What’s Happening at Island Cottage Woods Preserve?
Since this popular birding “hot spot” closed in 2023, hundreds of dead ash trees have been cleared from trails. Now, together as a community, we’re redesigning the trails and improving habitat to benefit everyone.
““Having more places to sit and enjoy the birdsong will be wonderful.
And boardwalks with railings will make it easier for me when it reopens.””
Black-throated Blue Warbler, by Willie D’Anna
Preserve Management Timeline:
May 31, 2025: Community Open House 10 AM - 1 PM. Island Cottage Woods Open House - Special Event
March 2025: Genesee Land Trust hires Penn Trails, an industry leader in sustainable and universal trail design. The community advisory group has their first meeting to provide input.
Early 2025: Genesee Land Trust begins forming a community advisory group to help redesign the trails.
2024: Staff conduct an extensive evaluation of the trails and consider engineering partners.
Fall-Winter 2023: RG&E + Monster Tree Service clear 500+ dead ash trees away from trails. They’ll remain on the property to naturally decompose.
October 2023: Island Cottage Woods closes to manage dead ash trees and damaged trails. Island Cottage Woods Closed — Genesee Land Trust
2019: Lake Ontario experiences record-high levels (249 feet) that floods Island Cottage Woods. Unsecured boardwalks float off the trails and people can’t visit due to the high water.
2015-2017: Volunteers help plant 2,500+ native tree saplings and shrubs. This is done to get ahead of the invasive emerald ash borer, which has not arrived yet. This early action adds a variety of new species that will fill in the canopy in the coming decades.
1999: 61 acres of wooded wetlands in Greece, NY becomes Island Cottage Woods Preserve.