5 IMPLEMENTATION Implementation of the Hudson River Valley Greenway Trail is an ongoing process. The existing hiking, biking and water trail routes can continue to be improved and promoted, while the multi-use path will require a significant level of new planning, design and capital investment. In the past 25 years, the Greenway has developed grass-roots and local government support for these efforts, providing an excellent foundation for the next generation of the trail system. The following actions are recommended for the ongoing success of the HRVG: 1. Continue promoting the Water Trail: this is the most direct connection to the river, and can be marketed without significant capital improvements to promote the whole Greenway. 2. Upgrade the existing Hiking Trails: The continuous hiking trail can be achieved with alignments closer to the river - and many of these key connections are already in progress. With the new TZ bridge path and the Walkway over the Hudson, a loop hiking trail can connect both sides of the river in the lower half of the valley. 3. Improve the on-road Bike Routes: the currently signed NYS Bike Route 9 is a challenging route and is limited to experienced cyclists. Improving signage, paved shoulders, bike lanes, bike parking and Amtrak access will all support increased use along the route. Both the PTNY and West Side routes are not currently designated, but they can be improved to create on-road routes on both sides of the river. 4. Develop the continuous Hudson River Valley Greenway Trail trunk line: the efforts of the past decades have led to significant new potential to create a continuous multi-use path the length of the Hudson River Valley from Manhattan to the Adirondacks. Major projects along this alignment have already been built, including the Hudson River Park in NYC, the Corning Riverfront Park in Albany, and the North/South County Trails in Westchester. Since these paths generally follow former rail corridors, canals and the river, they provide a route that can be used by a wide variety of people. The Hudson River Valley Greenway Trail trunk line has significant potential for trail-oriented economic development, and there is support for the concept throughout the valley. Key steps to implement this project include: a. Promote the concept of an end-to-end shared-use path. Most communities along the route are focused on their own 111 HUDSON RIVER VALLEY GREENWAY CONNECTION PLAN local projects, and it will require outreach and coordination to communicate the common vision of linking these local projects together. b. Plan and design the ‘gaps.’ While most of the proposed route has existing or planned sections, there are several gaps where a plan for connection is needed. c. Get projects ‘shovel ready.’ Complete the design, environmental review and permitting processes to get planned and proposed projects ready for construction. d. Establish a public-private-nonprofit partnership for funding. Work with foundations, corporations and government sources to set up a funding program to complete the path. Since most current federal aid for projects like this requires matching funds, consider creating a matching fund source that can be leveraged to complete the trail. 5. Develop a Hudson River Challenge Event: the HRVG offers a unique opportunity to connect the existing sections of hiking, biking and water routes into a unique multi-sport Challenge. Participants can form teams and travel the length of the Greenway to promote the existing trails, future connections, and local tourism destinations. This event can link up State and National Parks, showcase cooperation between multiple state agencies, and involve public, private and non-profit partners. 6. As new trail systems are developed, and existing trails rehabilitated, trails crossing streams and creeks should strive to keep these waterways connected. Just as Greenway trails are important connections between our communities, these waterways are critical pathways for many fish, amphibian, reptile and other species that need to move between different habitats in the stream and even migrate to and from the ocean. More information about designing strong connections at stream crossings can be found here: http://www.dec.ny.gov/permits/49060.html Trails should also be designed to be resilient to environmental events such as flooding, drought, sea level rise, and storm surges. Investing in more resilient trail infrastructure will pay off in the long term. eW 112 strongly encourage the building of trails that follow stream crossing best management practices and are designed with climate change effects in mind. Key issues that have been identified during the development of this plan include right-of-way acquisitions along key sections involving utility corridors and rail lines, the long term operations and maintenance of the trail system, and securing funding for trail development. With a vision that meets the significance of the trail, these issues can be resolved. The Hudson River Greenway Trail system is nationally significant. The valley’s landscape is a great asset to New York State. Continuing the work that has been accomplished in the Greenway’s first 25 years will create a legacy for future generations. Now is the time to make these great trails happen. The map on the following page illustrates the vision of the trails system for the whole Hudson River Valley Greenway. 