A Collaborative Process
Collaboration between conservation leaders, local stakeholders, and the design team sparked the current Draft Master Plan for the Hudson Highlands Fjord Trail. In addition to being a practical solution to congestion management, the current Fjord Trail plan includes often-requested elements like public restrooms, bike racks/tune-up stations, and outdoor classroom/program spaces to better connect people to the natural and cultural history of the Hudson Highlands. Perhaps most significantly, the current plan is for an ADA-accessible main trail, making the beauty of the Highlands welcoming and accessible to people of all ages and abilities.
The Fjord Trail plan that exists today is the result of years of refinement by local stakeholders, regional entities, and state agencies. Public input has been – and will continue to be – fundamental to this planning process.
Since the creation of the current Draft Master Plan in 2020, Hudson Highlands Fjord Trail, Inc. has held nearly 50 stakeholder meetings, public presentations, and visioning sessions, many of which have been open to the public. See below for specific dates and topics. Sign up for our newsletter to stay informed about future opportunities for local residents to share their ideas on the project, including an extended period for public comment on the DGEIS environmental review in fall 2023.
Visitation Data Committee Sessions
On September 1, 2023, HHFT announced the formation of an independent Visitation Data Committee, consisting of municipality-appointed community members. The committee will review and assess the work of HHFT’s visitation management and environmental review consultants to ensure that the traffic count and pedestrian visitation pattern data is adequate for use in determining the potential impacts of the Fjord Trail on local communities. The group will also have early review and discussion of visitation projections and the methodology used to determine them. Hudson Highlands Fjord Trail, Inc. will provide a stipend for the committee to hire an independent consultant to provide technical assistance to the committee in reviewing methodology and interpreting results. Read the complete scope and schedule for the Visitation Data Committee.
Minutes and materials from the committee's meetings and work are linked below.
Visitation Data Committee Meeting #1: Kick-Off | August 18, 2023
Visitation Data Committee Meeting #2: Master Plan Review | September 1, 2023
Visitation Data Committee Meeting #3: Discussing the Consultant RFP | Proposal Request | September 11, 2023
Visitation Data Committee Meeting #4: Shaping the Pedestrian Study | Presentation | October 19, 2023
Visitation Data Committee Meeting #5: Field Visit to Village of Cold Spring | October 22, 2023
Visitation Data Committee Meeting #6: Alternative Route Analysis Study Review | Presentation | Report: Alternative Alignments Analysis | October 27, 2023
Winning Bid for Independent Third-Party Consultant | Received October 31, 2023
Visitation Data Committee Meeting #7: Municipal Representatives' Meeting with Consultant, BFJ Planning | November 13, 2023
Public Sessions
Exploring the New Vision #1 – Master Plan Public Webinar | July 21, 2020
Exploring the New Vision #2 – Breakneck Connector & Bridge Public Webinar | September 24, 2020
Stakeholder Public Presentation – Philipstown Recreation Commission | September 28, 2021
Public Presentation – Town of Philipstown | March 23, 2022
Information Table – Little Stony Point Citizens Association's Maple Syrup Day | March 27, 2022
Stakeholder Public Presentation – Town of Fishkill | April 13, 2022
Stakeholder Public Presentation – Cold Spring Chamber of Commerce Breakfast | April 19, 2022
Stakeholder Public Presentation – Philipstown Trails Committee, Zoom Meeting | May 17, 2022
Stakeholder Public Presentation – Village of Cold Spring | May 25, 2022
HHFT Community Day – Dutchess Manor | June 25, 2022
Administrative Law Judge Hearing re: Breakneck Bridge – Town of Fishkill | July 27, 2022
Public Presentation – Village of Cold Spring, Zoom Meeting | August 11, 2022
Public Presentation – City of Beacon | September 26, 2022
Let’s Talk About Visitation Community Forum – Dutchess Manor | November 20, 2022
Parking & Shuttle Study – Findings & Recommendations Webinar | December 6, 2022
Parking & Shuttle Study Open House: Focus on Village of Cold Spring – Cold Spring Fire Company | February 2, 2023
Information Table – Little Stony Point Citizens Association's Maple Syrup Day | March 26, 2023
Walk & Talk – Public Information Session – Little Stony Point | April 8, 2023
Information Table – 12th Annual River Keeper Sweep – Dockside Park | May 6, 2023
Joint Public Session on HHFT, hosted by Town of Philipstown and Villages of Cold Spring & Nelsonville – Haldane School | May 8, 2023
Information Session – City of Beacon Ward 2 & 4 – Beacon Recreation Center | May 24, 2023
Walk & Talk – Public Information Session – Breakneck Ridge | June 10, 2023
Sunday Afternoon Chat – Open Hours with HHFT Executive Director Amy Kacala | June 30, 2023
HHFT Second Annual Community Day – Dutchess Manor | July 22, 2023
Sunday Afternoon Chat – Open Hours with HHFT Executive Director Amy Kacala | July 30, 2023
Walk & Talk – Public Information Session – Little Stony Point | August 12, 2023
Sunday Afternoon Chat – Open Hours with HHFT Executive Director Amy Kacala | August 27, 2023
