MAYVILLE - The Chautauqua County Greenway Plan is set to make its official public debut.
The unveiling will take place at the Mayville Park Pavilion from 4:30 to 7 p.m. Thursday.
The event, put on by the county Department of Planning and Economic Development, will include food, music and - of course - the recently completed Greenway Plan.
"This Greenway Plan is to ensure Chautauqua County is a destination for outdoor active living and recreation," said Mark Geise, county Planning and Economic Development deputy director.
Stakeholders in the plan include the county Planning and Economic Development Department, county parks commission, county Industrial Development Agency and county Greenway Plan Steering Committee.
The comprehensive plan, nearly two years in the making at a cost of $50,000, already has five projects slated for implementation or review.
The 162-page Greenway Plan was first mentioned in the county's comprehensive plan, Chautauqua 20/20. Before that, the last detailed study conducted by the county regarding its greenways was in 1968.
The Greenway Plan has identified 39 "corridors" throughout the county to develop, enhance, or improve recreational greenways. The corridors are broken down into three categories: exceptional, significant and high priorities.
County Executive Greg Edwards has expressed optimism for the plan, and brushed aside notions it will "sit on a shelf collecting dust."
"Many have already expressed excitement for the Greenway Plan, and it hasn't even been officially released," the county executive said recently. "I'm grateful for the effort that has been put into this."
Next week's unveiling will take place rain or shine, Geise said.
The county was recently approved for Appalachian Regional Commission funding for equestrian trails - outlined in the county's comprehensive and greenway plans. The county will receive $150,000 from ARC, with another $150,000 coming from local cash and in-kind contributions.
The funds will jump-start the first two phases in bolstering equestrian trails in the towns of Charlotte and Cherry Creek.
During the legislature's Audit and Control Committee on Thursday, an application for additional ARC funding was approved. If secured, the money would be used to start the third phase of the Equestrian Plan.