Equestrian trail planning public meeting Sept. 29

CHERRY CREEK — The Chautauqua County Department of Planning and Economic Development is currently overseeing the development of a plan for the creation of equestrian trails in the Boutwell State Forest/Cockaigne/Cherry Creek area of Chautauqua County. The Plan, slated for completion by early 2011, will propose the creation of approximately 30 to 40 miles of horse-friendly trails in the near-term, with additional trails being created over time to connect other areas within and outside of the county. As part of this initiative, Alta Planning + Design, a firm located in Saratoga Springs that specializes in trail planning, will conduct a community workshop at the Cherry Creek Inn on Sept. 29 from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. The purpose of this workshop is to provide an overview of the planning process and the proposed plan, seek public input regarding the initiative, communicate the progress made to date, and develop further action items going forward. The County Department of Planning & Economic Development and the County of Chautauqua Industrial Development Agency have committed funding for the initial phase of this project, geared toward developing a plan for the creation of equestrian/multi-use trails in the Boutwell State Forest area of the county. The initial trails are proposed to extend from Ruttenbur Road in the north, to Cockaigne Ski Area in the south, from Cockaigne Ski Area to Cherry Creek to the east, and from Cherry Creek back to Boutwell State Forest, creating a primary loop. These dedicated horse trails would extend through a combination of state forest areas and private properties (assuming we can secure permission), primarily using existing snowmobile trails and other existing pathways. The opinions and ideas of Chautauqua County residents are encouraged. The information obtained from these meetings will contribute to the further development of the plan and will supplement the input that is being collected from stakeholder interviews and through the collection of existing data and information. The community workshop is scheduled to be no longer than two hours in length, and will consist of an opening discussion by Alta, a description of the proposed alignment of the trail, a timeline, a group discussion regarding the project and a Q & A period. Refreshments will be provided. Any comments or questions regarding the upcoming public meetings or any other aspects of the Equestrian Trail Plan should be addressed to Mark Geise, Deputy Director, Chautauqua County Department of Planning and Economic Development, at geisem@co.chautauqua.ny.us or 661-8912. You can also access details regarding Alta, maps and other information about the project on the planning website at: www.planningchautauqua.com.