Goats have returned to Ashokan Reservoir
A small herd of goats have returned to Glenford Dike at Ashokan Reservoir. The goats are part of a DEP pilot program to use rotational grazing for the maintenance of grass, weeds and invasive species on our water supply infrastructure, instead of traditional mowing equipment. DEP began to test rotational grazing in 2016 when they deployed sheep at Neversink Dam in Sullivan County and the dam at Rondout Reservoir in Ulster County to manage grassy areas.
The goats have a hillside of work ahead of them. Best to say hello from a distance and not be tempted to pet them.
Take it slow in Gardiner
The Town of Gardiner is encouraging drivers to take it slow while driving on roads in and around Gardiner. “We are a small, rural community,” said Marybeth Majestic, Gardiner town supervisor, “and our biggest investment is in our local roads. The challenge we face is helping people to understand that local roads are different from county and state roads.” Local roads are rarely striped, and are designed for residents to reach the county and state road transportation system.
Majestic is recommending that drivers using Gardiner’s local roads drive at a maximum of 30 miles per hour when they have a clear and unobstructed view. “When approaching and passing residents and visitors on local roads, slow to 15 miles per hour and even slower where children and the elderly are present,” urged Majestic. “Enjoy your travels on Gardiner roads and, perhaps, walk them yourselves …. Allow the journey to your local destination to be part of the experience, and keep your eyes peeled for wildlife too.”
Man, 39, killed after being struck by pickup truck on Rt. 9W
On Saturday, July 11, at approximately 3:44 a.m. state police responded to a car/pedestrian accident on State Route 9W and North Riverside Road in the Town of Lloyd.
Investigation revealed that Leon P. Ponder, 39, of Newburgh, was walking southbound in the right lane on State Route 9W when he was struck by a 2014 Toyota Tundra that was traveling southbound. The operator of the Tundra observed an individual walking in the middle of the lane and attempted to avoid him. The operator subsequently struck Ponder with the passenger side of his vehicle.
State Police and Mobil Life arrived on scene and life saving measures were performed on Ponder. He was transported to Mid-Hudson Regional Hospital where he succumbed to his injuries.
State Police were assisted at the scene by Town of Lloyd Police and Highland Fire Department. The operator of the vehicle was determined not to be impaired nor on their cell phone. This is an ongoing investigation.
Mailbox vandalism is no joke
Woodstock police are investigating the damage and destruction of around 60 mailboxes on Fourth of July weekend.
Police chief Clayton Keefe said the damage happened late July 4 into early July 5, mostly on Ohayo Mountain Road, but also on Yerry Hill Road and Glasco Turnpike. During that time, two parked vehicles were also damaged, he said.
“Out of all those mailboxes, it makes a heck of a noise, but we didn’t get any calls,” he said. It was only later, when people discovered dented and destroyed mailboxes, that they called.
Keefe thinks fireworks and other activity may have drowned out the noise.
Damage or destruction of mailboxes is a federal offense, but Keefe said officials usually leave it up to local police departments and courts to handle. The vandals, if found, will be charged with criminal mischief.
Police have made no arrests to date. Anyone who can provide information about the damage or security camera footage is encouraged to contact police dispatch at (845) 679-2422.
— Nick Henderson
Online bill payment approved in Saugerties
Village of Saugerties residents will soon be able to pay village taxes and water/sewer bills online, according to village treasurer Paula Kerbert. The payment service will be provided by EnetPay, a company that works with M&T Bank – the village government’s bank. Payments by credit card made over the Internet go directly into the village bank account. The treasurer’s office doesn’t touch them, Kerbert said. A credit-card processor at the village bill payment counter will process credit cards for in-person payment through EnetPay.
The treasurer will continue to accept cash or checks. Credit-card payments will carry a small chargeto cover EnetPay’s fee, meaning the village does not pay for the service. The surcharge would be solely for the company’s service.
Kerbert hoped that the system will be more efficient and easier for taxpayers to deal with. The board voted unanimously to adopt it.
— David Gordon
Saugerties mayor praises parade
The coronavirus forced the Saugerties fire departments to hold a motorcade through the town — more than 31 miles — instead of the traditional parade through the village. Mayor William Murphy said the event was inspiring as the crowds assembled in the various hamlets throughout the town.
