City Hall just shared the following information:
Greenagers, Inc., an education and conservation nonprofit, will be doing trail work in conjunction with local students at Oakdale Park from April 1 to April 10. A section of the forest loop trail will be temporarily closed on April 1 and April 2 due to tree work near the trail. Please observe any trail closure signs and exercise caution if you are in the woods during this period. As a reminder, all dogs must be kept on leash at all times in Oakdale Park.
You know what we haven't heard an update about for several months from the Youth Department regarding Oakdale? Where things stand with National Grid handing us their large portion of the wooded area back by the frog ponds, which includes all of the trail from Spring Street to the DSS driveway and at least a portion of the ponds. Technically, anyone using that trail and its environs, including summer camp youth, are trespassing on private property. When will the latest Youth Director fill us in?
ReplyDeleteNo one can hike the trail around Oakdale without trespassing on National Grid property. Not that they're watching. (Though there is a surveillance camera back there near the platform that is on city property and likely the property of the youth department. So charming!)
Is there even signage that indicates this is now private?
DeleteNG did put NO TRESPASSING signage up two years ago, but it didn't last. They only bother with area when they are forced to repair the trail after it washes out. Liz York had said the city was in discussions with NG to have a land transfer of some sort.
ReplyDeleteOK, I very rarely comment on here, but as someone who actually walks that trail every day, and values all the stuff that Hudson Youth do educationally there, I have to call bullshit, Bill. As far as I could gather at the time, from Mayor Johnson, Assembly rep Didi Barrett, and … N Grid themselves, it was *you*’ who triggered NGRID’s temporary trail closure a couple of years ago with all your phone calls, complaining about a trail that had been accessible as a public route for decades. From what I understand, they came to some kind of agreement to repair one spot where there was damage, but keep it open. Why are you blaming the Youth Dept on this?
ReplyDeleteVerity -- Was National Grid's trail safe and accessible when nearly half of the width of it fell down the hill, leaving a huge hole for you, me or anyone else to fall into two years ago? Did you notice that gaping hole in the trail, Verity? Of course you did. Maybe you noticed it and walked past it before I noticed it. Did you walk around it and decide not to find out who was responsible for it? Did you think that enormous hole was just fine, that it wasn't dangerous and that it would be okay if it eventually took over the entire width of the trail... the trail you regularly use? Are you glad that National Grid filled that hole of theirs in? Or would you prefer that it still be there today, possibly making the trail completely inaccessible to everyone, including yourself? Keep your "bullshit" to yourself, please. Get your facts and understanding and perspective straight, please. I'm really sorry I called National Grid to inform them of the gaping hole in their "public" trail that you regularly use.
ReplyDeletePS, Where did I say I was "blaming the Youth Department"? For what? For not telling us where things stand with PRIVATE property that has always been part of the PUBLIC hiking trail around a lake in the city's largest and wildest PUBLIC PARK?
The only blaming that is needed is on City Hall, mayors, common councils, etc who for too long have given the responsibility of maintaining all of Oakdale Park to the Youth Department, including the trails. Two years ago, when a huge hole in the trail appeared in the portion near Spring Street, I called Liz York to let her know about it. She thanked me. I then asked her who was responsible for the trail leading from the end of Spring Street to the DSS driveway. She told me that she was pretty sure the county owned it. I soon figured out that she was 100 percent wrong. She and Nick Zachos had unknowingly been holding summer camp activities on private UTILITY COMPANY property in the woods behind the lake. I wouldn't be surprised if the newest youth director is under the same false impression his predecessors were under. It's easier just to ignore the situation. Until the trail becomes a problem, even a deadly one. Then there is talk of doing something. Then there is nothing. Repeat.
ReplyDeleteSince half of my comments don't get posted here for whatever reason, I'm unsure if this comment will be posted but I figured I'd try to chime in to bring some clarity. Mayor Johnson's office was working diligently with National Grid before we left office and a Memorandum of Understanding was formed and signed, which would give the parcel to the City of Hudson. However, at the final hour, it was noted that the MOU may also need to be signed by the school district because that also is a taxing entity. It is very likely that the MOU is still lingering in unsigned purgatory, both due to an interim Superintendent in Brian Bailey being new and likely overwhelmed with information and a change in the Mayor's office due to election, but it's worth someone looking into. Hope this helps!
ReplyDeleteThanks, Justin! Let's hope the new mayor reads Gossips! Now if he had just let you remain where you were doing a fine job paying attention...
ReplyDelete.
Thanks, Bill.
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