The creation of the Erie Canal was a paradigm shift for American progress in the 19th century, leveraging hundreds of miles of canal networks capable of generating cities out of swamps and ushering in a new era of exchange. Over a century later, what was the Erie Canal in the city has been capped over with urban development and sprawl. We are now presented with the opportunity to reposition Erie as the vehicle for a globally relevant, ecologically turbocharged urban corridor. The Elevating Erie ideas competition seeks proposals that consider our current global biodiversity challenges in urbanized regions by developing solutions specific to the Erie Canalway Trail along Erie Boulevard East in Syracuse NY. We encourage entries from diverse disciplines to provide ideas that will: 

+ Stimulate A Healthy Urban Corridor

+ Increase Biodiversity, Habitat Creation

+ Establish Recreation

+ Promote Economic Growth

+ Develop Multi-Modal Connectivity