“It reached people who don’t normally come to town for a Fourth of July parade,” Murphy said. “People out in West Camp and Saxton, those areas.” The parade might go through an area of open road with no one, then round a corner and there would be a crowd of “people with thank-you signs.” At Grant T. Morse School there was quite a crowd, and Glasco Main Street had quite a crowd,”
Fire chief Chris Wade’s daughter took a picture of the line from a hilltop. “It really gave a grasp of how long the parade was,” Murphy said. Murphy also expressed a hope that next year the parade could be back to its traditional format.
— David Gordon
Young adult book club in Gardiner
The Gardiner Library has announced a new virtual summer young adult book club via Zoom meetings on Sunday, July 19 and Sunday, August 16 at 1:30 p.m. The first meeting will cover 13 Little Blue Envelopes by Maureen Johnson including discussions, games and design your own journal. Registration is required by contacting Carolyn Thorenz at cthorenz@rcls.org to receive the Zoom link. The second meeting will cover Children of Blood and Bone by Tomi Adeyemi with discussions, games and design a decorative fan.
For more details on book clubs, including the timeline and specific titles to be read, please visit the Calendar/Events page at GardinerLibrary.org or the Gardiner Library Facebook page.
Auctioning the butterflies in Saugerties
The auction of the street art gracing Saugerties streets is set for September 19, according to village trustee Jeannine Mayer. The location of the auction, which for several years has been held at the Saugerties Performing Arts Factory [SPAF], has yet to be determined. SPAF is currently closed.
In earlier years, the sale was held outdoors on the lawn of the Saugerties Historical Society. The art works – painted butterflies – remain on the streets for the summer, then are auctioned to raise money for the Chamber of Commerce and a selected charity, with a portion also going to the artist.
The base sculptures were created by artist/craftsman Gus Pedersen and decorated by local artists. The works were sponsored by local businesses and individuals. “We discussed donating the proceeds to Diaz Ambulance, Mayer said. In another Chamber of Commerce matter, Mayer said, the “Sunset Concert Series” held at the Reformed Church of Saugerties will be held instead in Tina Chorvas Park, on the banks of the Esopus Creek. The concert is set for August 7, starting at 6:30 p.m.
— David Gordon
Metered parking will resume in Kingston
The City of Kingston will resume paid meter parking on Monday, July 27. The municipal parking lots will remain free of charge until Columbus Day. Many restaurants and retail stores are opening to the public, and the need for instituting short-term parking has returned. All parking meters were bagged and all fees were suspended on March 16.
Whoosh, the mobile parking app used by City of Kingston meters and kiosks, will be changing over to the Flowbird app on August 1. In order to pay for parking meters electronically, Whoosh will be available until the changeover to Flowbird app is complete. All customer data such as vehicle, license plate and payment details, will be exported from Whoosh to Flowbird automatically. See https://flowbirdapp.com/ for download and user instructions.
New New Paltz stop signs
New Paltz has added stop signs at two intersections in the village.
Previously, only two stop signs existed at the intersection of Hasbrouck Avenue and Tricor Avenue controlling northbound and southbound traffic. Two additional signs have been added to control westbound and eastbound traffic.
The second intersection is where Southside Avenue meets Pencil Hill Road. Previously, there were no stop signs at this intersection. Now there are three controlling all directions of travel.
Shoppers urged to get tested
Ulster County health commissioner Dr. Carol Smith announced on July 10 that an employee at Mother Earth’s Storehouse in Kingston tested positive last week for Covid 19. Anyone who has shopped at this Mother Earth store from July 1 to July 5 is urged to promptly contact their primary-care physician and seek testing, or contact the Ulster County Covid-19 hotline at 443-8888.
“I urge anyone who has recently shopped at Mother Earth in Kingston to be alert and monitor their symptoms,” said Smith. “We will continue to monitor the situation and take measures to minimize the spread of this disease, including completing contact tracing to inform those who may have been in contact with this individual. As we see cases continue to rise across the country, we must continue to follow critical safety precautions including wearing masks, social distancing and washing our hands to protect the health and safety of our community.”
The Ulster County Department of Health has recommended the store be thoroughly cleaned and disinfected and is working with the New York State Department of Health to ensure roper protocols are being followed. Residents can find information about their nearest testing location and both walk-in testing sites and mobile testing sites by visiting ulstercountyny.gov/get-tested.
