Major Enhancements to the Burlingame Trail System with the Purchase of the Route 20 West Property
We are thrilled to share the exciting news that CPF has purchased 27.5 acres of undeveloped land with 470 feet of road frontage on US Route 20, west of the Village of Cazenovia. Now known as the “Burlingame Trails Northwest Gateway,” this newly-acquired land is located west of and adjacent to other CPF-owned property and is part of a larger network of conserved lands that host the very popular Burlingame Trail Network. This purchase secures permanent public access to 1,400 feet of the Sherman’s Gulch Trail, which connects CPF’s uniquely beautiful Sherman’s Gulch property to the larger network of CPF-maintained trails. Sherman’s Gulch boasts stunning rugged terrain, ferny glens and a cascading waterfall.
In addition to its importance as an outdoor recreation area, this land has been designated within The Nature Conservancy’s Resilient and Connected Network as important habitat for protecting plant and animal species migration and range changes. CPF’s interest in this particular acreage dates back nearly two decades. The tract was purchased from Augustus, Jason, James, and Maxwell Moore, descendants of the Hubbard family, who donated much of the conserved lands in the Burlingame Road area to CPF decades ago. On and off the market in recent years, the property was listed for sale again in early 2021. Given recent increases in the demand for local building lots, CPF decided to act promptly to protect and preserve this scenic viewshed of the western gateway into the Village of Cazenovia and this critical section of trail for permanent public access. CPF closed on the property in December 2021.
The acquisition was made possible by the Central New York Community Foundation, out of the first round of grant disbursements from the newly-established Dr. Robert J. Vitkus Fund. Bob Vitkus was a successful Central New York oral surgeon and an avid hunter and fly fisherman who loved the outdoors. In his last will and testament, he gave a generous gift to support outdoor parks and recreation, particularly conservation efforts to improve wildlife habitat and forest health.
After purchasing this property, CPF applied for a Transaction Grant from the New York State Conservation Partnership Program to fund the installation of a driveway and parking area off of Rt. 20 to allow for maintenance, emergency, and public access to the trail, as well as drainage improvements and surface repairs. On April 18, 2022, CPF was informed that they had been selected as a grant winner, and will now be moving forward with these improvement projects.
