The Allegany Unit is a group of 23 state forests and a 9-mile multipurpose rail-trail covering 46,382 acres in Allegany County, New York. With only 49 miles of existing trails on State lands, it is an untapped resource for outdoor recreation opportunities.

 
As a landscape architect and experienced trail rider, Pauline Burnes recognized the need to improve the 28-mile trail system at West Almond for equestrians, hikers, campers, and cross-country skiing. In the 1930s, the State forests in the area were established under the guidance of three Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) camps and tree nurseries in Allegany County. The State purchased marginal farmland due to the heavy, wet clay soils and underground springs. Land that was cleared for farmland was then planted with trees for added watershed protection, resource conservation, wildlife habitat improvement, and future logging. The NYSDEC West Almond Forestry office was built on one of the CCC campsites and tree nurseries. Burnes is currently assisting in the efforts to nominate the site to the Historic American Landscape Survey.
Due to the monumental tree planting effort accomplished in the 1930s by the Civilian Conservation Corps, Allegany County, New York, is a beautiful region with wooded rolling hills, clear streams, and bountiful open space. It is also economically depressed, therefore outdoor recreation has become a focus of local legislators to improve the economic base through tourism and outdoor recreation. The Allegany County legislators recognize that the vast public lands are an underutilized resource. They then formed the Trails and Outdoor Recreation Advisory Council. Burnes was appointed by the County legislature to the Council as an equestrian representative.
She soon recognized that the Council had no funds to carry out ideas recommended in the Allegany County Trail Plan: A Guide to Future Trail Usage and Development. She advised the Council that forming a "Friends" non-profit organization would increase opportunities to acquire grants and donations dedicated to advocating for future trail work.
Following up on a survey completed by NYSDEC regarding the West Almond Trail System, Burnes contacted survey respondents and established interest in the formation of the "Friends" group. Residents of the nearby trail system were extremely interested and, in less than a year, the non-profit trail advocacy organization IMPACT: Improving Allegany County Trails, Inc. was formed. Burnes serves as Vice President/Secretary along with a ten-member Board of Directors.
IMPACT is off to a good start, and had a highly successful trail maintenance day in September. 50 students and community volunteers assisted with trail maintenance to prepare for the cross-country ski season. The organization applied for funding for cross-country ski grooming equipment and funding from Parks and Trails New York to develop a strategic plan. For more information regarding IMPACT and the group's activities go to the Facebook page: IMPACT Friends Group.