Wallkill Valley Rail Trail improvement project set to begin
A million-dollar plan to improve the northern 9.5-mile stretch of the Wallkill Valley rail-trail between Cragswood Road in New Paltz and Route 32 in the City of Kingston has been announced. The project is expected to improve overall public access to a protected section of the trail, establish additional safety measures for residents and visitors, and reinforce the Wallkill Valley rail-trail’s inclusion in the Empire State Trail.
“Building on the creation of the River-to-Ridge trail in New Paltz and the protection and restoration of the Rosendale trestle, The Open Space Institute is excited to continue our efforts to build connections between people and land,” said Kim Elliman, president and CEO of OSI. “Well-maintained and easily accessible trails play an important role in making communities more livable, healthy and prosperous. This project is another step toward establishing Ulster County as a world-class recreational destination and sets the stage for the transformative Empire State Trail.”
The trail improvement plan includes resurfacing of the trail path, rehabilitating three small bridges, and the removal of invasive species and excess vegetation to improve drainage. The project will also improve safety through improved road crossing and other trail signage to increase trail visibility.
The improvement work is scheduled to begin in mid-July and be completed around mid-October. For public safety, sections of the trail may be closed during active construction on weekdays, but the entire trail will remain open on weekends.
SUNY Ulster re-entry plan
Dr. Alan P. Roberts has announced that SUNY Ulster’s reentry plan has been approved by SUNY. SUNY Ulster is actively engaging in the next steps of safe re-entry to the college’s Stone Ridge campus and Kingston Center of SUNY Ulster.
“The health and safety of our students and community has been our number-one focus and will continue as the top priority,” said Dr. Roberts. “All operations have been evaluated to ensure a safe return for students and staff. This includes adhering to social distancing practices, providing effective personal protective equipment, and ensuring that proper cleaning and disinfecting protocols are implemented for all facilities and operations.”
Faculty and the vice president for academic affairs and dean of faculty have been reviewing all course sections to determine how each will be delivered. SUNY Ulster is offering four learning modalities for instruction in the fall 2020 semester, which will commence on Monday, August 24. These are: remote delivery of all course content; remote delivery of lecture content with on-campus lab, clinical, studio; blended or hybrid courses; and fully online courses. An updated course schedule highlighting the fall 2020 learning modalities will be available in the coming weeks.
On-campus learning experiences will be limited to those courses that require critical hands-on lab, clinical and practical components. These learning experiences will be conducted following social distancing and reduced density protocols with course objectives determining on-site need.
Any fall 2020 in-person instruction will be prepared to pivot to remote learning modalities if needed. Additionally, the college is prepared to serve students who are required to undergo a 14-day quarantine.
“I am appreciative of the collective efforts of our faculty and staff during this challenging time in supporting our students for their continued success,” said Dr. Roberts.
Saugerties felony drug charges
Members of the Ulster Regional Gang Enforcement Narcotics Team (URGENT) report the arrest of Jenna L. Neglia, 26, and Luke J. Robinson, 26, both of Saugerties, following an investigation into illegal drug sales in the towns of Saugerties and Ulster. On July 7, police executed a search warrant at a hotel in the Town of Ulster where both Neglia and Robinson were staying. The search yielded over 600 “decks” of fentanyl, half an ounce of cocaine, over 120 tablets of methadone, a quantity of heroin, marijuana, and drug-packaging materials.
Neglia was charged with two felonies and a misdemeanor. She was additionally wanted for an outstanding bench warrant on an unrelated charge. Robinson was charged with one felony.
Neglia was remanded to the Ulster County Jail in lieu of $30,000 cash bail or $50,000 secured bond. Robinson was released with an appearance ticket returnable to the town court on a later date.
Board openings in Gardiner
The Town of Gardiner has vacancies on the Zoning Board of Appeals, Open Space Commission and the Board of Assessment Review. Interested parties should send their resume with a letter of interest to Supervisor Marybeth Majestic at supervisor.tog@gmail.com or call her at 255-9675, extension 101. Kindly respond by July 31.
Woodstock Golf Open on July 27
The 85th annual Woodstock Open will continue its run on Monday, July 27 at the Woodstock Golf Club. This one-day golf tournament is believed to be the longest-running tourney in the country at one site for both professionals and amateurs. Past Woodstock Open fields have included Masters champions Gene Sarazen and Doug Ford.
