Press Release
June 27, 2022
Dan Keefe
(518) 486-1868 | news@parks.ny.gov
New York State Parks, Open Space Institute, and the Taconic Regional Commission Announce Opening of the Hubbard Perkins Loop Trail at Fahnestock State Park
Upgraded trail expands access to OSI protected lands
in northern section of park
New
York, NY (June 27,
2022)— The New York State Office of Parks, Recreation, and Historic
Preservation (NYS Parks), the Open Space Institute (OSI), and the Taconic
Regional Commission today announced the opening of the newly renovated Hubbard
Perkins Loop Trail. The Hubbard Perkins Loop Trail is part of a series of
OSI-led park enhancement projects aimed at making Fahnestock State Park more
welcoming to visitors by improving access to OSI-protected land at the northern
end of the park. The
two-year, $1.5 million project overhauled 9.5 miles of multi-use trails in the
popular park to better accommodate walkers, hikers, runners, bikers, snowshoers,
cross-country skiers, and equestrian users.
"Fahnestock
State Park is a remarkable destination, offering incredible vistas and vast
open spaces – and quality park trails are key to park experience," State Parks
Commissioner Erik Kulleseid said. "I am grateful to
the Open Space Institute, the U.S Military Academy, and the project supporters
for these improvements to the Hubbard Perkins Loop Trail, which will help
visitors to explore what Fahnestock has to offer."
"OSI's
work in the northwestern section of Fahnestock is making a largely inaccessible
section of this amazing park a true centerpiece," said OSI's president and CEO,
Kim Elliman. "As we build on our legacy of more than doubling the size of
Fahnestock, we are proud that our park improvement work here ensures the land
OSI protected is open and welcoming to the public."
This
trail project caps a public-private partnership between New York State Parks
and OSI to increase public access and improve accessibility to an underutilized
area of the park. Over the past eight years, OSI has raised more than $9
million, with lead support from Lucy R. Waletzky for trail improvements,
signage upgrades, safety enhancements, and new public amenities at the park's Canopus
Lake.
"The
Hubbard-Perkins Loop Trail is another beautiful reminder of how important
public-private partnerships are to the success of our state parks," said Lucy
Waletzky long-time supporter of OSI's work at Fahnestock and former chair of
both Taconic Regional Commission and the New York State Council of Parks. "The
substantial renovations OSI has completed in this area of Fahnestock State Park
will be enjoyed and appreciated by park visitors for decades to come."
Components
of the park improvement project included the restoration and realignment of
existing trails and the construction of fourteen new pedestrian bridges and
trail crossings, four of which were completed through an ongoing partnership
with the U.S. Military Academy at West Point. The project also created new
trail sections, redirected sections of the trail to avoid sensitive wildlife
habitat areas and included the installation of new wayfinding signs and an
informational kiosk near Hubbard Lodge.
Over four years, OSI has partnered with New York State
Parks and the cadets from the United States Military Academy at West Point to
replace four trail bridges at Fahnestock as part of the larger, Hubbard Perkins
Loop Trail project. The partnership allows the cadets to take the skills and
knowledge they have learned during their year-long capstone design civil
engineering course and apply those skills in the execution of a project that
benefits the community.
"West Point cadets and faculty have been committed to
supporting State Parks and the Open Space Institute by creating bridges that
support access to the trail. As their capstone educational event, the cadets
partnered with Parks to design and build these bridges, some in remote
locations, learning lessons that only real-world experiences can teach. I
absolutely believe these bridges, unique and beautiful, harmonize well with
their settings, providing a memorable and safe experience for users. We could
not be prouder," said Dr. Led Klosky, professor of civil engineer, US Military
Academy at West Point.
In
addition to the physical improvements completed at the site, NYS Parks and OSI
also unveiled a new logo to celebrate the
Hubbard Perkins Loop Trail's signature network of bridge crossings, which is
incorporated into the new trail signage.
"The new Hubbard Perkins trail network is a terrific
and welcome addition to Fahnestock State Park," said Edgar Masters, chair of
the Taconic Regional Commission. "Not only will it offer new experiences for
outdoor adventures, but it will also help to better disperse visitors into a
previously underutilized section of park. I am proud of the work of the
Commission and grateful to all those who contributed to this great
public-private project."
The
project was planned, funded, and constructed by OSI through a generous donation
from Lucy R. Waletzky, with major support from Chris Buck & Hara Schwartz,
Judy & Leonard Lauder, The Shelby Cullom Davis Charitable Fund, and
Jennifer P. Speers; and additional support from Wendy & Bob Bickford,
William Burback & Peter Hofmann, Mary R. Morgan, and Norman Selby &
Melissa Vail. The project was also
completed with support from the New York State Environmental Protection Fund.
Other
completed projects outlined OSI's multi-phase Fahnestock Improvement Plan include
the creation of the new Big Woods Trailhead and 25-car parking area off Route
301, a second new trailhead and 15-car parking area that provides direct access
to the Appalachian Trail; and the installation of park entry and wayfinding
signage at Route 9 and Taconic State Parkway.
During the last decade, more than
three million people have visited Fahnestock State Park, which is spread across
more than 14,000 acres in Putnam and Dutchess counties. Annual visitation at
the park is up more than 38 percent during this period. Fahnestock State Park
has more than 62 miles of hiking trails, as well as 10 miles of the Appalachian
Trail, which stretches about 2,200 miles from Georgia to Maine.
About New York State Parks
The New York State Office of Parks,
Recreation and Historic Preservation oversees more than 250 parks, historic
sites, recreational trails, golf courses, boat launches and more, which in 2021
were visited by record 78.4 million people. For more information on any
of these recreation areas, visit www.parks.ny.gov, download the free NY State Parks
Explorer mobile app or call 518.474.0456. Also, connect on Facebook, Instagram
and Twitter.
About
the Open Space Institute
The
Open Space Institute protects scenic, natural, and historic landscapes to
provide public enjoyment, conserve habitat and working lands, and sustain
communities. Founded in 1974 to protect significant landscapes in New York
State, OSI has been a partner in the protection of nearly 2.3 million acres in
North America.
Since
the 1990s, working in partnership with the State of New York, OSI has doubled
the size of Fahnestock State Park, bringing the park to more than 14,000 acres
of protected woodlands, valleys, and plateaus. Now, OSI is continuing its
commitment to this beloved landscape by carrying out critically needed access
improvements so that future generations can continue to enjoy the park.