LOOKING AHEAD

The Mohawk Towpath Scenic Byway Coalition will be holding our BywaySummit on March 20, 2014, at the Century House in Latham. Our municipal leaders and planners, our partners, and the Friends of the Mohawk Towpath Bywayare invited to celebrate our accomplishments and map out the future of the Byway.

In 2014 we will be exploring the possibility of adding the Town of Glenville and the Village of Scotia to the Mohawk Towpath Scenic Byway Coalition. The town and village are within the view-shed of the Byway corridor.

We will be expanding our interpretive efforts by planning six additional kiosks:• one in Clifton Park at the Lock 7 dam overlook and one interpreting our

agricultural heritage• one in Cohoes at a trail gateway to the historic chain of locks• one in Colonie at the historic Mohawk River military crossing• one in Niskayuna at the site of the historic Aqueduct and• one in Schenectady at the gateway to the StockadeWe will also be refining the cell phone based audio tour of our key Byway features.

The Byway has a growing calendar of events this year including

• April 25 - 27 - Byway Community Cleanup during Canal Clean Sweep• April 26 - Apple Blossom Festival • August 9 - Mohawk Gateway Canal Fest• August 10 - Fifth Annual Bike the Byway• October 19 - 12th Annual Mohawk Towpath Byway Duathlon

Mohawk Towpath Scenic BywayCoalition, Inc.

P O Box 90Clifton Park, N Y 12065-0090

518-406-8610http://www.MohawkTowpath.org/

ANNUAL REPORT2013

We welcome you to another year on the Mohawk Towpath Scenic Byway. There is no better way to enjoy the beauty of the Eastern Mohawk River region than to explore the Byway. Whether by car, bike, boat or hiking the trails you will discover that the Eastern Mohawk is one of the treasures of New York State. As you explore the Byway you will find our signs for the cell phone tour. Each station number will direct you to informative recordings. The voices you hear represent the diversity of the people who live and work along the Byway.

Our continued efforts toward improving the Byway experience includes work on the Vischer Ferry Preserve trail, kiosks and way finding signs. They enhance the visitor’s appreciation of the natural and historic value at each location.

One revelation this year is the fact that some of our expenditures to promote the Byway have an economic benefit return on investment approaching 10 to 1. The Byway is a good investment in time and money for our community.

This year marks the completion of our Scenic Conservation Action Plan. This living document will continually change and guide our plans for appreciating and maintaining the scenic beauty of the Eastern Mohawk.

A Byway Summit is planned to bring together our partners and neighbors to review our plans and set new goals for the future. We look to the future to preserve and protect the Byway and seek to incorporate help from our neighboring communities along the Byway corridor.

We want to thank America’s Byway Resource Center in Duluth, MN for many years of support and look forward to the Erie Canal Heritage Commission for its support right here in our back yard.

We invite you to join the Friends of the Mohawk Towpath Byway and become an active member to make our Byway the best place to work, play and live.

Thank you for your support and encouragement.Lawrence D. SyzdekChairman

The Mohawk Towpath Byway: the roadway that tells the story of the waterway west, the Erie Canal and the role our communities played in the westward expansion of the country and in the Industrial Revolution. The Byway is one of a network of New York State Scenic Byways and one of 150 unique America’s Byways®.

The Mohawk Towpath Scenic Byway Coalition, Inc.: A regional partnership between municipalities to preserve the story - Clifton Park, Cohoes, Colonie, Halfmoon, Niskayuna, Schenectady and Village and Town of Waterford.

Executive Committee:Lawrence D. Syzdek ChairmanKevin Franklin Vice ChairmanHenrietta O’Grady SecretaryNelson Ronsvalle Treasurer

Municipalities andtheir Representatives:

Town of Clifton Park John L. Scherer

Eric J. HamiltonTown of Colonie

Kevin FranklinCity of Cohoes Ed Tremblay Town of Halfmoon

Nelson RonsvalleTown of Niskayuna

Kathy MaternCity of Schenectady

Leesa Perazzo Town of Waterford

J. Christopher CallaghanVillage of Waterford

Merle Doud

Executive Director:Eric J. Hamilton

http://www.mohawktowpath.org/

The Erie Canal Experience

High school graphic arts class work on the Byway.