“We’re thrilled to enter into our fourth year as the premier sponsor of the Emerson Resort & Spa Woodstock Open,” said Emerson Resort & Spa marketing and sales director Tamara Murray. “This historical golf tournament brings leading professional and amateur players from across the region to the Catskills. It is a prestigious event that showcases our community as a tourism destination and never disappoints with a close and exciting championship.”
The overall professional winner is guaranteed a $3000 payday, and the top amateur will receive a $500 gift card. Included in the competition is a senior division for the top 50-and-older players. Beginning this year, every overall winner will be presented an Emerson Resort & Spa Woodstock Open champion’s robe.
Professional players and amateurs with a handicap of eight or less can sign up by calling the Woodstock pro shop at 679-2914. Deadline for entry is Wednesday, July 22 or the first 72 players to sign up for either a morning or afternoon tee time. Players must follow the tournament’s Covid 19 guidelines.
Saugerties gala is going virtual
This year marks the 23rd year of the Boys’ and Girls’ Club of Saugerties gala fundraiser auction. Like so many other events, the club has had to make the difficult decision regarding holding a live event during the global pandemic.
The club has re-imagined its event for this year, and from October 2-4 the auction will go virtual. Producing an online event will enable the club to reach an extended audience, both geographically and with an extended time period.
The annual auction is the club’s major fundraiser of the year. Last year, well over 150 Saugerties businesses and individuals donated goods and services. This year’s auction will feature the same items that have made this annual event successful. Donors have already committed to support the effort.
The Boys’ and Girls’ Club has been on the forefront of youth programming in the Saugerties community for over two decades. The main site is located at 45 Partition Street. For additional information, call 338-8666 or email dwhalen@bgclubsulstercounty.org.
Cystic fibrosis advocacy
As part of the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation’s annual Teen Advocacy Day, Griffin Rynne from New Paltz joined more than 200 teens from across the country, almost half of whom are living with Cystic Fibrosis (CF), to participate virtually to advocate. Cystic fibrosis is a life-threatening genetic disease that causes progressive lung damage and makes it difficult to breathe. An estimated 30,000 people in the United States, and 70,000 worldwide, have CF.
This year, due to the Covid 19 pandemic, the teen advocates gathered virtually on June 24-25, marking the first time where this many people with CF were able to attend an advocacy event along with their loved ones. Rynne shared his personal experiences of how the disease has impacted his brother Eamonn, who has CF. The event included two days of training where teens learned different ways to share their personal stories and unique experiences living with cystic fibrosis.
The teens asked members of Congress to support the expansion of paid Family and Medical Leave for those vulnerable to the adverse effects of Covid-19 and for their family members during the pandemic. “I know how vital it is that people with CF have access to new treatments and quality care,” said Rynne, “and I delivered this message to our representatives in Washington.”
For information, visit CFF.org.
Pony visits New Paltz Center
Since March 11 until last week, all nursing homes in New York State have been closed to visitors due to the Covid-19 pandemic. Nursing homes, like New Paltz Center on Jansen Road in New Paltz, have been making tablets, email and phones accessible for their residents to be connected to their loved through Skype, FaceTime and Zoom.
Horse therapy visits have also happened through a window of the residents’ room or the lobby window. Frost, a seven-year-old Shetland pony, visited the New Paltz Center on July 7 with horse handler Linda Cole of Kasey’s Cast-a-Ways in Port Jervis.
“Our residents smiled and laughed as soon as they saw Frost through the lobby window,” said Samantha Cerero, recreation director at New Paltz Center. “Residents Anthony Mezzacapo and Stephen Larkin couldn’t wait for Frost to arrive, and when he did it was incredible!”
New Paltz town hall opens
After appropriate precautions to protect its staff and the public, the New Paltz town hall at 52 Clearwater Road is now open to the public for all town business from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. All visitors will be required to wear masks while in the building and maintain a six-foot distance when possible. A doorbell system has been installed in the foyer, and calling ahead to make an appointment is appreciated at 255-0604.
Saugerties library petitions
Candidate petitions for the position of Saugerties Library trustee will be available at the Saugerties Public Library beginning this Wednesday, July 15. The library is located at 91 Washington Avenue. Three five-year terms are up for election on September 15. These seats are currently held by Kenneth Goldberg, John Remington and Beth Murphy
Anyone who is a resident of the Town of Saugerties is eligible to run. Due to the corona virus, signatures are currently not needed on the petitions. The library does need to know who is interested in running, so just show up at the library, pick-up a petition, fill it in, and return it so your name can be added to the election ballot. You must submit a petition by August 17 to be on the September ballot.
