CORRECTION: These fields are NOT part of the former LaGuardia, which is adjacent property. I had asked confirmation from an officials and county spokesperson, and there was apparently a miscommunication. The LaGuardia property begins at the far horizon of these fields.
The good news is that the remainder of the story is fortunately entirely correct, i.e. that the county is alloting $5MILLION toward the start of work on the 258-acre new county park on the former Camp LaGuardia site which is adjacent to the fields shown above, (which I am told is being prepared for an unrelated solar project.). The new County Park is expected to be similar to Thomas Bull Memorial Park in Montgomery.
Just how excited are the communities about this future Park? Nearly 1,000 readers already dove into the news on this site.
By Edie Johnson
Blooming Grove/Chester - After chasing rumors for 2 months, some extremely good news is out from County Exec Steve Neuhaus' office. Orange County has begun clearing up the overgrown parts of the LaGuardia property, which is a "Historic Landmark", and is budgeting`$5 M in an important new step to 'develop' it as a "Passive Park".
The first sign that things were about to move forward was when a brightly colored new welcome shed replaced the former black and white prison look some months ago.
New Welcome Shed at LaGuardia Main Entrance
The steps forward at this time may seem relatively small, but locals see any changes as Progress with a capital "P", and that can be measured by the community dialogue heard during Washingtonville's Comprehensive Plan Public Session, earlier this month, where there was a lot of chit-chat about both the Heritage and Schunnemunk Trails that meet and go north from the site's northern edge.
Barracks and other storage buildings at the rear of the property near White Tail Run in Blooming Grove, have been demolished, many of them after graffiti, abandoned building homeless and history buffs caused all kinds of mischief, including a fire earlier this year. But many want to preserve the 2 main buildings.
The LaGuardia two main buildings, which have some historic significance, will likely have additional construction review to make a final determination of whether they stay or go.
From "Greycourt", a Women's Penitentiary in 1918 which developed into a Women's Farm Colony, to a Homeless Shelter for Men who were outsourced from NYC with 1001 beds, to purchase in 2007 because NYC was determined to not be abiding by the agreement to remove the felony criminals lying drunk along the roadside and harrassing Heritage Trail passers by. Then there was a grand motion by developer Joel Mounty to build between 600 and 800 affordable housing units and 250,000 sq. ft. of commercial space that "would" bring tax revenue for Chester and Blooming Grove. Mounty, however, crossed a red line in the view both of the communities when he changed to a request, demanding open zoning that would essentially allow him to cut the number of commercial units (the "rich in tax revenue" portion) depending on what offers they got. Chester and Blooming Grove refused the deal and the County purchased the site from New York City for about $9M. Other developers offered the County projects during the following years, but none gave offers that approached the property's value.
For several years now Steve Neuhaus and legislative lawmakers have discussed the option that many residents have wanted, and about a year ago the option of a new County Park was presented. Finally, the property with its potential and beautiful views will apparently soon say "Goodbye" to its lurid past. Blooming Grove and Chester will soon see a much happier future for the LaGuardia property, which will join the Heritage Trail into the new Schunnemunk Rail Trail at the border of Chester and Blooming Grove, and continue all the way through historic Washingtonville and north to the famed Salisbury Mills "Moodna Trestle". With The Open Space Institute having purchased additional land in January, that adds 169 Northern Ventures acres to the Eastern branch of the Schunnemunk Rail Trail and 600-mile Highlands Trail Hikers and open space lovers will have multiple opportunities to enjoy both the local branches, and if they wanted to they could continue all the way from the Heritage Trail in Middletown to Chester, continue on the SRT in Chester and Blooming Grove, Washingtonville, Salisbury Mills to the Trestle, up Schunnemunk Ridge and Black Rock Forest to the Highlands Trail and on down the Appalachian Trail (where it meets with the Highlands Trail), and continues all the way South to Georgia or North to Maine. Like the Heritage Trail that goes westward, this can support numerous venues along the way.
Orange County Legislature has already declared it's onboard with the New County Park Plan.
(History buffs can see a more detailed LaGuardia century-long description at
That fence is not part of Camp LaGuardia. That is the fence for the new solar farm that is being built on Johnson farmland.