SUMMARY OF ACCOMPLISHMENTS

GRANTS RECEIVED

The Mohawk Towpath Scenic Byway Coalition received a FHWA Byway Grant to fund Improved Recreational Access to the Vischer Ferry Nature and Historic Preserve in the amount of $416,880. The total cost of the project with a 20% match is $521,100. We will be working with the Town of Clifton Park to implement this project.

WORKED TO INFORM AND PROMOTE THE BYWAY

• Expanded interpretation of some of our key resources. We implemented an on-demand cell phone based tour of 15 stops along the Byway corridor (518-649-9990).

• Plans started for six additional interpretive kiosks along the Byway route: two in Clifton Park, One in Colonie, one in Niskayuna, one in Cohoes and one in Schenectady.

• We were involved in several events which contributed to the work of the Byway:

Chicken and Biscuit Dinner hosted by the Shenendehowa Rotary and provided by Giffy's Bar-B-Q. This has proved a valued partnership!

Byway Community Cleanup with Canal Clean Sweep

Dedication of the new bridge across historic Lock 19 of the old Erie Canal located in Clifton Park, a working partnership with the Southern Saratoga Chamber

Conducted the Fourth Annual Bike the Byway in Clifton Park, Halfmoon, Colonie and Niskayuna with the help of the Mohawk Hudson Cycling Club

Held the 11th Annual Mohawk Towpath Byway Duathlon at Krause's in Halfmoon and Clifton Park with the assistance of over 50 volunteers

Reached out to our local high school graphic arts students for assistance in designing a Friends of the Byway logo

• Maintained the website including calendar of events and composed 19 posts on the news blog to generate interest in our Facebook page as well as the other way around.

• Tested exposure on the American Road magazine’s web site with a downloadable itinerary and realized significant web traffic from their site.

• Conducted two Erie Canal Experience tours each for a busload of lifelong education participants from Berkshire County, MA. This was organized with one of our partners, the Capital Region Maritime Center.

STRIVED TO PROTECT AND ENHANCE BYWAY RESOURCES

• Finished the working copy for the Byway's Scenic Conservation Action Plan. Several municipal planners assisted with this project.

• From a Federal Highway grant we received, we completed a Study of the Cohoes-Crescent Road in the Town of Colonie and presented a preferred alternative to the public for comment. The Study includes reconstruction of the town owned road with pull offs along public areas along the Mohawk River and a bike and pedestrian way between the highway and the river. The project was completed with the diligent cooperation of Colonie staff.

EXPANDED AND REINFORCED PARTNERSHIPS

• Entered into an agreement with the Capital Region Maritime Center for a collaborative educational effort called the Erie Canal Experience.

• The Friends of the Mohawk Towpath Scenic Byway is a growing membership organization of Byway enthusiasts who actively assist with implementing the Byway's Corridor Management Plan and bolster fundraising for specific projects.

• Provided written comments to NYSDOT on Route 32 crossing Mohawk River bridge replacement for Cohoes and Waterford.

REFINED INTERNAL OPERATIONS

• Updated Strategic Plan facilitated by Capital Consulting Group and eliminated the need for a virtual assistant.

FINANCIAL SUMMARY

Revenues exceed expenses in 2013 due to income from two grants. The Byway received Federal Byway Grant payments in 2013 for services provided in 2012. The MTB received 2013 income from an Erie Canalway National Heritage Corridor grant for services to be provided in 2014.

Thank you Duathlon sponsors:Fleet Feet of AlbanyBrookfield Renewable PowerHamiltons of Acworth, GAMohawk Fine PapersShenendehowa RotaryStewartʼs ShopsHalfmoon Family DentalPrice ChopperTrustco Bank

Revenue Expenses

Federal Byway Grants $8,977Municipal Support $3,500Event Income $8,807Private Contributions $1,220Erie Canalway Grant $3,000 Total $26,045

Telling the Byway Stories $2,824Scenic Conservation $949Building Partnerships $667Event Expenses $4,899Refine Internal Operations 1,035Cell Phone Tour $2,919 Total $13,597