WAPPINGERS FALLS – The half-mile Woodland Trail has been completely restored at Stony Kill Farm Environmental Education Center in Wappingers Falls.
The trail was destroyed by a microburst in May 2018 and repaired and improved thanks to a collaborative effort to make the trail more accessible to people of all abilities.
“The restored Woodland Trail is proof of New York State’s sustained commitment to ensuring the outdoors are open for everyone,” DEC Commissioner Basil Seggos said. “The hard work of the Excelsior Conservation Corps and our regional operations staff made this trail accessible to people of all abilities, and I expect many visitors to enjoy it in the years to come. I commend the young people who restored this trail. They performed a meaningful public service and helped to safeguard the State’s natural resources and bolster its economic well-being.”
The Woodland Trail was wheelchair accessible prior to a microburst that blew down trees and made the trail unusable. DEC Operations staff helped clear some of the trees, but the trail was no longer safe for those in a wheelchair or with limited mobility. DEC supplied the materials, equipment, staff guidance, and reviews by DEC’s Accessibility Coordinator needed to complete the project, and the Excelsior Conservation Corps spent the past summer restoring the trail to meet Americans with Disabilities Act standards.
Located off the parking lot next to the Manor House, the trail is packed stone dust with an open area for lessons.