Library trustees attend at least one board meeting a month and serve on one or more committees. The role of a library trustee is to set policy for operation of the public library and to oversee the fiscal health of the organization. Residents who would like information about serving on the board of trustees can contact the library director Evelyn Rogers at 246-4317 or by email at director@saugertiespubliclibrary.org.
Stone by stone in Frog Alley
The first of the state-funded Downtown revitalization projects has gotten under way uptown: the restoration of the Louw-Bogardus House at Frog Alley.
The project is to stabilize the remnants of the historic Louw-Bogardus House and create a public open space along Frog Alley next to the ruins, which will serve as a gateway to the Stockade area. The Friends of Historic Kingston will open the site to the public after stabilizing the ruin and adding interpretive signage, paving, lighting and park amenities.
Project updates can be found at https://www.kingston-ny.gov/dri.
Book yard sale July 25 in Saugerties
A big book yard sale will be held on Saturday, July 25 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Reformed Church of Saugerties. Hardcovers, paperbacks, art books, kids’ books and more will be available outside on the lawn of the church. Masks and social distancing are required.
The church is located at 173 Main Street.
Solaris boat tours return
The Hudson River Maritime Museum has announced the return of Solaris public tours starting this Friday, July 17. In compliance with New York State’s reopening strategy, Solaris will operate at a third of capacity (ten guests and two crew members), and require all staff and guests to wear protective face coverings. All surfaces will be disinfected between each trip and those aboard the vessel will maintain strict social distancing practices, including the sectioning off of a “crew only” area. A separate on-shore restroom will be available for passengers before and after the tours.
Tour options include an ecology cruise, where guides will discuss some of the ecology of the Hudson River and the wildlife encountered along the way; an industrial waterfront tour, including the industrial history of the Rondout waterfront; a dual lighthouse tour, which visits (but does not enter) the Rondout and Esopus Meadows lighthouses; and the sunset cruise.
Tours are available on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays in the afternoons and evenings. For information and to book a tour, call 338-0071 between noon and 5 p.m. Solaris is also available for private charters. For information, visit www.hrmm.org/book-a-charter.
New Paltz preservation hearing
New Paltz’s town board will hold a public hearing on adoption of the New Paltz Community Preservation Plan and creation of the accompanying fund on July 16 at 7 p.m. The town is also considering a fund modeled on the Hudson Valley Community Preservation Act, which enables communities to create a dedicated fund for protection of open space, farmland, clean water, habitat and historic properties and features. The fund would be supported by a local real-estate transfer tax paid by buyers of properties in New Paltz.
The public can review the plan, factsheets and the draft laws for the plan and fund at https://www.townofnewpaltz.org/community-preservation-plan-task-force.
The public hearing will be held on Zoom. An invitation to join the public hearing electronically can be found on the town website, on the community preservation webpage. Alternatively, comments can be submitted to the town clerk at clerk@townofnewpaltz.org and will be acknowledged at the hearing as part of the hearing record if submitted by 4 p.m. on July 16.
Broadway streetscape project
Progress is being made on the Broadway streetscape project in Kingston. According to mayor Steve Noble, the first sidewalks were laid this past week along the southbound side of Broadway. Once the sidewalks are complete from St. James Street to Grand Street, trees will be planted along the corridor. Sidewalk construction will then begin on the northbound side of Broadway.
Saugerties club board changes
At its June board meeting, the Saugerties Boys and Girls Club board of directors voted unanimously to accept a new executive board. Outgoing president Doug Burt presented the new executive board: Pam Gardeski, president; Sue Worthman, vice president; Sara Maliha, secretary; and Karen Prince, treasurer.
Gardeski, on the board for three years, works at Astor Services for Children and Families. Worthman, a Saugerties resident for 46 years and a board member for over 20 years, is a retired IBM learning specialist now employed by the Saugerties schools. Maliha, a volunteer at the club for three years, has been selling real estate at CB Village Green Realty almost 15 years. Prince, a native of Saugerties, has been employed at The Reis Group Insurance Agency for 36 years.
In addition to the new executive board, the club welcomes Brian Fay as its newest board member.
