Reprinted From The Community News, 10-26-07

CLIFTON PARK - The town's hard work building and connecting its trail system has been recognized by a state-wide not-for-profit organization dedicated to expanding and promoting a system of parks.

Town officials received the Healthy Trails, Healthy People award from Parks and Trails New York in a ceremony Sept. 28 in Rochester. The award was presented to the town's Opens Space, Trails, Riverfront Committee for incorporating a vision of a comprehensive trails network in its plans for town development, and for implementing the vision of a Northern Loop Trail steadily and creatively. The organization's judges noted that due to this effort thousands of local residents can now walk and bike throughout the town on safe and beautiful local trails. Councilman Tom Paolucci and Open Space, Trails, Riverfront committeemen Bill Mackesey and Jerry Burr accepted the award on behalf of the town at the conference.

The presentation was made to the Town Board at its Oct. 1 meeting by Mackesey and Parks and Trails New York executive director Robin Dropkin. In presenting the board with its award Mackesey said the town was being honored in the new award category for all the work done on the Carleton Road, and Van Patten Road trail additions to the Usher Road trail.

"Connecting the trails to the pool, the Longkill Park and the park on Main Street makes this a healthy trail," Mackesey said. "This helps about 3,000 people."
Parks and Tails New York director of programs and policy Fran Gotcsik said Clifton Park was chosen from an application pool of nine for this particular award. "This project promoted the use of trails and also promoted a healthy lifestyle," she said. "The board recognized that this was a long process and wanted to recognize them for their vision."
Mackesey made the original application for the award on behalf of the town. In accepting the tribute in Rochester he explained how much the town's trails had helped him during an extended recovery period in the mid-1990s from a serious medical condition.  "His commitment was obvious in his remarks," Gotcsik said. "Their getting the award was very pleasing to me."

Gotcsik said a total of five awards were presented from a total of 40 applications at the Rochester event. Though the organization has been in existence for more than 20 years this is just the fourth time any awards have been presented.

The awards she said are presented in conjunction with the organization's state wide trails and greenways conferences. This was the first time for the Healthy Trails Healthy People award category.