SCHENECTADY, N.Y. — The Board of Directors of the Schenectady County Metroplex Development Authority last night approved a $225,000 grant to the Town of Glenville to help finish construction of a new hike/bike trail. The new trail will connect the existing Empire State Trail to a new 4.4-mile route that will run on both sides of the Mohawk River from the Western Gateway Bridge to Freemans Bridge creating the River Loop Trail.  

Ray Gillen, Metroplex Chair said, “We are pleased to work with the Town of Glenville to complete a trail that will link both sides of the river, connecting Mohawk Harbor, Freedom Park, Collins Park, the Freemans Bridge corridor in the Town of Glenville and the Village of Scotia.”  

Supervisor Chris Koetzle said, “I appreciate Metroplex’s partnership on this important pedestrian trail that will help complete the four-mile loop around the river and serve to connect multiple communities together including Glenville, Scotia, and Schenectady. Metroplex has been a strong leader in helping make the county more pedestrian friendly and we’re proud to be a part of that vision and thrilled that the residents of our town will benefit from this project.”  

“The new River Loop Trail will be a great addition to the outdoor sports and recreational opportunities we already have in Schenectady County,” said Cathy Gatta Schenectady County Legislator and President of the Board of Directors of Discover Schenectady. “Once completed, Empire State Trail users will be able to seamlessly connect to Scotia, and the Town of Glenville along a beautiful new waterfront path. We thank Metroplex for their support and commitment to completing this project.”    

The Town of Glenville received a $438,000 grant from the New York State Department of State to construct 1.3 miles of multi-use pathway along the north shore of the Mohawk River between the Freemans Bridge in the Town of Glenville and Schonowee Avenue in the Village of Scotia where the trail continues to Collins Park before it loops back to Schenectady via the Western Gateway Bridge.  On the city-side of the river, the new River Loop Trail connects to both the existing Empire Trail and the Alco Heritage Trail that traverses Mohawk Harbor. To complete the River Loop Trail, the City of Schenectady is installing a “contra-flow” bike lane on Washington Avenue that will allow those travelling traveling west on the trail to access the trail connection at the Western Gateway Bridge. Metroplex, using funding from the Downtown Revitalization Initiative, will connect the trail from River Street in the East Front Street neighborhood to Riverside Park.   

Creighton Manning Engineering, LLP has been hired by the Town of Glenville to perform engineering services. Carver Construction submitted the low bid to construct the trail. Construction will start this fall and be completed in the spring of 2024.