NYS Canal Corp. announces new branding & amenity design standards to enhance visitor experience across canal system

Amenity gap analysis completed in partnership with Erie Canalway National Heritage Corridor & New York State Department of Environmental Conservation

New York State Canal Corp. Press Release

The New York State Canal Corp. announced a new look for its public spaces along the New York state canal system with updated Canal Corp. and Canalway Trail signage and a palette of park-like amenities.

As part of the Erie Canal’s bicentennial this year, and as the canal system enters its third century of operation, this modernization effort includes new guidelines for signage and the creation of design standards for amenities on Canal Corp. land. These upgrades are consistent with the recently adopted Canal Recreationway 2050 Plan that aims to make the canal waterways and trailways welcoming and accessible for all visitors through a consistent, high-quality park-like experience across the canal system.

“Our primary goal through this effort is to unify the 524-mile canal system as it connects more than 220 upstate New York communities by creating a strong sense of place through new signage and consistent amenities,” New York State Canal Corp. Director Brian U. Stratton said. “This fresh identity reflects our commitment to revitalization, resiliency, safety and inclusivity, while honoring the historic character of our beloved canal and trail network. Whether you are in Waterford, the Tonawandas, or in one of the many charming canal communities in between, you will know that you are recreating along the canal.”

The Canal Corp. owns approximately 23,000 acres of land and frequently partners with communities, through leases and permits, to make improvements that enhance the recreational use of canal lands. The design standards released here provide guidance for the selection of signs and park amenities, including bike racks, benches and plantings, all of which reflect best practices in maintenance and sustainable materials.

This new design guidance includes key components:

•New Canal Corp. and Canalway Trail tourism identifiers: The “Canal Identifier” will be featured on Canal Corp. work equipment, lock houses, waterway signs and facility signage. This identifier is intended for Canal Corp. use unless necessary for wayfinding signage off Canal Corp. land.

The Canalway Trail Identifier is the new brand for the Canalway Trail and is intended for use in all trailway wayfinding signage regardless of ownership.

•The release of signage design guidelines for Canal Corp. and permitted property: These guidelines are for land-based signage and provide required graphic standards, fonts, layouts, colors, materials and installation details for wayfinding and interpretive signs.

•The release of canal amenities standards for use on Canal Corp. property or by those with permits to enhance such property: This document provides specifications for benches, tables, lighting, bicycle fix-it stations, drinking fountains, garbage receptacles, play structures, and more. The package of standards includes approved vendors, installation details, and accessibility considerations.

Also newly released, the Erie Canalway amenities study – developed in partnership with the Erie Canalway National Heritage Corridor and supported by the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation – provides a comprehensive overview of the current amenities along the Erie Canal corridor and highlights opportunities for enhancement. Future studies will expand to the Champlain, Oswego and Cayuga-Seneca canals.

The Canal Corp. and Erie Canalway National Heritage Corridor will host virtual regional public briefings for interested stakeholders later this summer and fall. More information, including a registration link for those who wish to attend a briefing, may be found here.

Erie Canalway National Heritage Corridor Executive Director Bob Radliff said, "We are excited to share the results of the comprehensive amenities assessment and implementation plan with all waterway and trail users. This is the next step in our mutual quest for consistent, predictable, and high-quality amenities whether you are on a day trip or an end-to-end journey. In collaboration with New York state, canalway communities and other local partners, we will continue working to provide accessible and authentic recreational opportunities for people of all abilities along our legendary canal system."

New York State Department of Environmental Conservation Commissioner Amanda Lefton said, “Upgrades to the New York state canal system and the Erie Canalway amenities study will provide a better user experience for bikers, paddlers and boaters along the Mohawk River and Erie Canal. DEC is focused on increasing recreation and stewardship of the Mohawk River and Erie Canal through the Mohawk River Basin action agenda, and the modernization actions announced today are critical steps to advancing that work.”

More about the New York State Canal Corp.: New York’s Canal system includes four historic canals: the Erie, Champlain, Oswego and Cayuga-Seneca. Spanning 524 miles, the waterway links the Hudson River with the Great Lakes, the Finger Lakes and Lake Champlain. The canals connect hundreds of unique and historic communities within the Erie Canalway National Heritage Corridor.

The New York State Canal Corp. is a subsidiary of the New York Power Authority.