Spring Lake Trail connects the Town of Perinton to Channing Philbrick Park in Penfield, bringing the reality of connecting the Erie Canal Trail with the Seaway Trail at the South End of Irondequoit Bay one-step closer.
Previously a worn footpath with a challenging slope along Irondequoit Creek, the new trail was opened in the fall of 2023. The new 2,100 linear foot stone dust trail follows along Irondequoit Creek, forging a vital connection from Spring Lake Park in the Town of Perinton to an existing trail network in the neighboring Town of Penfield, ultimately leading to Channing Philbrick Park. However, the trail is far more than a local amenity; it is a pivotal link in the expansive regional trail network, connecting the Towpath trail along the historic Erie Canal to the Seaway Trail at the south end of Irondequoit Bay.
First envisioned by both the Town of Perinton and Penfield in the late 1960s, this trail primarily improves public access to scenic waterfront resources along Irondequoit Creek. It also provides important bank stabilization improvements and reduces the amount of sediment in the creek, which will improve water quality and fish habitat.
A new timber-framed bridge has been constructed to facilitate passage across an overflow channel of the creek, with a dedication to one of the landowners who generously granted an easement for the project. This bridge is affectionately known as “Babci’s Bridge,” a tribute to the Polish word for grandmother, underscoring the central role of community and family in the legacy that this trail will create for generations to come.
The majority of this transformative project was made possible through Federal Funds, including Recreational Trail Program grant dollars. Spring Lake Trail can be accessed through the front parking lot of Spring Lake Park, located at 99 Whitney Rd., 14526, in the Town of Perinton.
