CALLING ALL SKIERS: RITCHIE ANNOUNCES REOPENING OF ST. LAWRENCE STATE PARK’S CROSS-COUNTRY SKI TRAIL

As the snow continues to fly across the North Country, State Senator Patty Ritchie is announcing the reopening of the St. Lawrence State Park’s Cross-Country Ski Trail, a once popular destination for outdoor enthusiasts, which in recent years became overgrown and cluttered with downed trees and branches.

Several years ago, Senator Ritchie worked with local volunteers to reopen the ski trail, which is located between Ogdensburg and Morristown on Route 37.  Since then, many trees and large branches fell on the trail making it impassable. In response to requests from newly-elected Ogdensburg Mayor Wayne Ashley and local resident Rhonda Roethel, Senator Ritchie reached out to Commissioner of the New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation Rose Harvey, who agreed to have state maintenance crews work to reopen ski trail.

On Friday, Senator Ritchie joined local leaders and community members to mark the trail’s reopening.

“Finding enjoyment in our North Country winters is all about embracing the cold, snowy weather by getting outside and taking advantage of opportunities to have fun, stay active and appreciate the natural beauty of our region,” said Senator Ritchie.

“The St. Lawrence State Park’s Cross-Country Ski Trail gives people the chance to do all those things.  I would like to thank New York State Parks Commissioner Rose Harvey for her efforts to help clear this trail so families and individuals can once again enjoy this wonderful recreational resource.”

Among those joining Senator Ritchie for Friday’s ribbon cutting was Reverend Thomas Patterson, an Ogdensburg resident who helped to build the cross-country skiing trail more than three decades ago.

(Pictured in the above photo from left to right are Rev. Thomas Patterson, Thousand Mark Spaulding, Deputy Regional Director of the State office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation for the Thousand Islands region, Peyton Taylor, Regional Director of the State office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation for the Thousand Islands region, State Senator Patty Ritchie and Ogdensburg Resident Rhonda Roethel)