycling, running, snowmobiling, snowshoeing, trail-bike riding (motorized), universal access, and water trails. The representatives for each of these user groups are trail users who do not represent commercial interests.
The Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation, the Department of Environmental Conservation, the Canal Corporation, the Department of Transportation, The Hudson River Greenway, the New York State Senate and Assembly, the Federal Highway Administration, the National Park Service, and Parks and Trails New York also have representatives to the Council. These representatives do not have voting privileges but serve as advisors by participating in discussions and raising issues for the Council to consider. The Trails Council is provided with technical assistance and support through the Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation and the Department of Environmental Conservation.
Delegates
- All Terrain Vehicles - Jeff Binga
- Equine Trail Interests - Carol Schmelz, Wendy Wakula
- Four-Wheel Drive - Todd Syska
- Hiking - Donna Chapman, Stephanie Campbell (Vice Chair), Charlotte Staats
- Nordic Skiing - Vacant
- Off-road Bicycling - Michael Vitti, Doug Eli
- On-road Bicycling - Ivan Vamos, Harvey Botzman (Chair)
- Running - Bill Hoffman
- Snowmobiling - Jennifer Senf, William Cook
- Snowshoeing - Vacant
- Trail-Bike Riding (motorized) - Tim Hutchinson
- Universal Access - Denis Livsey, Jason Thurston
- Water Trails - Mike Prescott