KINGSTON – Mayor Steven Noble announced that construction has begun for the 1.3-mile section of the Empire State Trail that travels through the City of Kingston and the Town of Ulster. The trail stretches from the Hutton Brickyards property on North Street through Scenic Hudson’s Quarry Waters Park to John Street in the Town of Ulster. This northern section will be called the Hudson River Brickyard Trail and will continue across the Kingston-Rhinecliff Bridge before heading north to Albany and beyond. Funding for this project comes from a grant from the Department of State, as well as the City of Kingston, NYS Hudson River Valley Greenway, Town of Ulster, and Scenic Hudson.
Since spring, NYDOT has been working steadily on the southern section of the Empire State Trail in Kingston, which connects from the Wallkill Valley Rail Trail to Route 32 and up Greenkill Avenue. The two local sections will connect through a series of roadway bike lanes and the Kingston Point Rail Trail. The southern portion of the trail is funded by the NYS Department of Transportation. The Hudson River Brickyard Trail section is expected to be completed by December 2020.
The Empire State Trail is projected to be the largest multi-use trail in the nation. The network will contain 750 miles of pathways for walking, hiking, and bicycling along scenic vistas and through historic communities.
“The Empire State Trail is an immensely ambitious project, that will be hugely beneficial to everyone in our city,” said Mayor Noble. “We are so grateful to Governor Cuomo for seeing the potential in Kingston and Ulster to bring the Empire State Trail though our area. The Hudson River Brickyard Trail is truly some of the most beautiful scenery, which will now be available for everyone to enjoy. We have recently seen just how important trails are to the health and well-being of a community, when, at the height of the pandemic, one of the only safe respites were our parks and trails. I have no doubt that local businesses will also see great benefit from the trail, which will bring visitors from across the state right through the heart of our City.”
“One of the most appealing characteristics of the City of Kingston is the concentration and proximity to community amenities, such as parks, historic resources, and arts and cultural venues and this trail adds great outdoors benefits to all residents,” said Secretary of State Rossana Rosado. “Under Governor Cuomo’s leadership, the construction of the Empire State Trail through the Department of State’s Local Waterfront Revitalization Program will help communities reach a great tourism potential as a must destination that will bring more families and visitors to the Hudson Valley region.”
“The start of construction of this remarkable stretch of Governor Cuomo’s Empire State Trail marks an epic moment for Kingston and the region. Much as the Erie Canal did 195 years ago—and just as visionary—the trail will link Kingston with communities across New York. It will become a critical piece of the region’s expanding rail-trail network, attracting new visitors to the city’s shops, restaurants and cultural treasures. Scenic Hudson is especially grateful to Mayor Noble and the Kingston city staff, the town of Ulster, and New York State for their collaboration to make the project a reality. Its route through our Quarry Waters property will uniquely connect visitors with more than a mile of Hudson River waterfront,” said Steve Rosenberg, Executive Director, Scenic Hudson Land Trust.
