Hungry goats are a key part of the landscaping around the Walkway over the Hudson

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POUGHKEEPSIE – It has long been a widespread practice in Europe.  During the depression, it worked in maintaining the Whitehouse grounds. 
The idea is a relatively simple one: instead of using people with lawnmowers, brush cutters and weed whackers, to maintain the grounds under the Walkway Over the Hudson, use environmentally friendly goats. 
A dozen goats are on the job at three locations under the Poughkeepsie
side of the Walkway.  Each goat eats about a quarter of its body
weight per day.  The goats also free up Bridge Authority people to
work elsewhere. 

L-R: Bridge Authority Chairman Richard Gerentine, Ruggiero,
Petsas, Cihaneck

Goats at work in one of the two enclosed areas under
the Walkway

Poughkeepsie Common Council Chairman Christopher Petsas is happy to have the goats in his home First Ward.
“It’s been very exciting for our neighborhood, I have to say,” said Petsas.  “As you can see, people are passing by all the time, kids are passing by, they love the goats.  It’s a win-win situation.  No pesticides have been used.  The goats get fed.  The property gets well-maintained and again I thank you guys for thinking outside the box, putting this in the First Ward. It’s been exciting.  It’s worked here well.”
Goats have been used elsewhere in the region, including under the Verrazano Narrows Bridge, and it was Green Goats, based in Rhinebeck, that supplied the goats there. 
Green Goats rebounded from a tragedy last winter, when a barn fire killed about 100 goats.  Green Goats owners Ann and Larry Cihanek said with an outpouring of community response, they were back in business by May. 
New York Bridge Authority Executive Director Joseph Ruggiero said using the dozen Green Goats is proving to be a money-saver.
“They’re saving the Bridge Authority about 50 percent of the cost it would have cost us to man this eight hour a day with a staff,” Ruggiero said. 
Last year, using people, the cost was $18,000 for maintenance.  Using goats brings this down to the $10,000 cost of the contract with Green Goats.   
Ruggiero said, we presume in jest, the goats are talking about joining a union.   




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