County Comes to Washingtonville for A Schunnemunk Trail Interactive Update

Map of significant places along the Chester-Blooming Grove-Washingtonville-Salisbury Mills Stretch of the New Schunnemunk Rail Trail beginning constructioon.

Representatives from Orange County Government, including  Commissioner of Planning Alan Sorensen, and Commissioner of Orange County Parks, Travis Ewald attended a packed interactive session, at the Washingtonville Village Meeting Hall on Thursday evening (Jan. 15). Residents were eager with questions about the work they will be doing over the next 2 years on this new stretch of the Schunnemunk Rail Trail which spans from the new Schunnemunk Park sites at the Moodna Trestle and Moodna Creek in Salisbury Mills all the way to the soon to become new County Park on Greycourt Road in Chester and Blooming Grove. 

Washingtonville Mayor, Tom DeVinko, chatting with Alan Sorensen (from County file)

Some residents were disappointed that there was not more of a formal vocal presentation, but in some ways this was even better because each individual had as much time to ask whatever questions and make whatever comments they wanted. And Orange County is very fortunate to have Alan Sorensen, one of the most respected Professional Planners in the region, along with Travis Ewald a very technically knowledgeable and extremely dedicated Commissioner of Parks, and both are very friendly and easy to discuss matters like this with. A spokesman was also there representing County Exec. Steve Neuhaus, and there were about 4 members present from the actual engineering company in charge of most of the nuts and bolts of constructing this important project. including their environmental mitigation expert. There were also team members who brought  posters and suggestions for the many residents interested in the routes that will be available for bicycle riding (which there are many of, especially parents concerned about their youngsters who currently take significant risks riding along our busy roads.) Representatives from the County were eager and thorough in their conversations with residents, and many residents placed pop-up notes along the entire map which covered the Village Hall Meeting Room walls, and also in a 2nd box by the engineering reps., listing their "wants" on the trail and a few "please do not's". The other most frequent comments are usually from those who either very vocally do NOT want pavement, and those who do. Pavement is not as foot-friendly or drainage friendly, However it makes the track easier for some bike riders and it more suitable for wheelchairs...thus making the trail much more handicap-accessible. The solution has been for some of the trails to be paved, and some to remain crushed stone.

Perhaps the most important and useful  aspect was a sequenced series of maps showing this entire SRT from the LaGuardia/future new County Park to the Moodna Trestle, copied onto wide paper stretched around the room so the images of the areas surrounding the trail could be blown up.  Finally people could see exactly where the Trail crosses Craigville Road and then Route 94 via a Steel Plate Bridge, then Farmingdale Road, and on to the next crossing at Old Dominion. The Trail then runs through the length of Blooming Grove parallel to Route 94 and to the Washingtonville border until it crosses the Moodna Creek (which back in the day was called “Murderers’ Creek", but thats a whole other story). Just as the Trail gets to Washingtonville High School it crosses Route 94 just east of  Sewell Park. In the woods  behind the School’s Bus parking the Trail meets the Moodna Creek for the 2nd of many more meanders and crossings. Upon crossing the bridge (another of the bridges requiring repair) it then goes to and across Route 208 and then follows the Creek and runs parallel to Route 94 all the way to Orrs Mill and the Moodna Trestle. From there it connects with the 2 Northern major Trail Access Points, the Moodna Creek Trailhead, and the Schunnemunk Meadows Trail head on Otterkill Rd. (both of which offer numerous loops for short, medium and longer hikes). 

As the Trail proceeds Northeast the map along the wall shows clearly how the Moodna meanders between the trail and Route 94, and how close it is to each of the neighborhoods along the highway. With the only access points currently being near the Village Center at Route 208 and behind the main Fulton Square building, and a current opening adjacent to the rear of May’s Field (where residents go fur short hikes, until they reach the next bridge… also needing repair),  the chances are that the top interest of the public is going to be access points, and with parking availability near those places a close second priority. This will pose a significant challenge to both the engineers, village authorities and businesses (soas to make the Trail accessible without detracting from its

wild and natural appearance). So far, depending on how close it is to the nearest bridge, there are already several requests for a path at Weirs Ice Cream, possibly the most popular place in the area. Weirs is already adjacent to the Creek, but the question is whether it is the Weirs owner or someone else who owns the property where the path would meet the bridge, and from the particular photo showing the Weirs area it's difficult to tell how far off the nearest bridge is.  Another question by a resident is whether there will be a Porta-Potty or a couple of them along the route. I note that there is already one at the main Trestle Schunnemunk Park Trailhead.

From the rear entrance of the LaGuardia property and behind Stone House Farm, the Trail emerges at Craigville Road and proceeds through the woods between Hardscrabble Rd. and Route 94 where it crosses the Steel Plate Bridge in the below picture.

