"Residents Celebrate Opening of Recreational Trail" from the
May 21st, 2000 issue of The Post-Journal
12-Mile Trail is Built On Former Railroad Tracks
By Sharon Turano
LITTLE VALLEY - Area residents celebrated what they believe is "a real success" Saturday, the Iroquois Recreational Trail.
The 12-mile walking, bicycling and inline skating trail will be build on railroad tracks formerly owned by the Cattaraugus County Industrial Development Agency from Salamanca to Cattaraugus.
A $1.5 million state grant will help pay for the project.
"If you believe you can't, you can't," said Richard LeFeber of the attitude of the officials supporting the project. "Today is a successful outcome."
LeFeber said the bike trail idea came from Mike Weishan and was backed by the Cattaraugus County Planner Dr. Terry Martin. Martin pushed for other agencies and people to get involved in the project.
Seventy meetings were held in 90 days in order to form the Southern Tier Association for Rails to Trails, which will oversee the development of the trail.
"It's a wonderful process," LeFeber said of those who came together to work on grant applications and other projects associated with the trail.
Weishan, Tammy Bucchardt, Little Valley clerk and who wrote the grants for the state funding; and Brad Walters, chairman of the Rails to Trails Association, were honored for their work during Saturday's ribbon-cutting ceremony.
"They don't know the words I and me," LeFeber said of the honorees.
The groundbreaking showcased a miniature friendship arch, two gazebos and a pavilion that will be built at the end of Main Street in Little Valley, which will be the trailhead.
Construction on that phase of the project will begin in September.
"The secret to success is no secret. It is ourselves," LeFeber said.
Saturday's event was a celebration of the success of bringing the rails-to-trails program to life.
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