Elmira/Big Flats, New York
HEIGHT:
60-80 feet
LENGTH:
800 feet
BUILT:
2025-2026
PROJECT MANAGER:
Phoenix Experiential Designs
ENGINEER/BUILDER:
Signature Design & Engineering
▸ PROPOSED FUNDING AND CONSTRUCTION IN 2025
THREAT/OPPORTUNITY
- The Tanglewood Nature Center Canopy Walkway presents a
unique opportunity to immerse visitors — children and adults
alike — in nature, fostering a deeper connection to the environment at both a local and global scale. With over 35,000 visitors annually, this addition will expand their appreciation for the outdoors and provide an engaging educational experience. - The canopy walkway offers a rare glimpse into the hidden wonders of northern hardwood forests’ canopies that define our region, featuring diverse tree species such as maple, oak, pine, birch, ash, and hemlock. This landscape is actually a restored forest, so the fields are re- wilding back to deciduous trees. The process of RE-WILDING is a major effort for many global regions that attempt to restore original forest after clearing. Located in the Northeast, the walkway also provides an opportunity for visitors to experience the changing seasons from within the forest canopy, from the lush greens of summer to the brilliant colors of autumn.
- In conjunction with Tanglewood’s 50th anniversary, this new project symbolizes a major expansion in its mission to educate and inspire. Today’s children are tomorrow’s stewards of the planet, and the walkway will offer them a closer look at biodiversity while emphasizing the importance of forest preservation.
GOALS:
- Construct a canopy walkway in a rewilded landscape that complements and supports Tanglewood’s mission to foster education, conservation, and enjoyment of the natural environment. The walkway will offer hands-on learning and research opportunities for students, educators, scientists, birders and photographers, to deepen their understanding
of forest ecosystems at home and around the world and provide a platform for ecological research and conservation efforts. - Highlight partnerships with local businesses through creative tower and walkway designs, fostering community engagement, economic benefits to the region, and general support.
- Support the Meg Lowman Treetops Camp for girls aged 9-12, which encourages
girls to pursue careers in science through hands-on activities in nature. In addition, our
broader summer camp program, serving 250 children annually, will incorporate the canopy walkway to further enhance the learning experience. - Ensure accessibility for all visitors by designing the canopy walkway in compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). Everyone, regardless of physical ability, will have the opportunity to enjoy and explore the forest canopy.
New York: a Biodiversity "Hot Spot"
There are 103,748 K-12 and college students living within easy travel distance of Elmira, and this structure will give youth a unique chance to experience nature, to learn the value of natural resources, to have fun, and set the stage for environmental stewardship. Some of the endemic trees, including ash, hemlock, and beech, are currently threatened by invasive species. The canopy walkway can serve as a platform to raise awareness about these threats, encourage conservation efforts and foster a greater understanding of the challenges our forests face. As part of the Allegheny Plateau and Appalachian foothills, Tanglewood’s landscape is shaped by glacial activity, evident in its rolling hills, valleys, and lakes. The canopy walkway will provide an unparalleled view of these iconic, glaciated formations, enhancing visitors’ understanding of the region’s natural history. It will serve as a stunning example of a re-wilded landscape, returning cleared the forest to its original tree composition.
