FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: May 10, 2007
CANAL CORPORATION OPENS REMAINING SECTIONS OF CANAL SYSTEM IN CENTRAL NEW YORK
Entire Canal System is Now Open to Navigation
The New York State Canal Corporation today announced that the entire 524-mile New York State Canal System, including Locks E-23 to E-27 on the Erie Canal, C-S 1 on the Cayuga-Seneca Canal, and the entire Oswego Canal, is now open and ready for business. This year marks the 182nd consecutive navigation season on New York’s historic Canal System.
Boaters are once again reminded that the Corporation’s Board has approved the extension of a 2006 pilot program to waive recreational boating tolls for the 2007 navigation season. Pleasure craft owners will not be required to purchase a Canal pass to cruise on the System during the 2007 season.
Canal Corporation Director, Carmella R. Mantello, joined with local officials and community residents at a press conference today in Phoenix, New York, to announce the opening of the remaining sections of the Canal System in Central New York and welcome the first boaters to the Oswego Canal.
Mantello said, “Today I’m pleased to announce that the entire Canal System is now open and ready for business. Central New York communities along the Canal System from Brewerton to Lyons, and from Phoenix to Oswego have been anxiously waiting for this day and are ready to welcome visitors from around the world to experience the unique hospitality and charm of upstate New York.
“The Corporation Board has once again waived recreational tolls for 2007 and with more than 150 events and festivals planned throughout the season, we are excited and optimistic that this will be one of the best seasons ever on New York’s Canals,” Mantello added.
State Senator Jim Wright said, “The Canal System is an important part of Upstate New York’s tourism industry, connecting waterways across the state and opening up unlimited opportunities for recreation, sightseeing and experiencing New York’s diverse culture. I’m pleased that the entire Canal System is now open, and I encourage boaters to take advantage of the waived tolls.”
State Assemblyman Dave Townsend said, “Either as an important thoroughfare for industry in its early days or as a haven for recreational boaters today, the canal system has been an integral part of New York's history and economy since its inception. I encourage all New Yorkers to take advantage of this special recreational opportunity, which is once again free of tolls, thanks to Director Mantello and the Canal Corporation.”
Major portions of the Erie and Cayuga-Seneca canals officially opened for navigation on Friday, May 4, 2007, despite certain sections in Central New York being delayed due to high water. Canal Corporation employees have been working diligently over the last week to make final preparations as the high waters have receded. As of today, the entire Canal System is now open for navigation.
Mayor Anthony Fratto, Village of Phoenix, said, “The people of Phoenix are excited for the opening of the Canal System and look forward to a successful season in 2007. The Canal is the centerpiece of our community and we are eager to move forward with our strategic plan for waterfront redevelopment. I want to thank Director Mantello for her support and partnership over the last two years. The Greenway grant will allow us to add amenities for boaters and attract even more visitors and economic activity to our historic community.”
As part of the Erie Canal Greenway grants program announced in 2006, the Village of Phoenix was awarded a canal grant of $45,000 for enhanced boater services and visitor amenities at Henley Park and Lock Island along the canal. The grant will help to fund interpretive signage, boat launch improvements, additional lighting, benches and other infrastructure improvements. These improvements are part of a strategic plan being developed by the Village’s Board of Trustees that will outline a plan for revitalizing the waterfront, the business district, and the neighborhoods of Phoenix.
More than 150 special events and festivals are planned along the Canal System in 2007, including The Grand Canal Journey of the Lois McClure from July 2-September 24, the annual Erie Canalway Trail Celebration on June 2 in conjunction with National Trails Day, the Ninth Annual Cycling the Erie Canal bicycle tour, taking place from July 8-15, and the Canal Corporation’s second annual CanalSplash, taking place the weekend of August 10-12. The entire 2007 Calendar of Events is available on the Corporation’s website at: http://www.nyscanals.gov/exvac/calendar/index.html.
The New York State Canal System is comprised of four historic waterways, the Erie, the Champlain, the Oswego and the Cayuga-Seneca Canals. Spanning 524 miles across New York State, the waterway links the Hudson River, Lake Champlain, Lake Ontario, the Finger Lakes and the Niagara River with communities rich in history and culture.
For boating information, vacation opportunities and news about the New York State Canal System, please visit www.nyscanals.gov or call 1-800-4CANAL4.
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The New York State Thruway Authority/Canal Corporation offers a free email service called TRANSalert to its customers via email or text messaging to inform them of major incidents and emergencies that may affect travel on the Thruway or navigation on the Canal System. To sign up for the Canal TRANSalert service, customers can visit the Corporation's website at www.nyscanals.gov/tas/. To sign-up for Thruway TRANSalerts please visit the Authority's website at www.nysthruway.gov/tas/.