Scenic Hudson’s High Banks Preserve in Ulster Park officially opened on Saturday, Oct. 15. Encompassing 287 acres, the preserve offers new opportunities for outdoor recreation and exploration of the land’s diverse natural features.
High Banks Preserve contains bluffs offering vistas of the Hudson River as well as extensive wetlands, wildflower-filled meadows, hardwood forests and shoreline along Esopus Lake. Trails will connect visitors to features that include a Hudson River overlook, former carriage roads that lead to the lake, and a 110-foot boardwalk spanning a wetland. There also will be informational kiosks explaining the history of the site and its ecological importance.
In creating the park, Scenic Hudson ensured that 35 commercially zoned acres fronting Route 9W would remain available for economic development. Hudson Valley contractors, selected through a competitive bid process, constructed park amenities. The preserve is the sixth natural area the organization has created or helped create in Esopus. For more information on High Banks Preserve and other Scenic Hudson parks, visit https://www.scenichudson.org/parks or call (845) 473-4440.
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