New York State extends beyond the City and so does the budget.
This year, New York State is pushing an initiative to drive winter tourism and economic growth to the upper part of the state. As a part of that plan, Governor Cuomo has released a budget that includes $4.2 million to be put towards snowmobile trail maintenance and upkeep for the 2019 season. More than 10,400 miles of trail are set to be groomed over the course of the next few weeks.
In addition to the upkeep and maintenance, the Governor and NYS have designated the weekend of January 25-27 as a free snowmobiling weekend for all out-of-state and Canadian snowmobilers. “By providing the funding to keep the trails in good condition and encouraging more tourists to visit our state… we are helping grow our upstate tourism economy and maintaining our outdoor trails for generations to come,” Governor Cuomo said in a statement. During this promotional weekend, the requirement to register in New York is waived for registered and insured out-of-state snowmobilers who want to explore the trails that New York has to offer.
If you are in the city and are looking to get out there this winter, the closest trail you’ll find is in Deleware county, followed by Albany. The rest of the trails will set you back quite some time for travel but if you’re planning a winter getaway, it’s well worth it to investigate the options. The trail conditions will vary depending on snowfall but like every year, New York is bound to get quite a few inches over the course of the winter.
For more information about the free weekend and this snowmobiling initiative, you can check out the Governor’s website.
Featured image: visitmalone.com