New funding will help three Central New York communities build links, to make the historic Erie Canal a continuous recreational trail across Upstate New York.

Rome, Fayetteville and Port Byron are getting the latest grants.

In Oneida County, Rome is getting $50,000 toward construction of a missing section of the Erie Canalway Trail between Erie Canal Village and the Muck Road parking area.  that will close the last gap in the trail through the City of Rome.

In Onondaga County, the Village of Fayetteville has a $150,000 grant toward construction of Canal Landing Park, which will provide a connection between a canal community park and the Canalway Trail.

And in Cayuga County, the Canal Society of New York State has gotten a $150,000 grant to restore the Erie House at Port Byron, next to the State Thruway.  It is part of a larger project--long advocated by Port Byron residents--to create the Old Erie Canal Heritage Park in that community.

Restoration of the canalway has brought tourist dollars to the communities already part of the parks and trails system, which is almost complete from Buffalo east to Albany.