Project Summary

2005-2006 QUALITY COMMUNITIES GRANT APPLICATION

TITLE: STRATEGIC PLAN FOR THE HAMLET OF RUSH AND THE HONEOYE CREEK GREENWAY BETWEEN RUSH AND HONEOYE FALLS, MONROE COUNTY

PROJECT OVERVIEW: This project will result in an Inter-municipal Community Development Plan for the Hamlet of Rush, interconnected linear trail system, and stream corridor paralleling Honeoye Creek that has been identified as a future greenway. The project area follows Honeoye Creek from the Hamlet of Rush through the Village of Honeoye Falls. Funding was provided by the New York Department of State from their Quality Communities Program.

The Honeoye Creek Valley is one of the least developed and natural stream corridors in the region. The Creek’s rich local history includes one Native American Village and five early American settlements. The creek gives The Village of Honeoye Falls its unique character, and provides development opportunities for the Hamlet of Rush. The Lehigh Valley Linear Park and Trail connect or are being planned to connect with trail systems spanning the Region. Five local parks abutting the creek are in early stages of development.

A plan is necessary to address: the dependence of future use on the integrity of the waterway, stream corridor, and watershed; cooperative planning of facilities and improvements; further development and extension of a linear multi-model trail paralleling the creek and a blueway (recreational boating) trail on the creek; the need for rehabilitation or replacement of the dams, one of which maintains a constant water level for over two miles upstream; interest in using the assets of the corridor for recreation, tourism, business expansion and economic development; and value of developing recommendations with the full involvement and support of residents and future users(commonly referred to as stakeholders)

The project is guided by a multi-jurisdictional Advisory Committee, which has hired Larsen Engineers as its planning consultant. Other consultant services include public participation sessions, and studies of fisheries, dam rehabilitation, dam hydro-electrical potential, regional significance and economic development potential. The product is a strategic sustainable development and action plan for the greenway corridor. The plan will include an identification of demonstration projects, and short and long-term action strategies.

APPLICANT/SPONSOR: TOWN OF RUSH

CO-APPLICANTS: GENESEE FINGER LAKES REGIONAL PLANNING COUNCIL, MONROE COUNTY, MENDON FOUNDATION, AND VILLAGE OF HONEOYE FALLS.

GEOGRAPHIC SCOPE: RUSH HAMLET, HONEOYE CREEK CORRIDOR BETWEEN RUSH HAMLET AND HONEOYE FALLS, INCLUDING LEHIGH VALLEY TRAIL

CURRENT STATUS: PROJECT IS FUNDED, CONSULTANT HAS BEEN HIRED, DATA IS BEING COLLECTED, AND FIRST COMMUNITY PARTICIPATION WORKSHOP HAS BEEN SCHEDULED.

FUNDING: THE TOTAL PROJECT COST (FOR THE PLANNING STUDY ONLY) IS $48,500. THE STATE IS PROVIDING $38,800. RUSH IS PAYING A REQUIRED $9700 LOCAL MATCH.

FUTURE TASKS:

  • INITIAL PLANNING WORKSHOP
  • FORM STAKEHOLDERS COMMITTEE
  • RESEARCH AND DATA GATHERING
  • PREPARE DRAFT PLAN
  • SECOND WORKSHOP
  • PLAN REFINEMENT
  • PUBLIC MEETING
  • FINAL PLAN, IMPLEMENTATION STRATEGIES, AND COST ESTIMATES
  • INVESTIGATION OF ORGANIZATIONAL/INSTITUTIONAL TOOLS TO OVERSEE/IMPLEMENT PLANS (INCLUDING STRATEGY WORKSHOP WITH POTENTIAL FUNDING SOURCES/AGENCIES)
  • DEVELOPMENT OF EDUCATIONAL/OUTREACH PROGRAM

INTENDED PLAN ELEMENTS/CHAPTERS:

  • COMMUNITY VISION
  • CORRIDOR VISION
  • REGIONAL SIGNIFICANCE/LINKAGES
  • RECREATIONAL USE AND HISTORIC PRESERVATION
  • ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND TOURISM
  • LAND USE AND CONSERVATION
  • INFRASTRUCTURE
  • SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT
  • EDUCATION AND INTERPRETATION
  • INTERMUNICIPAL COORDINATION
  • ORGANIZATIONAL AND ADMINISTRATIVE STRUCTURE
  • PLAN IMPLEMENTATION/SHORT TERM ACTION STRATEGY

These will be written by consultants based upon public meetings/discussions and recommendations of the stakeholders committee.

SCHEDULE:

  • FIRST WORKSHOP: NOVEMBER 2007
  • WORKSHOP RESULTS: January 7, 2008
  • SECOND WORKSHOP: TBD
  • PLAN REVISION: FEBRUARY 2008
  • PUBLIC INFORMATION MEETINGS/PLAN ENDORSEMENT: APRIL 2008
  • IMPLEMENTATION STRATEGY: APRIL 2008
  • EDUCATIONAL/OUTREACH PROGRAM: ONGOING