Huntington Board Takes First Steps to Create A Blueway Trail

The Huntington Town Board, at its July 2016 meeting, took the first steps toward creating a Huntington Blueway Trail, which will highlight cultural and historic points of interest along the Town’s shoreline.

The Board authorized applying for a $76,000 New York State Environmental Protection Fund grant to undertake the project with Cornell Cooperative Extension of Suffolk County. The project, which would begin next year and be completed in 2020, will plan a Blueway through Cold Spring Harbor, Long Island Sound and the Huntington/Northport Bay complex.  The grant will be used to create a Blueway Trail Map, Blueway Trail Guide smartphone app and video tour.

The trail guide would include a map of the trail, as well as natural and cultural heritage points of interest. Trail heads, amenities, and downtown assets such as paddle sport establishments will be identified. It would allow visitors easier access to trail information, better options in trip planning and increased safety through use of georeferenced maps while on the trail.  It could be used by persons both on land or while on watercraft, and would be similar to the trails guide the Town has compiled for land-based activities.

The project would be geared toward increasing awareness and use of coastal resources and encouraging ecotourism. It would follow similar plans that have been implemented in North Hempstead and Oyster Bay to help expand the information base for the north shore of Long Island through Huntington’s coastal area.