Esopus Town Supervisor Diane McCord and Steve Rosenberg of Scenic
Hudson at the
opening of the preserve on Saturday
PORT EWEN – Over 100 people attended Saturday’s ribbon cutting
event at Hudson High Banks Preserve located at 132 River Road (County
Rt.24), in Ulster Landing, just south of Port Ewen.
A total of 287 acres of wetlands, wildflower meadows, hardwood forest,
and several miles of hiking trails allow visitors to enjoy nature, from
the shores of the Hudson River, almost back to Route 9W, including Esopus
Lake.
The private park is operated by Scenic Hudson. Last year, a similar public
access area was opened nearby, Esopus Meadows Preserve. This town has
the most Hudson River water frontage in New York State.
Until 1963, the High Banks Preserve was a recreational summer camp named
Chi-Wan-Da, which served mostly Jewish children from the New York City
metropolitan area. Former campers were on hand to reminisce.
“High Banks Preserve epitomizes Scenic Hudson’s perseverance
in protecting the Hudson Valley’s scenic and ecological treasures,”
said Steve Rosenberg, senior vice president and executive director of
The Scenic Hudson Land Trust.
The land was acquired in 2012, after almost two decades of effort. “It
was a long time priority because of its incredible natural and scenic
values,” Rosenberg said. A small piece of 9W frontage was deliberately
omitted from the Preserve, to encourage economic development, he added.
Improvements to the parcel include demolition of over 30 dilapidated structures,
park landscaping, trail construction and interpretive signage. “When
we add a park to Scenic Hudson, it’s like adding a new member to
the family,” Rosenberg said, noting that six children we born to
Scenic Hudson staff members during the past work year.
“We would like to encourage tourism; it’s a big part of Esopus,
and this Preserve adds to that,” said Town Supervisor Diane McCord.
She praised Scenic Hudson for providing permanent public access and the
enjoyment of future generations.
Lighthouse Park was created by Scenic Hudson in 1990. Other nearby resources
are Slatesburg Park, Esopus Meadows, Black Creek Forest, and Shaupeneak
Ridge. Rosenberg said future plans are to link them all with a trail connecting
Black Creek through John Burroughs Sanctuary, up to Illinois Mountain
and the rail trail network.
For more info, see http://www.scenichudson.org/parks
