Heron Farm and Events Center

Inaugural event will help promote County’s publicly accessible recreational trails   CHAUTAUQUA COUNTY, NY - In cooperation with the Chautauqua County Partnership for Economic Growth (CCPEG), the Friends of Chautauqua County Greenways (FCCG) group is excited to host the inaugural CHQ Trails Day, taking place this year on Saturday, June 21 at various locations throughout the County. This countywide event will capture the spirit of collaboration and connectivity that has come to define the FCCG over the past three years. The day is chock full of outdoor events for trail users of all types and of all abilities, with each event organized by the various members who are part of the FCCG. It will feature group hikes, horse rides, guided canoe/kayak trips, bird walks, group mountain bike rides, and much more. “This event will showcase the county’s amazing trail networks and will give outdoor enthusiasts a chance to make new connections with individual trail groups and with others who are passionate about the outdoors,” says Jacob Bodway, Trail Coordinator for CCPEG. Bodway adds that the CHQ Trails Day is the brainchild of John McCune and Twan Leenders, co-chairs of the FCCG Advisory Board. McCune represents Chautauqua County Rails to Trails, while Leenders represents the Chautauqua Watershed Conservancy. Together, along with all other advisory board members and other stakeholders, the two have worked for several months to organize and plan this special day for outdoor recreation enthusiasts, whether they be residents or visitors. Participating trail groups and organizations include: the Boutwell Hill Ski Club, the Chautauqua County Parks Commission and Parks Department, the Chautauqua County Equestrian Trail System (CCETS), the Chautauqua Rails to Trails, the Chautauqua Watershed Conservancy, the Heron Farm & Events Center, and the Western New York Mountain Bicycling Association (WNYMBA). Event locations include: Boutwell Hill State Forest (Cherry Creek), Cassadaga Lakes Nature Park (Cassadaga), Dobbins Woods Preserve (Ashville), Erlandson Overview Park (Frewsburg), the Chautauqua Gorge Loop Trail (Mayville), Heron Farm and Events Center (Sherman), the Kyle’s Landing Preserve (Sinclairville), Loud Performance (Bemus Point), Luensman Overview Park (Portland), and Prospect Hill Station Trailhead (Mayville). “It’s going to be a day unlike any other for celebrating our county’s beautiful natural resources, and it is a tradition that we hope will continue for years to come!” Bodway said. For a specific event details and times, visit: ChooseCHQ.com/CHQTrailsDay or see the event listing on CCPEG’s Facebook page. About FCCG – The Friends of Chautauqua County Greenways is housed under CCPEG and is an organization whose aim is to collaborate and build on private/public partnerships to position themselves to raise the necessary capital and programmatic resources to realize the primary objectives outlined in the 2012 Greenway Plan. About CCPEG - The Chautauqua County Partnership for Economic Growth (CCPEG) serves as the main convener of economic development partners and resources to advance key projects that achieve economic prosperity in Chautauqua County. It also serves as the catalyst and broker of resources for advancing economic prosperity efforts and is the central coordinating entity for the formation, retention, development, and attraction of quality jobs and advancements to the quality of life. It is an initiative of the Chautauqua Region Economic Development Corporation (CREDC). For more information visit CHQPartnership.org.