This scenic trail will stretch along the length of the Tioughnioga River in Cortland County, from Dwyer Park in Little York south to Marathon. When complete, it will provide outstanding opportunities for fishing, boating, hiking, bicycling, and other recreation along this river, which is a major part of the Susquehanna River/Chesapeake Bay system. A large digital map of the proposed trail route is available for download on our map page. You'll find a number of stories about the Tioughnioga River trail in our on-line news archive. Comments from the public are very welcome at grow@cortlandbusiness.com.
Bringing Together History, Nature, Culture & Commerce
The Tioughnioga River corridor of mountains, meadows, rolling hills, gentle valleys, scenic vistas and dramatic lakes make the area one of the most beautiful regions in New York State. Adding to the appeal are the small communities that line its banks which are noted for their quaint village centers, historic main streets and early American history. Such is the lure of the Tioughnioga ... "A Classic American Waterway."
The Cortland County BDC/IDA is bringing scenic, historical, cultural and economic resources together in a plan to revitalize the Tioughnioga River, which early Native Americans who fished its waters and hunted its shores for nearly 6,000 years before settlers arrived first named "river with bank of flowers."
The BDC/IDA has convened a Waterfront Development Commission to focus on economic development, environmental conservation, tourism promotion and community revitalization along the river's 30 mile corridor. The Commission, chaired by Cortland Line CEO Brian Ward, will be working over a multi-year period to design and implement a comprehensive waterfront development strategy. The project will be designed with the assistance of a professional consultant working through a community-based steering committee, and will develop cultural and historic attractions, agri-tourism, and retail and economic development opportunities, as well as outdoor and recreational pursuits such as fishing, canoeing, kayaking and hiking through a trail system with interpretive signage along portions of the scenic river corridor.
A Community Partnership
Implementing this project will involve a partnership between federal, state, county and local officials, the private sector, community groups and citizens. In addition, it will require multi-agency interaction to coordinate. In that sense, it is an exciting example of the "quality community" or "smart growth" movement to bring partnerships together that blend economic and environmental goals.