CCC Legacy Day 2021 – Saturday, August 7, 2021

If you have been to Letchworth State Park lately, you may have noticed some new road signs or little round medallions on some shelters and cabins.  These are all part of the Friends of Letchworth initiative to develop a CCC Legacy Pathway through the Park.  Formal dedication of this Pathway will be part of the Friends of Letchworth annual CCC Legacy Day scheduled this year for Saturday, August 7, 2021. A brief formal ceremony will begin at 10 a.m. near the CCC statue beside the Lower Falls parking lot.  Following the formal events there will be the opportunity to independently view a CCC exhibit at the Letchworth Museum and visit many CCC sites throughout the park. (Maps and directions will be available at the event)

The signage for the CCC Legacy Pathway was funded through a Parks and Trails New York Partnership Grant and developed and built with the assistance of the staff and management of Letchworth State Park. The pathway signage is designed to allow visitors to independently locate CCC artifacts, learn their history, and understand more fully their significance. It is the latest step in the Friends of Letchworth effort to restore, preserve, and celebrate the achievements of the Civilian Conservation Corps. 

This effort began with the erection of the CCC worker statue in 2003 and has been followed by the restoration of a CCC-built lean to close to the Hogsback, stone chimneys at Gibsonville and Big Bend camps, and restoration of stone picnic tables at the Parade Grounds.  Currently, the Friends of Letchworth are seeking contractors to restore the stone tables at Wolf Creek and Tea Table to be funded in part by a $50,000 grant from the Ralph Wilson, Jr. Legacy Fund administered by the Greater Buffalo Community Foundation.

Achievements to date have been funded by multiple grants from the New York State Environmental Protection Fund and Parks and Trails New York.  Single grants for specific projects have been received from the Rochester Area Community Foundation, the Landmark Society of Western New York, the National Environmental Education Foundation, and the aforementioned Ralph Wilson Jr. Legacy Fund.  We are grateful for this substantial grant support as well as generous public donations and hundreds of hours of volunteer service.

We continue to seek funding for further development of the CCC Legacy Pathway and preservation of CCC artifacts.  Our future hopes include restoration of all the remaining stone tables in the park, more interpretive signage, self-guided tour brochures, and CCC educational programming as funding and volunteers are available.

Fourth Annual Stewardship Day Registration Announcement

Please join the Friends of Letchworth State Park and Western New York Partnership for Regional Invasive Species Management (WNY PRISM) for the 4th annual Stewardship Day. The event will take place on Saturday, June 19, 2021 from 10 AM – 12 PM at the Letchworth State Park Humphrey Nature Center. Learn about common invasive species that impact gardens, agriculture and natural areas during our indoor presentation. Then, follow us outside to see some of these invasive species along the trails near the Humphrey Nature Center. Registration is required since space is limited due to social distancing practices, and masks will need to be worn during the event. Please email stewardshipday1@gmail.com to register for the event, and include your name, phone number and the number of people attending.  

Trail Crew Build Stairs on Trail 7

The Friends of Letchworth Trail Maintenance Crew recently built a set of stairs enhancing accessibility on the Greenway Trail (Trail 7).  Their next major project is to build a similar set of steps over a steep, washed out area on the Seneca Trail (Trail 12).  Both trails are on the east side of the Park, an area that appeals to those hikers who prefer the roads less traveled.

 

These projects are just a couple of the trail crew’s latest efforts to enhance the hiking experience at Letchworth State Park.  Working in coordination with Park management, they regularly blaze and maintain trails, remove fallen trees, and make minor access enhancements, like stairs that improve safety and accessibility.  Crew members have observed an increase in trail use in areas where they have been working,

 

The trail crew consists of a steadily growing team of volunteers.  Their efforts spring from “humble beginnings” according to the team leader, John Kantrowski. At first, the group was limited to “picking up sticks and using hand tools”, but a 2015 grant from Parks and Trails New York funded the purchase of safety equipment and chain saw training for half a dozen members. This allowed the crew to greatly expand stewardship of the trails and picnic areas in Letchworh.

 

Since then further training and more equipment paid for by the Friends of Letchworth from community support of our fund raisers, paid memberships and donations has allowed for steady expansion.  In the past year, the team has been able to buy 2 chain saws, 2 pole saws, 2 weed eaters and a used DR2 combo chipper-bush hog to facilitate their work.

 

When weather permits, the trail crew works three mornings per week.  If you are interested in helping, contact John Kantrowski at friendstrailcrew2@gmail.com.  Donations to support their work are always welcomed.