Walk & Talk – Public Information Session – Little Stony Point | September 9 2023
Town of Fishkill Planning Board Public Hearing Re: 14 Coris Lane | September 14, 2023
Sunday Afternoon Chat – Open Hours with HHFT Executive Director Amy Kacala | September 24, 2023
Walk & Talk – Public Information Session – Dutchess Manor | October 14, 2023
Information Table – Beacon Sloop Club Pumpkin Festival – Pete and Toshi Seeger Riverfront Park | October 15, 2023
Sunday Afternoon Chat – Open Hours with HHFT Executive Director Amy Kacala | October 29, 2023
Stakeholder Sessions
Stakeholder Meeting – Haldane High School Principal Julia Sniffen | August 18, 2021
Visioning Session – Little Stony Point amenities – Little Stony Point Citizens Association and NYS Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation | September 28, 2021
Visioning Session – Little Stony Point amenities – Community Stakeholders: Arts, Well-Being, Scouts, Youth Engagement | October 14, 2021
Visioning Session – Little Stony Point amenities – Community Stakeholders: Local Educators | October 19, 2021
Stakeholder Meeting – Philipstown Supervisor John Van Tassel, Zoom Meeting | January 5, 2022
Stakeholder Meeting – Beacon Institute for Rivers and Estuaries, Zoom Meeting | January 5, 2022
Stakeholder Meeting – Village of Cold Spring Mayor Kathleen Foley, Putnam County Legislator Nancy Montgomery, NYS Assemblywoman Sandy Galef, NYS Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation Taconic Regional Director Linda Cooper, Zoom Meeting | January 13, 2022
Stakeholder Meeting – Beacon City Administrator Chris White, Zoom | January 13, 2022
Stakeholder Meeting – The Lenape Center, Zoom | January 28, 2022
Visioning Session – Little Stony Point amenities – Design Team and Little Stony Point Design Steering Group, Zoom | February 9, 2022
Stakeholder Meeting – Hudson Highlands Land Trust, Zoom | February 10, 2022
Stakeholder Presentation – Friends of Fahnestock and Hudson Highlands State Park | March 6, 2022
HHFT Steering Committee Meeting, Zoom | March 17, 2022
Stakeholder Meeting – City of Beacon Mayor Lee Kyriacou | April 4, 2022
Stakeholder Meeting – The Lenape Center | April 28, 2022
Stakeholder Workshop: Indigenous Interpretive Elements and Portal Sculpture | August 5, 2022
Discussion of level of participation in upcoming HHFT Community Forum, Putnam County, Town of Philipstown, Villages of Cold Spring and Nelsonville | November 2, 2022
HHFT Steering Committee Meeting | November 18, 2022
Meeting with Village of Cold Spring Mayor, Trustees and Planning Board representatives on HHFT Parking and Shuttle Plan, Zoom | November 28, 2022
Stakeholder Workshop: Indigenous Interpretive Elements and Portal Sculpture, Zoom | December 12, 2022
Meeting with NYS OPRHP regional staff – Fahnestock and Hudson Highlands State Park Preserve | January 11, 2023
Stakeholder Meeting – NY-NJ Trail Conference, Zoom | January 26, 2023
Meeting with NYS OPRHP, Village of Cold Spring Mayor Kathleen Foley, Village of Cold Spring Trustee Eliza Starbuck | January 27, 2023
Meeting with NYS OPRHP and Putnam County Transporation Director Vinny Tamagna | February 17, 2023
Meeting with Village of Cold Spring Mayor Kathleen Foley and Village of Cold Spring Trustee Eliza Starbuck | February 22, 2023
Meeting with Dutchess County Transportation Representatives, Zoom Meeting | February 23, 2023
Meeting with NYS Assemblywoman Dana Levenberg | February 24, 2023
Meeting with Village of Cold Spring Mayor Kathleen Foley and Trustee Eliza Starbuck | April 11, 2023
Meeting with Hudson Highlands Land Trust Board and Staff | April 15, 2023
Meeting with Nelsonville Mayor Chris Winward | April 27, 2023
Meeting with Riverkeeper President Tracy Brown | April 28, 2023
New York-New Jersey Trail Conference Trail Steward Project Update and Training | May 26, 2023
Meeting with Philipstown runners/friends group | June 4, 2023
Update Presentation to OPRHP Directors | June 7, 2023
Meeting with NYS Senator Rob Rolison and Linda Cooper, OPRHP | June 23, 2023
Meeting with Nelsonville Mayor Chris Winward and OPRHP representatives | June 26, 2023
HHFT Steering Committee Meeting | July 19, 2023
Philipstown Advocates for Trails Meet-Up | July 27, 2023
Meeting with Village of Cold Spring Mayor Kathleen Foley, Nelsonville Mayor Chris Winward, and OPRHP, Zoom | August 21, 2023
Outdoor Rx Partner Meeting | August 22, 2023
Introduction Presentation to Beacon Sloop Club | September 1, 2023
Meeting with Cold Spring Visitor Booth Volunteers | September 11, 2023
Meeting with Village of Cold Spring Mayor Kathleen Foley, Trustee Eliza Starbuck; Philipstown Town Supervisor John Van Tassel, Councilmember Jason Angell; Nelsonville Mayor Chris Winward, Zoom | September 12, 2023
Meeting with Village of Cold Spring Mayor Kathleen Foley, Nelsonville Mayor Chris Winward, and OPRHP, Zoom | September 18, 2023
Kick-off Meeting for Beacon-Hopewell Rail Trail Study| September 26, 2023
Meeting with Village of Cold Spring Mayor Kathleen Foley, Nelsonville Mayor Chris Winward, and OPRHP, Zoom | October 16, 2023
Meeting with NYS Senator Rob Rolison | November 2, 2023
Meeting with Assemblywoman Dana Levenberg and Legislator Nancy Montgomery, Zoom | November 21, 2023
Meeting with Village of Cold Spring Mayor Kathleen Foley and Trustee Eliza Starbuck | November 21, 2023
Note: all sessions were held in-person unless otherwise noted.
