Officials Call For Empire State Trail Expansion

BRENTWOOD, NY — Elected officials are calling on New York State to extend the country's largest multi-use trail to Long Island.

Senators Alexis Weik and Phil Boyle, as well as environmental advocates, gathered at Brentwood State Park Tuesday to advocate for the expansion of the Empire State Trail from Manhattan through Suffolk County.

EST comprises of dozens of formerly unconnected greenways, hiking and biking trails, and nature paths throughout the state. At a total length of 750 miles, it stretches from Buffalo to Albany and Plattsburgh to Manhattan.

“There can be no true ‘Empire State’ Trail unless it includes Long Island," said Senator Phil Boyle.

Environmental non-profit organizations such as Trust for Public Land have plans to extend the trail from Manhattan to Greenport and Montauk. According to TPL’s estimates, the trail extension would impact 7 million New Yorkers.

"Extending the trail to Montauk Point would allow more New Yorkers, and tourists, to experience these spectacular vistas," said Boyle.

The first phase, titled "Long Island Greenway" would be a 25-mile connection from Eisenhower County Park in Nassau County to Brentwood State Park in Suffolk County, linking a total of 13 parks and numerous trails.

The final installment of the trail, located in Dutchess and Putnam counties, was marked complete under former Governor Andrew Cuomo this winter.

The TPL’s full plan can be viewed here.