By Valerie Puma
NILES — Carpenter Falls Unique Area will be closed to the public until next summer while it undergoes renovations to improve accessibility, including new trails and a boardwalk.
The state’s Department of Environmental Conservation began planning for the $1.25 million Carpenter Falls Public Access Improvement Project soon after acquiring the 37-acre property from the Finger Lakes Land Trust in 2008, said a representative from the DEC. After a public comment period and two informational meetings in 2019, the DEC finalized the plan in 2020.
“Carpenter Falls Unique Area contains many noteworthy features, but the topography is steep and can present a challenge for access,” the representative said Wednesday.
The area off Route 41A includes four waterfalls, including the 90-foot Carpenter Falls and the 62-foot Angel Falls.
The project designs not only considered accessibility, but also the protection of sensitive natural resources, such as nearby bodies of water.
Cortland Standard
