All Trails Lead to Hudson
There's the Empire State Trail set to come through Hudson on city streets. Then there's the proposed hiking trail around the base of the landfill in North Bay, connecting the north side of Hudson with the Greenport Conservation Area and the network of trails beyond. Today, Columbia Economic Development Corporation (CEDC) announced that a firm had been selected to do a feasibility study on another trail--"a multi-use rail trail to connect Hudson's Oakdale Park to the Harlem Valley Rail Trail along the Boston and Albany rail corridor."
The firm selected is Weston & Sampson, which provides design, engineering, and environmental services. The press release explains, "Weston & Sampson has extensive experience in planning and designing trail networks across the country, including numerous trails in the Northeast." It continues:
CEDC is collaborating with the Columbia Land Conservancy (CLC) to coordinate a study examining a possible trail connecting the Empire State Trail at the City of Hudson to the Harlem Valley Rail Trail in the eastern part of Columbia County. The study will explore parts of a largely abandoned railroad between Hudson and Philmont. Rails on much of what was the "Boston & Albany" railroad were taken up decades ago, but a short spur is in use today.
The short spur of the Boston & Albany Railroad still in use today is the one that goes through Hudson, transecting the Public Square, to the ADM plant on Route 23B in Greenport.
The cost of the study is $18,500. CEDC was awarded a $12,750 Hudson River Valley Greenway Conservancy Trail Grant for the study last fall. The remainder of the funding is being provided by CEDC and CLC.
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It's a shame that the Empire State Trail isn't going to cross the East Basin of the South Bay. Routing it that way would have required an elevated boardwalk from Rte. 9-G which then crossed the north end of the open basin. The other end of the boardwalk would have brought walkers near to the abandoned, now-wooded, landfill by the Amtrak office inside L&B. Surprising to many, this boardwalk-trail wouldn't have engaged any Colarusso lands.
ReplyDeleteThe trail would then continue on Front Street to Dock Street, and onto the CLC from there.
Apparently the feasibility of this route was considered (but by who?), after which the idea failed. In my opinion, this was a real miss for Hudson.
Funny how people are always interested in accessing other people's land stating it would be "good for all." When you introduce pedestrians onto pristine lands it becomes an eyesore for those who have lived here their entire lives. Truth is, many locals don't care for the tourism being pushed for the "greater good BS".
ReplyDeleteThis "abandoned rail-bed" is not as abandoned when taken in the context of the land that was "leased for life" or sold to the private resident's that bought their parcels for the very purpose of keeping people away from their property and preserving privacy. This railroad was abandoned in 1962 and has been a part of some of our property since. Sad that the urban nature of the city needs to move up here disrespecting the resident's by trying to change the area to meet their needs.
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