ITHACA — Ithaca's contribution to today's National Trails Day includes a fundraiser for the Black Diamond Trail Project, a proposed trail to run along a former railroad bed near Ithaca.

The proposed trail would go from Buttermilk to upper Taughannock State Park, and a spur is later planned from the trail into Trumansburg, said Andrejs Ozolins, a cyclist who got involved because the trail runs through his back yard near Cass Park in Ithaca.

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While some bridges are out, including one big one near Kraft Road north of the Glenwood Pines on Route 89, he hears of people already using parts of the trail. While some property owners along the trail have objected in the past, Ozolins is excited.

Eastern Mountain Sports in Ithaca is sponsoring the fundraiser, raffling off a kayak package worth $549. All of the money raised through the raffle will go directly to the Black Diamond Trail Project. Raffle tickets will be sold for $2 each or 3 for $5 at Eastern Mountain Sports, Threshold Plaza, 722 S. Meadow St. in Ithaca.

The drawing will be held Sunday, June 3, and the winner will be contacted Monday, June 4.

The package includes a Perception Prodigy 10 Kayak, an Aqua-Bound aluminum paddle, an EMS Allagash personal flotation device and a kayaker safety kit.

In addition to the raffle, work by volunteers is expected this fall, said Jeff Randle, EMS store manager.

“We'll probably do a work party, later after the season,” Randle said, noting a date has not been set.

National Trails Day is organized nationwide by the American Hiking Society, a national nonprofit trail advocacy group based in Washington, DC. All events, however, are planned and carried out at the local level by conservation and recreation organizations, trail clubs, and land managing agencies.

“It's surprising how much of it is walkable. It's a beautiful walk,” Ozolins said, noting that walkers can start near the turtle at the Ithaca Children's Garden at Cass Park.