Waterford - The Village of Waterford will be receiving a grant for $30,790 to design and 

construct a 600 foot pedestrian and bicycle trail to connect the Waterford Harbor Visitor 

Center to Lock 2 of the Erie Barge Canal.  This grant is Federal Highway Administration 

funding obtained by the Mohawk Towpath Byway to improve accessibility for local residents 

and Byway visitors as they explore and learn the story of the historic Erie Canal.  Local 

communities in 42 states will receive more than $22 million in federal grants for 207 

projects that improve and promote highways designated as scenic byways, U.S. 

Transportation Secretary Norman Y. Mineta announced last week.

The grants are part of the Federal Highway Administration's National Scenic Byways 

Program, which recognizes and enhances selected roads based on their archeological, 

cultural, historic, natural, recreational or scenic qualities. The grants will be used for 

projects such as scenic overlooks, visitor information centers, pedestrian trails, bike 

paths, safety upgrades, and educational and promotional materials.

"Scenic byways capture our imagination, lead us to understanding, and fill us with 

wonder," Mineta said. "This investment ensures that we can protect and promote the roads 

that make America great," he added.

Village of Waterford Mayor Bert Mahoney expressed his enthusiasm for the trail project, 

noting that the western end of the promenade in front of the Visitors Center ends under 

the Fourth Street Bridge.  Foot traffic has beaten a path to Lock 2 Park.  "The need for a 

well designed trail has been demonstrated, and the village looks forward to completing 

this connection.  This project will make it easier for visitors to traverse between the 

visitors center and lock 2 park especially during Canalfest and the Tugboat Roundup."

"The Mohawk Towpath Scenic Byway Coalition is excited about this project," said Eric Hamilton, 

chairman of the 8 municipal representatives that oversee implementation of the Byway's 

Corridor Management plan.  "This project is at the eastern gateway to the Byway which 

follows the historic route of the Erie Canal from Waterford to Schenectady.  It is the 

first of several projects we would like to complete that will connect our communities to 

recreational resources.  This connection will provide our residents and Byway travelers 

with a safe off road passage between the visitor center and a number of points of 

historic, engineering, cultural, and transportation interests along the Byway Corridor."

Last fall the Mohawk Towpath Byway was named as one of America's Byways a collection of 

125 unique Byways across the country.  Mr. Hamilton said that this project in Waterford 

will be one of several along the Byway that will begin this year.  These projects will 

help local residents rediscover their own backyards and our visitors understand the 

importance this area played in the westward expansion of the country and in the industrial 

revolution.

More information on the Mohawk Towpath Byway is available on their website http://MohawkTo

wpath.homestead.com or at http://www.byways.org/browse/byways/57185.