After leaving the County Park/LaGuardia and crossing Craigville Rd., this Steel Plate Bridge is what hikers will used (when repaired) to cross Route 94. Once across Route 94 the Trail continues on that side of the highway all the way to Washingtonville High School.

The next main crossing of the Trail is Farmingdale Rd., a generally quiet sparcely populated area.

Next crossings are Old Dominion Rd. and Tuthill Rd., both in quiet areas with open space.

As the Trail approaches the Washingtonville Village Center, the Trail crosses Route 94 at the High School, and a bridge where the Moodna meanders South before it arrives at Route 208/South Street.

The long Trail stretch between the Village, allong the Moodna Creek and eventually to Orrs Mill Rd., to the Moodna Trestle and existing Trailheads on Otterkill Rd.

These maps are incredibly helpful, both for future planning and for understanding the entire layout now. I was thrilled when I asked the engineers if they thought they could get the entire strip online and the response was

"Sure, we can make it scrollable".

Clearly there is a tremendous amount of work that the County and its engineering crew need to do before this trail is a safe inviting adventure. But they clearly know how to do the job since they have done hundreds of miles

of the other trail paths in the area. County officials are open to the public's

concern, so call either the County Executive, Steve Neuhaus Office or Planning Commissioner Alan Sorensen's office and they will be glad to address your concerns.

Representing the Orange County Courier Journal, and 2 other publications that allowed me to promote the potential for this Trail, I made a specific effort to to help grow the businesses along its course during the past approximately 15 years. Now, with the County’s permission, I have copied their main Trail map and began marking my draft version for will be able to be used as one of several Hikers’ Maps. This beginning draft version that the County will help improve and digitize shows some of the significant local businesses eager to support supplies, good food, events and interesting places along the way that visitors can visit when they come to hike, and will eventually be "clickable" to websites of the top restaurant and other businesses and cultural stops along the way. Surely the hikers will be hungry after hiking up to 10 miles (unless they pick up some take-out before they begin). Alan Sorensen has been very supportive and eager to help the local residents in the participation process and this will ultimately lead to benefits for our local businesses, as well as the County's overall success for their Trail vision.

There will also be a growing venue (already started) of Trail Art to take home or buy online.  The Hope is that the finished version of my new Trails Website ........(still working on the name) will have a growing number of clickable links to these currently most trail-affiliated businesses and help make hikers and other visitors’ adventures even easier and more fun.

The top "Red Star'" sites, (left to right) which are either right adjacent to or in view of the Trail include: Orange County's 'in process' new County Park, Old Dominion Bed and Breakfast, Sewell Park, Amada’s Mexican Restaurant, Guilty Pleasures Cheesecakes Cafe, Trestle Valley Equestrian Center and the Moodna Trestle. Weirs Ice Cream may qualify as well, depending on what the path is to the Moodna and nearest Bridge...and who owns the property along the path.

A few other of “Everyone’s favorite places in the Ville" (like the Brotherhood Winery, Weirs Ice Cream (if its not directly accessible), Firefighters Memorial Park, L.Vern Allen Park,  Lasser Park and and what soon may be a new favorite place to visit -Historic Lasser Farm .. (a brand new historic homestead the Town of Blooming Grove recently purchased and is developing as a place to store and share Blooming Grove’s important history. First built in 1840, by  Lasser Family ancestors, the family is still here in the area and hoping to encourages some related events.   (who knows? Croquet?, Jam-making? Girl and Boy Scout Treasure-hunting for historic items with a metal detector? Historic re-enactments?)... Hmmm, one can dream.

On the map itself the sites within view of the Trail will have large red stars. The other places near but not at the trail have smaller blue stars. There is a Legend at the bottom right of the map.

These important trail activities, along with stories and images supplied by Schunnemunk Rail Trail hikers will be promoted in the Courier Journal’s new sister publication along with history about the Trail, Maps and Links to other trail groups in the area. AND prizes for the best story and/or environmental image of the month.

Some of our area’s stunning landscape and animal life photography will also be shown on the website and for sale. First will come unframed and framed prints, some journals with hiking/environmental/animal- themed covers for hikers to jot down their adventure notes, and then pretty, and fun Tee Shirts will be coming this Spring. Other country and hiking clothing with local designs are possible but still in the 'dreamworks' phase.

Meanwhile, stay tuned at the orange County Courier Journal for more Schunnemunk Trail and new website updates! If you have a special interest in participating by being a member of a new Blooming Grove Art Collective please contact me at ejreporter@gmail.com with Schunnemunk Environmental Art (or SRT) in the subject. This art will be juried by a small Board of Directors and will be primarily environmental/landscape/animals flowers and birds of the Valley. There may be an occasional show of some spectacular images taken at local events during the past 3 years and depending on the number of members the

art on sale at events may be rotated.