New Leader Appointed to Expand East Coast Greenway
Accelerated completion of active transportation corridor planned - Focus on completion of New York to Delaware off-road route within 5 years.
New York, NY, August 20, 2009 --(PR.com)-- The East Coast Greenway Alliance (ECGA) today announced the appointment of Dennis Markatos-Soriano as its new executive director, succeeding retiring co-founder and 18-year director Karen Votava. Mr. Markatos-Soriano is the dynamic founder of SURGE and SET Energy, two non-profits focused on sustainability.
“We are delighted to have Dennis take the helm of our rapidly growing project as we reach critical mass,” stated Chuck Flink, Chairman of the ECGA Board of Trustees and President of Greenways, Inc. “Dennis brings energy, vision, and a successful track record to the position and is a worthy successor to Karen.”
Born and raised in the rural community of Pittsboro, North Carolina, Mr. Markatos-Soriano developed his love for the outdoors and active transportation while biking and hiking around his community. He earned a B.A. at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill where he also founded SURGE, Students United for a Responsible Global Environment. He subsequently did graduate work at Duke and Princeton focused on nonprofit management and climate change mitigation.
The East Coast Greenway, frequently referred to as the urban sister to the Appalachian Trail, crosses 15 states plus Washington, D.C. and connects the major cities of the Eastern seaboard using park paths, canal towpaths, abandoned railroad corridors and waterfront esplanades. It represents a core component of the active transportation movement in the major eastern population centers of the country.
“The East Coast Greenway is an iconic project symbolizing a green economic recovery in our country,” commented Mr. Markatos-Soriano. “I am pleased to join this vibrant community and contribute to its ongoing growth. Karen Votava was an innovator in establishing this organization, and I am delighted to carry on her vision.”
Mr. Markatos-Sorano continued, “We anticipate building on the established New York-Wilmington, DE, off-road greenway corridor to dramatically grow our membership base, support urban commuting with active transportation facilities, and encourage extensive recreational use. During the next five years we expect to establish significant commuter pathways, contributing substantially to pollution reduction efforts and increasing energy independence.”
The East Coast Greenway stretches from Maine to Florida through the major urban centers on the East Coast. ECGA provides routing, standards and way finding to facilitate trail usage. Through its network of staff, volunteers and agency partners, ECGA actively promotes trail development to fully support its 3000-mile vision.
“I am very pleased that a person of Dennis’s stature, experience and enthusiasm is taking the reins of the Alliance,” said Ms. Votava. “The Greenway is at a pivotal point, ready to accept users and to begin to realize our vision of promoting low impact tourism along this corridor so rich in both history and natural treasures. The economic benefits to the communities along the Greenway will be significant, without bringing the negatives of congestion, pollution, and parking issues.”
The vision for the East Coast Greenway is to establish a long-distance, urban, shared-use trail system linking the major cities along the eastern seaboard between Calais, Maine and Key West, Florida. It will serve non-motorized users of all abilities and ages. A 3,000-mile long spine route will be accompanied by 2,000 miles of alternate routes that link-in key cities, towns, and areas of natural beauty. This green travel corridor will provide cyclists, walkers, and other muscle-powered modes of transportation with a low-impact way to explore the eastern seaboard. Further details and membership information to support our vision can be found at www.greenway.org.
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“We are delighted to have Dennis take the helm of our rapidly growing project as we reach critical mass,” stated Chuck Flink, Chairman of the ECGA Board of Trustees and President of Greenways, Inc. “Dennis brings energy, vision, and a successful track record to the position and is a worthy successor to Karen.”
Born and raised in the rural community of Pittsboro, North Carolina, Mr. Markatos-Soriano developed his love for the outdoors and active transportation while biking and hiking around his community. He earned a B.A. at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill where he also founded SURGE, Students United for a Responsible Global Environment. He subsequently did graduate work at Duke and Princeton focused on nonprofit management and climate change mitigation.
The East Coast Greenway, frequently referred to as the urban sister to the Appalachian Trail, crosses 15 states plus Washington, D.C. and connects the major cities of the Eastern seaboard using park paths, canal towpaths, abandoned railroad corridors and waterfront esplanades. It represents a core component of the active transportation movement in the major eastern population centers of the country.
“The East Coast Greenway is an iconic project symbolizing a green economic recovery in our country,” commented Mr. Markatos-Soriano. “I am pleased to join this vibrant community and contribute to its ongoing growth. Karen Votava was an innovator in establishing this organization, and I am delighted to carry on her vision.”
Mr. Markatos-Sorano continued, “We anticipate building on the established New York-Wilmington, DE, off-road greenway corridor to dramatically grow our membership base, support urban commuting with active transportation facilities, and encourage extensive recreational use. During the next five years we expect to establish significant commuter pathways, contributing substantially to pollution reduction efforts and increasing energy independence.”
The East Coast Greenway stretches from Maine to Florida through the major urban centers on the East Coast. ECGA provides routing, standards and way finding to facilitate trail usage. Through its network of staff, volunteers and agency partners, ECGA actively promotes trail development to fully support its 3000-mile vision.
“I am very pleased that a person of Dennis’s stature, experience and enthusiasm is taking the reins of the Alliance,” said Ms. Votava. “The Greenway is at a pivotal point, ready to accept users and to begin to realize our vision of promoting low impact tourism along this corridor so rich in both history and natural treasures. The economic benefits to the communities along the Greenway will be significant, without bringing the negatives of congestion, pollution, and parking issues.”
The vision for the East Coast Greenway is to establish a long-distance, urban, shared-use trail system linking the major cities along the eastern seaboard between Calais, Maine and Key West, Florida. It will serve non-motorized users of all abilities and ages. A 3,000-mile long spine route will be accompanied by 2,000 miles of alternate routes that link-in key cities, towns, and areas of natural beauty. This green travel corridor will provide cyclists, walkers, and other muscle-powered modes of transportation with a low-impact way to explore the eastern seaboard. Further details and membership information to support our vision can be found at www.greenway.org.
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Contact
East Coast Greenway Alliance
Chuck Flink
919-484-8448
www.greenway.org
Chuck Flink
919-484-8448
www.greenway.org
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