Empire State Trail

In 2017, Starr Whitehouse teamed with C+G Partners and ALTA Planning + Design to create design guidelines for New York State’s ambitious Empire State Trail system, a continuous 750-mile route spanning from the urban core of New York City north to Canada and west to Buffalo. Subsequently, Starr Whitehouse has was retained by the Hudson River Valley Greenway/Empire State Trail to work with Bergmann as Engineer of Record to design and implement the first six gateways for the new system. Located in Manhattan, Syracuse, Rochester, Lockport, Tonawanda, and Buffalo, each Gateway reflects the local character of its host community and provides New Yorkers with the opportunity to explore the state’s iconic landscapes and diverse history. The Gateways also enhance access points to the trail, transforming them into vibrant social spaces with small gathering areas and amenities such as benches, restrooms, potable water, information kiosks, and bike representations. Native plant palettes provide visual interest as well as habitat for local and migratory birds. The Trail connects communities across the state and has already been successful in driving economic activity along its corridor. Completed in 2020, the corridor is the longest multi-use state trail in the nation.