Commissioner of Planning Alan Sorensen Presents Details of New Schunnemunk Trail System & Park

The Village of Washingtonville was offered quite a treat on (Mon. 8/19) in the form of about an hour's presentation detailing how and where the County Trail System and Camp LaGuardia conversion to a new County Park are becoming a multi-year project . Planner and Commissionr Alan Sorensen, AICP is a long-standing and highly respected green planner, not only with singularly impressive credentials, but also a list of lauded green projects throughout the Mid-Hudson Region. In fact, he developed a company called "Planet Green" that revitalized numerous villages and town centers in the Hudson Valley. In 2015 he guided the Chester Comprehensive Plan Committee through a lengthy process of updates. Now one of his top projects is the work beginning on the Schunnemunk and Heritage Trails, and the former Camp LaGuardia transition into a County Park. Sorensen has worked hard with County Executive Steve Neuhaus, Blooming Grove Supervisor Rob Jeroloman, Village of Washingtonville Mayor Tom Devinko along with both municipalities' councilmembers and trustees to move the dream of this project forward to a point that it is finally becoming a reality. Sorensen said they have demolished unused and rundown buildings at the LaGuardia site/future Park to be (as yet unnamed) and even have the beginning drawings for the future athletic fields near the front of the property.

Orange County Commissioner of Planning, Alan Sorensen, pointing at the drawing ofthe future County Park athletic fields

Schunnemunk Eastern Branch through Blooming Grove, Village of Washingtonville to Salisbury Mills

This is the first drawing we have seen of the plans for the new County Park that is in the very early stages of design and grounds preparation. The two brown curved sections marked with red dotted lines are the first of athletic fields that will be in the new Park.

Blooming Grove Councilwoman Johanna Kiernan walking the Schunnemunk Trail in Spring of 2023 behind Fulton Square and Mays Field, and taking a look at the condition of the bridge

Bridge just north of the Village of Walshingtonville that we took a look at in March of '23 is one of a series thatwill be having reconstruction during Phase Two which begins next Spring

Digital clear copies are on the way, but above are some quick shots from the Powerpoint Presentation on Monday eveningt. The meeting was very well attended and included some cogent questions and comments. My favorite was by Blooming Grove Councilwoman Johanna Kiernan's, who suggested that wildflowers could be planted along certain sections. Sorensen responded that with some areas of the trail being 40 and 50 feet wide not only was that a good idea, but they are also considering some art sculptures placed here and there. And so, with the County's Commissioner of Planning just about as excited about theis project as residents are, here are some of the major takeaways from his presentation.

1. Sorensen said he is very impressed with the steel bridges along the entire trail from Middletown where it's the Heritage Trail, to the LaGuardia site, and the Schunnemunk Trail from there to the Moodna Trestle. Admiring the structures he said that the numerous bridge structures' architecture varies from one to another, and that they will do their best to respect each one's tyle as much as possible (within the confines of safety). Similarly in areas where footing is good they will do minimal disturbance.

   
   

2. In areas of high traffic they plan to widen the trails, to at least doule width, to give adequate space for both bike riding and pedestrians.

3. One of the goals of the project is to facilitate a transition to more commuter transportation links in places like the Washingtonville Veterans Square where bike riders could ride and parke at Coach USA bus tops and in Salisbury Mills where there is an active train station.

4. Yet another link is in a future Heritage Trail link South to New Jersey and another of the Schunnemjunk Trail from Cornwall to the City of Newburgh. That's in addition to the new land obtained by the Land Trust in Woodbury that will connect with the Highlands Trail and at that point in time we all, including Blooming Grove and Washingonville, be part of the famed Appalachian Trail.

5. Yes, there will be spans during winter for ski walking, also known as Nordic Walking, trekking and at distances cross-country skiing.

6. Jean Galli, who's house is adjacent to the SCH Tr as it enters the village has been vry active in developing the new Sewell Park where there is open space and a bridge connectiong to where the trail picks up across Rt. 208 , benind Fulton Square and Mays Field. She recommended further developing the space between Sewell Park, the bridge behind it and Route 208 where t;he new trail crosses the highway and continues behind Fulton Square and Mays Field.

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Check back with the Courier Journal soon!!! The Schunnemunk Trail as it goes through the new County Park at the former LaGuardia site, as it continues all the way through the Town iof Blooming Grove and the Village of Washingtonville, to Salisbury Mills and the Moodna Trestle, is getting its own website, RIGHT HERE, with details of its continuing building, activities and stories by those who Travel on the Schunnemunk.

The Courier Journal appreciates and thanks our top loyal Business Sponsors:

Charles Quick Insurance Agency, The Washingtonville Event Committee, Shampoochie Salon, Jason Siruchek of Medicare Advantage, Printing, Trophies and More, SUNY Cultural Affairs, the Village of Washingtonville, the Washingtonville Pharmacy, and Metro Sound Pros.