113 HUDSON RIVER VALLEY GREENWAY CONNECTION PLAN Page left intentionally blank 114 STONY CREEK 149 WELLS 9 TO LAKE GEORGE 149 QUEENSBURY 4 INGSBURY WASHINGTON HADLEY WARREN GLENS 32 196 HOPE DAY ALLS AND VERMONT TO LAKE CHAMPLAIN 9 N Ralph Road Upper Hudson River LAKE LUZERNE State Land State Boat Launch WARREN SARATOGA 197 32 CORINTH ADIRONDAC Sherida St ARGYLE Moreau Lake State Park FORT EDWARD PARK EDINURG MOREAU NORTHAMPTON 40 4 NORTHUBERLAND N WILTON Wilton State Wildlife GREENWICH GREENIELD Management Area 30 N MAYFIELD 50 WASHINGTON SARATOGA 29 PROVIDENCE 29 A Saratoga National Historic Park ROADALBIN 29 349 SARATOGA Victory Mills SPRINGS State Wetlands 29 50 SARATOGA A 32 40 9 Saratoga Spa State Park MILTON P GALWAY Saratoga National EASTON Historical Park 4 30 PERTH P CAMRIDGE MALTA 423 67 67 67 STILLWATER 147 CHARLTON TO UFFALO5 ASTERDAM ALLSTON ASTERDAM 50 WASHINGTON Schoharie Crossing State Historic Site RENNSELAER 9 Lock 4 State 67 Canal Park 5 67 S MECHANICVILLE67 165 FLORIDA 146 90 GLENVILLE Lock State Canal Park 146 HALOON PITTSTOWN RENNSELAER SCHAGHTICOE CLITON PARK 236 SARATOGA 160 40 50 SARATOGA 159 PRINCETOWN 146 SCHENECTADY ROTTERDAM 912 SCHENECTADY Featherstonhaugh State Forest WATERORD Lock 6 State 337 MOHAWK RIVER 890 NISKAYUNA Canal Park 7 SARATOGA SARATOGA ALBANY ALBANY Peebles sland DUANESBURG State Park Grafton Lakes State Park 142 30 470 SCHENECTADY COHOES 2 158 ALBANY GRAFTON 20 4 406 787 BRUNSWIC 395 278 5 7 2 155 COLONIE 146 2 7 155 WATERVLIET 90 351 397 9 TROY 88 GUILDERLAND 146 Albany Pine Bush Preserve 66 378 355 377 136 146 KNO 156 POESTENILL 443 ALBANY RENSSELAER WRIGHT Knox State Wildlife ALANY NORTH GREENBUSH Management Area Black Creek Marsh State 85 Wildlife Management Area New York 157 State Museum Thompsons Lake 43 State Park RENSSELAER John Boyd Thacher State Park 30 SAND LAKE 443 85 151 150 443 Five Rivers NEW SCOTLAND Environmental Center BERNE EAST GREENBUSH 151 BETHLEHEM 9 MIDDLEBURGH 85 32 Partridge Run State 43 Wildlife Management Area 66 ALBANY RENSSELAER NASSAU Franklinton Vlaie 20 SCHODACK W BROOME 143 9 145 Schodack sland WESTERLO 32 State Park 203 COEYANS 20 66 90 RENSSELAER COLUMBIA RENSSELAERVILLE 143 RENSSELAER COLUMBIA ALBANY GREENE 144 GREENE COLUMBIA CHATHAM NEW ALTIMORE 81 295 STUYVESANT GREENVILLE CANAAN KINDERHOOK 145 90 DURHAM 203 Martin Van Buren National Historic Site Nutten Hook 81 9 COXSACKIE 9J H 22 32 STOCKPORT Hudson River WINDHAM Islands State Park 203 GHENT AUSTERLITZ 385 Stockport Creek State 66 23 Wetland Preservation Area CAIRO 23 987 ATHENS GREENE COLUMBIA 296 W EWETT 385 HUDSON 217 A G 23B Thomas Cole GREENPORT Rogers sland Olana State National Historic Historic Site CLAVERACK HILLSDALE Site State Land Of 22 Exceptional Scenic Beauty CATSKILL H A A GREENE 23 32 COLUMBIA GREENE 987 HUNTER A ULSTER GREENE ULSTER CATSKILL W LIVINGSTON Great Vly 214 GERANTOWN 82 PARK TAGHKANIC COPAE Taconic State Park G ULSTER Bristol Beach COLUMBIA State Park GREENE 9 ULSTER COLUMBIA Lake Taghkanic SAUGERTIES State Park MASSACHUSETTS Clermont State 212 Historic Site CLERMONT 212 WOODSTOCK COLUMBIA DUTCHESS GALLATIN Taconic State Park ANCRA Tivoli Bays 375 Highwoods State Land W 28 RED HOOK Turkey Point Roeliff Jansen ill State Land 199 COLUMBIA 28 INGSTON DUTCHESS 22 ULSTER G 987 82 199 Lafayetteville 199 209 ILAN 199 State Land PINE PLAINS ULSTER A DUTCHESS A HURLEY 28 199 32 308 OLIVE G 587 DUTCHESS NORTHEAST CONNECTICUT RHINEECK INGSTON 83 Hudson 22 209 River 32 Maritime HUDSON RIVER 9 Museum STANFORD Hurley Commons State Wildlife Management Area MARLETOWN 213 CLINTON 343 213 82 Staatsburgh State Historic Site ESOPUS Mills-Norrie State Park 32 213 AMENIA ROSENDALE 22 ROCHESTER 44 HYDE PAR Vanderbilt Mansion National Historic Site 987 209 WASHINGTON Wassaic State Land N Home of FDR ULSTER 343 DUTCHESS National Historic Site 115 PLEASANT VALLEY W Franklin D. Roosevelt NEW PALTZ Library and Museum 44 W Shawangunk 299 Taconic Hereford State Land State Land LLOYD Minnewaska State Park S 208 Walkway ver the Hudson Bridge GARDINER Walkway Over The Hudson State Historic Park Franny Reese 44 State Park James Baird UNION VALE 376