Saugerties Artists’ virtual studio tour reinvented
The challenges presented by the coronavirus inspired organizers to reinvent this year’s Saugerties Artists’ Studio Tour. They have taken advantage of technology by using photography, videography and the internet to create a virtual tour. Starting July 15, videos filmed and compiled by videographer Michael Nelson will feature visits to the studios of 22 painters, sculptors, ceramic artists, photographers, print makers, collagists, digital and mixed-media artists who want to tell their story and show their work. A feature-length video that weaves it altogether will be available August 5 on Facebook and the tour’s homepage. Starting on July 15 through August 5, one video a day will be released at www.saugertiesarttour.org and on Facebook @saugertiesartour.
Participating artists in the 2020 virtual tour are: Fay Wood, sculpture; Michael Ciccone, metal and stone sculpture; Tad Richards, drawing; Alex Kveton, steel sculpture; Ana Bergen, photography; Kristin Barton, painting; Tara Bach, painting; Kay Kenny, photography; Yvette Lewis, painting and print making; Ruth Edwy, painting; Iain Machell, drawing; Barbara Bravo, pottery and collage; Lorrie and Michael Wardell, pottery; Ulf Loven, painting; Brian Lynch, painting and print making; Meredith Morabito, clay sculpture; Marjorie Magid, painting; Barbara Tepper Levy, jewelry and collage; Michael Nelson, photography; David Brown, steel sculpture; Bill Reinhart, painting; and, Jennifer Hicks, painting.
Hudson Valley Garlic Festival cancelled
As a result of the current Covid-19 pandemic, the Kiwanis Club of Saugerties has made the decision to cancel the 2020 Hudson Valley Garlic Festival.
“The safety of our community, the festival’s visitors and its vendors is the number-one priority of our club,” said Richard Kappler, chair of the Kiwanis Club of Saugerties. “The current trend of raising infection rates whenever there are large public gatherings and the only safe way to avoid spikes being to maintain social distancing, made planning for a safe festival in 2020 impossible for our group of volunteers. We are heartbroken that our garlic friends and vendors will not be able to celebrate harvest of the stinking rose with us this fall as they have since 1992, but be assured that we will be back in 2021.”
The festival dates in 2021 will be October 2-3.
Congressman Maurice D. Hinchey Catskills Visitor Center reopens
The Catskill Center has announced that the Congressman Maurice D. Hinchey Catskills Visitor Center (CVC) is reopening to provide tourism-related services to the public. The CVC, located in Mount Tremper at 5096 Route 28 is the official visitor center for the Catskill Park and prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, welcomed thousands of visitors annually to the region.
“It was important, in light of the increasing number of visitors to the Catskill Park, that the Catskill Center find a way to reopen the CVC in a way that provided the public with the information that they need to recreate responsibly and that protects our staff,” said Jeff Senterman, executive director of the Catskill Center. “We pride ourselves on protecting the Catskill Park and reopening the CVC was another piece in the challenging puzzle of responding to the COVID-19 pandemic.”
Starting immediately, Catskill Center staff will be available at the CVC with information, maps and all the advice needed to plan a Catskill adventure A walk-up service window at the building is now open Monday through Saturday, from 10 a.m. to 3p.m. Visitors who wear a mask and follow social distancing protocols are now able to get their Catskill questions answered in person, receive tourism literature and make purchases at the CVC’s gift shop. The CVC building, including restrooms inside, are not yet open to the public.
CVC staff is also available to answer questions about the Catskills and the Catskill Park via email at info@catskillcenter.org or phone (845) 688-3369.
“We are excited to once again welcome visitors to the CVC, even if the way that we have to do that has changed due to COVID-19,” said Katie Palm, the director of the CVC. “There’s something special about being able to have a conversation with a visitor and truly make a difference in their visit to the Catskills. We look forward to learning how best to leverage the resources of the CVC through our new walk-up service window.”
In addition to the walk-up service window, 1.5 miles of trails on the CVC’s grounds, including the (roughly) 0.5 mile ADA accessible Interpretive Loop Trail, are open to the public daily. The 80-foot tall Upper Esopus Fire Tower, which was constructed and opened last Fall, will also be open daily to visitors. Due to COVID-19, the cab on top of the Fire Tower will remain closed. Visitors are welcome to climb to the last platform below the cab and enjoy the view from there. Picnic tables are available on site for those who wish to enjoy a picnic lunch.
Join the family! 
