Greenway: Shoreline Bike Trail gets final piece in Niagara County

By Benjamin Joe

The final piece of the 54-mile-long Niagara River Shoreline Bike Trail, a path for bikers and walkers that spans from Buffalo to Youngstown, was opened Monday behind the Frontier Volunteer Fire Co. firehall on River Road at the border of North Tonawanda and Wheatfield.

At the gathering was both Don MacSwan, supervisor of Wheatfield, and Austin Tylec, mayor of North Tonawanda, as well as many Wheatfield officials and Town of Lewiston Supervisor Steve Broderick.

Also in attendance was Greg Stevens, executive director of the Niagara River Greenway Commission, who said the origins of the project come from before his time at the agency he joined in 2013. Since joining the organization, the path has been a central part of his work, Stevens said.

Before the ribbon-cutting of the stretch of trail in Wheatfield, Stevens talked briefly about Greenway’s role and the challenge of making this idea a reality.

“This was the first big project on the agenda, years ago,” he said. “Now, the Greenway is the steward of the Shoreline Trail. We don’t own it, we don’t control it, we just guide it. So, when we find a big gap like this one, then we try to focus our resources here and bring people together to make good things happen.

“But the Town (of Wheatfield) wasn’t in a position to take it on, so we had to find some other support.”

That support came in the form of Ralph C. Wilson, Jr. Foundation, in 2018. Stevens acknowledged the support as he spoke to a crowd of more than 40 supporters and additionally 20 members of the Niagara Frontier Bike Club, who rode onto the new stretch of the bike path after the dedication.

“This is a very exciting day for the Niagara River Shoreline Trail, the Niagara River Greenway, and all of our partners who helped make this happen,” Stevens said. “We are really grateful for the support from the town; we’re especially grateful for the support of the volunteer fire department, who not only welcomed us here today, but who volunteered to have the trail come through their backyard, so they could help take care of people on the trail. …

“I’m here today to say thank you to two special gentlemen without whom this never would’ve happened. What they have in common is they are the kind of people that we really need to have in America. These are the people who get things done here in America. … Our supervisor, (Don MacSwan), who made this happen through his sheer will power; and J.J. Tighe (of the Ralph C. Wilson, Jr. Foundation) who came to town just at the right time to fill a gap in this project.”

On Monday afternoon, leaders and officials from the Town of Wheatfield, City of North Tonawanda, Town of Lewiston, New York State Department of Transportation, Niagara River Greenway, Niagara County Industrial and Economic Development agencies, the chiefs and crew of the Frontier Volunteer Fire Co. and members of the Wheatfield Enhancement Volunteers dedicated with gusto a final link of the popular and extensive Niagara River Greenway Trail network. (Photos by Justin Higner)

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MacSwan pointed out the support of several individuals in the crowd, including Niagara County Sheriff Michael Filicetti and Legislator David Godfrey. He said that, through the years, he and Stevens have built a friendship based on the work they did on the trail.

“I remember we walked through this. It was a jungle,” MacSwan said. “I made it to Liberty Drive. He kept walking.”

Filicetti said privately that the trail was “wonderful.”

“It’s a great opportunity for the bikers. They have their own path, not on the road. From a safety perspective? This path is wonderful,” he said.

While estimates of how many people will use the path were not forthcoming, Pete Somerville, of the Big Wheels Bicycle Club, said he will be riding and enjoying the trail with the rest of the club.

He also confirmed what officials like Tylec said, which was local businesses were feeling a boost from trail riders.

“We’ve been riding on it quite a bit since last fall when it got to the point where you could ride most of it,” he said. “A lot of our rides start in Tonawanda and we ride into Niagara Falls. … It’s smooth. No stops. In the summer, it will have a lot of shade on a hot day. … We get up there and find a coffee place. Get a cup of coffee and ride back.”

Officials cutting the ribbon opening the Wheatfield leg of the Niagara River Shoreline Trail, which completes the 54-mile trail from Buffalo to Youngstown, are North Tonawanda Mayor Austin Tylec, Department of Transportation official Richard Fontana, J.J. Tighe of the Ralph C. Wilson, Jr. Foundation, Executive Director of the Greenway Commission Greg Stevens, Wheatfield Supervisor Don MacSwan, Principal Officer of the Frontier Volunteer Fire Co. Richard Jackman, Wheatfield Councilman Larry Helwig and Niagara County Sheriff Michael Filicetti. (Photo by Justin Higner)

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More on the project

Speaking of the opening of the new, 2.5-mile, $4.3 million course in the Town of Wheatfield, Gov. Kathy Hochul said. “This new multiuse path brings us a big step closer to completing the Niagara River Shoreline Trail, and allows people to leave their cars at home as they take in all the wonderful attractions that the Niagara Falls area has to offer.”

Her team noted the Niagara River Shoreline Trail is intended to connect all the municipalities and parks along the Niagara River with a continuous off-road, multiuse trail running from Lake Erie to Lake Ontario. The new segment stretches from Gratwick Park in North Tonawanda (at Witmer Road) and runs along an abandoned rail line adjacent to River Road until it reaches Griffin Park in the City of Niagara Falls. Along the way, there is wayfinding and interpretative signage to aid users. The path was the product of a collaboration that involved the New York State Department of Transportation, the Niagara River Greenway Commission, Wheatfield, Niagara Falls and North Tonawanda.

In 2019, trail projects including the Wheatfield section received $3.1 million from the Federal Highway Administration’s Congestion Mitigation and Air Quality Improvement Program, which is administered in New York by the DOT. The program supports the construction of new multiuse bicycle and pedestrian facilities, new Americans with Disabilities Act-accessible sidewalks, improved access to public transportation and enhanced roadway safety.

The Ralph C. Wilson, Jr. Foundation also provided $400,000 to fund this portion of the trail’s completion. The remainder of the project was paid for with $1.16 million in federal Scenic Byway grant money, $170,000 from the Town of Wheatfield and $70,000 from the Niagara River Greenway Commission.

New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation Niagara Region Director Mark Mistretta said, “This project shows just why the Niagara River Greenway’s work is important and why we are so fortunate to have the Ralph C. Wilson, Jr. Foundation as partners in Western New York. This was one of the last major gaps in the Shoreline Trail, and connecting our parks and trails is vital for ensuring great experiences for our visitors and neighbors alike.”