Holley will celebrate 25 years of canal pathway on Saturday

File photo by Tom Rivers

HOLLEY – The Village of Holley will rededicate its canalway trail on Saturday. The path was originally dedicated in honor of Andrew Cuomo, who was secretary of the federal Housing and Development in 2000 when the trail opened. HUD provided a grant to help create the canal path and park.

The village will rededicate the trail as “Holley’s Erie Canal Pathway” at 11 a.m. on Saturday.

The celebration will be near the historical marker by the Murray-Holley Historical Society Depot Museum. The brief ceremony will include remarks followed by a reception on the porch of the museum.

Holley Mayor Mark Bower said the two sandstone signs will continue to bear Cuomo’s name. The signs are at each end of the path. Cuomo visited the canal park with his family not long after it opened.

The trail was dedicated for Cuomo on Aug. 9, 2000. At the time Cuomo was secretary of the federal Housing and Urban Development. In that role, he pushed through a $300 million “Canal Corridor Initiative” for canal communities to upgrade public spaces and also assist some businesses.

Holley used nearly $1 million to develop the canal trail and a canal park that also includes a gazebo, docks, a paved path, public bathrooms with showers, a playground, pond and other amenities.

Bower said the canal projects have proven to be a big draw for the village, bringing in visitors while also being frequently used by local residents.

“It’s becoming bigger all the time,” Bower said about the village’s canal amenities.

Holley also will soon add a new playground along the canal path this fall, and a new kayak launch next year.