Construction has officially begun on the Open Space Institute’s River-to-Ridge Trail, the highly-anticipated scenic and recreational off-road, multi-use loop trail leading directly from downtown New Paltz to the Shawangunk Ridge.
“OSI is proud to announce that the River-to-Ridge trail is moving from concept to reality,” said Kim Elliman, OSI’s President and CEO. “We remain appreciative of Ulster County, the town and village of New Paltz and Mohonk Preserve for their ongoing partnership in transforming this beautiful landscape into a publicly-available, world-class recreational destination.”
The first phase of the project includes the section of trail along the Wallkill River and the installation of required drainage infrastructure.
The six-mile River-to-Ridge Trail will feature pathways running beside farm fields and over gently rolling hills, providing direct access to more than 90 miles of recreational carriage roads and trails at the Mohonk Preserve and Minnewaska State Park Preserve. The trail will also enable walkers and cyclists to safely bypass Route 299, currently the primary road leading from New Paltz to the preserves.
OSI has contracted with P.E. Colucci Excavating, Inc. from Gardiner to complete the project. Work will take place throughout the winter, weather permitting, and continue through 2017. As the project progresses, the public is reminded that the site is an active construction area and is asked to stay clear of construction equipment and project areas.
The full River-to-Ridge Trail project is expected to be completed by late 2017, if weather conditions allow.
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