CR2T - TOMORROW IS GIVE BIG DAY - PLEASE SUPPORT OUR TRAILS !

[Bill Ward Music]

Thursday, June 11th is Give Big CHQ 2026!

Click HERE to donate on June 11th!
https://www.givebigchq.org/organizations/chautauqua-rails-to-trails

Give Big CHQ is a day of Giving organized by the Chautauqua Region Community Foundation. Through Give Big CHQ, we have the chance to win additional prizes that will help us to meet our fundraising goals.

Give between 7:16 am and 7:16 pm - all donations of $15 or more will be matched up to $3,500!

The more UNIQUE donors we have- the greater our chances to win $$ to support the trail.... So ask your friends, family members, significant others, co-workers, neighbors, and literally anyone you know to make even a small donation to help us meet our goal!

Our goals:
-Raise $9,000
-Receive donations from 125 unique donors!
-Have fun while we're doing it. :)

This year, our goal is to raise $9,000 to support trail maintenance- including routine mowing and supporting the trail’s “hidden infrastructure” - the parts underneath the trail that help keep it safe, stable, and usable year after year. 

Mowing the trail is expensive (think almost 30 miles of mowing, and those gas prices!!), but very important! We contract with Anthony Whippo at Allegheny Construction to mow the trail (thanks for your help Anthony!). This keeps the trails passable, prevents overgrowth, and keeps most of those ticks off of your ankles! 

Culverts are pipes or drainage structures underneath the trail that allow water to safely flow from one side to the other. They may not be the most noticeable part of the trail, but they are one of the most important. Along our trails, culverts range from small drainage pipes just a few feet wide to large, beautiful stone and steel structures that date back to the railroad days. Without working culverts, water can build up, wash out sections of trail, weaken the ground underneath, and create costly damage over time.

Many of these culverts were installed decades ago and need regular inspection, cleaning, repair, and replacement to keep working properly. This maintenance helps protect the trail surface and keeps the trail safe and accessible for walkers, runners, cyclists, horseback riders, snowmobilers, and other users throughout the year. It’s the kind of work most people never see, but it plays a huge role in keeping the trail in good condition through heavy rain, flooding, and everyday use.

Your donation directly supports this work. Contributions help us buy materials, complete repairs, improve drainage, and continue maintaining the 28.1 miles of trail that connect communities across Chautauqua County. As an all-volunteer organization, every dollar makes a difference. By supporting Chautauqua Rails to Trails during Give Big CHQ 2026, you are helping protect and improve a community resource that thousands of people enjoy each year for recreation, exercise, and time outdoors.

We are asking for your help on June 11th! Please GIVE BIG to support a maintained, passable trail system that runs from Sherman to Brocton, and from Riverside Road to W Main street (Rt. 62) in Frewsburg. 

THANK YOU for your support!