As the Erie Canal reaches its bicentennial year in 2025, the canal recreation commission and the canal corporation hosted in-person workshops for the public to help share their vision for the canal system’s future.

“When the canal corporation came into existence in the early 1990s, we were guided by a recreationway plan, how can we turn this beautiful canal system that’s 540 miles long into a recreational based waterway?” said Brian Stratton, the director of the New York State Canal Corporation.

He said the plan that was put in place was established in 1995 and hasn’t been changed since.

“So we want to look where we’re going until 2050, but even beyond that. What opportunities are still out there to make sure that the New York State Canal System maintains and even becomes a stronger economic engine?" Stratton said.

To find the best way to improve the canal system, they are relying on public input. They held workshops throughout the state for people to answer questions and share their vision for the canal.

“I’m enjoying it. It’s an opportunity for the communities that are within good driving distance to come and kind of read through some of the information that’s available to us here and with our sticky notes we can give the feedback so that’s a lot of fun,” said Bobbie O’Brien, the co-chair for the Rome Waterways and Trails Advocacy Group.

She says it’s exciting to be a part of this process.

“We as the residents of the areas and those of us that are advocacy groups have an opportunity to give the feedback that’s most important, because we know on the grounds what’s going on in each one of our communities," O’Brien said.

All of the information from the workshops will be analyzed, and from there, another session will be held to decide what aspects can be used to guide their plan going forward.

“Early next year, we hope to have a final plan which will be a part of the New York State Erie Canal Bicentennial," Stratton said.

If you missed an opportunity to attend one of the workshops, the canal corporation will be at the state fair gathering feedback.