The January 2022 issue of Landscape Architecture and Specifier news recognized the work of Pauline E. Burnes, RLA, ASL as co-founder of IMPACT: Friends Improving Allegany County Trails, Inc. (IMPACT). This non-profit, 501c3 organization is dedicated to advocating for high quality, all season multi-use trails on public land in Allegany County, New York.
In 2020 Burnes wrote the grant and served as Project Liaison for the Trail 4 Improvement Project on the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (NYSDEC) West Almond Trails. The Community Foundation of Greater Buffalo awarded the Cattaraugus/Chautauqua Chapter of the New York State Horse Council, Inc. a grant of $49,200 from the Ralph C. Wilson Jr. Legacy Funds Design-Access program.
Due to project delays resulting from COVID-19 in 2020 and excess stormwater issues causing extremely wet conditions in 2021. Burnes persevered working with NYSDEC Almond Forestry Staff, the Contractor, the Community Foundation of Greater Buffalo, Administrator of the Ralph C. Wilson Jr. Legacy Funds, and the Cattaraugus/Chautauqua Chapter of the New York State Horse Council, Inc. to successfully complete the project in the late summer of 2022.
In 2022, Burnes' grant writing efforts resulted in obtaining staff assistance from the National Park Service Rivers Trails and Conservation Assistance Program to collaborate with IMPACT: Friends Improving Allegany County Trails, Inc; NYSDEC; Alfred University's Environmental Science staff and students; and the National Park Service to complete a Master Plan for the West Almond Trails. Students from Alfred University are involved by collecting GPS data of the existing conditions on the 29 miles of multi-use trails. The information that includes drainage needs on the trails will be entered into a Geographic Information Systems (GIS) database maintained by NYSDEC. An attribute table is being used to ensure that this is a living document that can be updated as projects to improve trail conditions are completed.
In 2021 Pauline applied for the Step-Up Grant from New York State Parks and Trails. IMPACT was notified that they received the award of $10,000 to complete a consultant facilitated strategic plan for this fledgling organization. The Matching Funds of $500 was donated to IMPACT by the New York State Horse Council, Inc. The Strategic Plan is in progress.
The President of IMPACT, Glenn Gebhard is a Senior Examiner with the National Ski Patrol, both Nordic and Alpine. Mr. Gebhard applied for $5775 to purchase snow grooming equipment for cross country skiing from the Bethesda Foundation. This was

 
awarded in 2022. Volunteers will groom the trails this winter with the newly acquired equipment. The winter trail grooming is resulting in increased use of the trails by cross country skiers and snow shoers.
Volunteers continue to maintain the West Almond Trail System, with their numbers growing. IMPACT is forming a Steering Committee that will work with NYSDEC to identifying routes for Bike trails to keep them separate from equestrian trails wherever possible.
Alfred College and Alfred University are 5 miles to the east of the main trailhead to the West Almond Trail System at Phillip's Creek State Forest. The college community serves on IMPACT's Board of Directors, with students regularly participating in trail maintenance days.
As the trails improve users are recognizing the value in collaborating with other members of the community to support the work that IMPACT: Friends Improving Allegany County Trails, Inc. Membership is growing, along with participation on "I Love NY Parks" day on the first Saturday in May. Another maintenance day is offered in September as the peak of the fall foliage paints a mosaic of colors across the landscape.
In addition to her work with IMPACT: Friends Improving Allegany County Trails, Inc. Burnes has recently been selected to serve as Trail Town Coordinator with the Friends of the Genesee River Greenway. The Genesee River Greenway is a 90-mile-long State Park that parallels the Genesee River in New York State.
For more information on:
IMPACT go to: www.impactfriendsgroup.org or the Facebook page: impactfriendsgroup Friends of the Genesee Valley Greenway: http://fogvg.org/
NYS Park Genesee Valley Greenway https://parks.ny.gov/parks/189/details.aspx



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