New York State Parks has implemented a fee based system of $5 for 4 hours for visitors choosing to park in the Walkway Over the Hudson State Historic Park's lots in the City of Poughkeepsie and the Town of Lloyd. It is important to note that most New York State Parks charge for parking. It is important to note that most New York State Parks charge for parking.

While our nonprofit organization does not manage the WOTH State Historic Park, we understand the reasons behind NYS Parks' difficult decision to begin charging a fee for parking at lots under its control. NYS Parks needed to implement fees in order to ensure that the Walkway could remain open in the face of the ongoing recession we all face together.

The Walkway Over the Hudson State Historic Park narrowly avoided a plan to close the park 4 months a year and two days a week. We feel strongly that the parking fee is preferable to the option of closure. We much prefer that the Walkway be kept open year round, seven days a week. The funds generated from the parking fees go back to operating and maintaining the state park. 

All members of the public can purchase an "Empire Pass" for $65 which allows FREE parking for the year at ALL STATE Parks. ($65 equates to $1.25/week or $.18 daily.) This will be an excellent choice for Walkway frequent users. It should be noted that these passes do NOT guarantee a parking spot. For more information please go to: http://www.nysparks.com/admission/empire-passport/default.aspx

New York residents with permanent qualifying disabilities may apply for an Access Pass. The information is on the State Parks website. The program requires medical certification and permits residents of New York State with permanent disabilities, as defined in the application, free use of the parks, historic sites, and recreational facilities operated by the New York State Office of Parks. Find more information here: http://www.nysparks.com/admission/access-pass/default.aspx

Further, there are many options for free parking in Poughkeepsie and Highland within walking distance of the Walkway. These include Pulaski Park on Washington Street just north of the Walkway, on Brookside and Taylor streets and at the former Star diner lot on Parker Ave east of the Walkway. On the Highland side, all of Havilland road remains free parking. In mid-July stairs will be opening on Washington Street in the City of Poughkeepsie. This new access point for public use will allow for a bigger range of FREE on-street and municipal parking options. The park itself remains a fabulous free resource for the public and we are committed to maintaining that service.

Walkway Over the Hudson celebrates the recent press release (see below) issued by the Town of Lloyd regarding the expansion of the Hudson Valley Rail Trail, which is scheduled to connect to the Walkway Over the Hudson Historic State Park in October of this year!  The Walkway Friends feel strongly that the long term success of the entire trail system involves the link with rail trails on both sides of the Walkway, and we support the efforts of both the Town of Lloyd and the City of Poughkeepsie in reaching this goal.

"Town of Lloyd, Press Release
Ground Breaking Ceremony
Hudson Valley Rail Trail East Expansion in Highland

HIGHLAND: The Hudson Valley Rail Trail is expanding eastward as Phase II of the Hudson Valley Rail Trail project is underway. An additional 1.3 miles of the magnificent Hudson Valley Rail Trail will extend from the existing Rail Trail at Commercial Avenue to connect to the Walkway Over the Hudson
State Historic Park on Haviland Road in Highland.

By Mid-October 2010 the Hudson Valley Rail Trail, a paved 12 foot wide Class A trail, will extend
approximately four miles from the Tony Williams Park, located on Riverside Road, to connect to Walkway Over the Hudson State Historic Park on Haviland Road where walkers and cyclists can
continue their journey eastward into the City of Poughkeepsie.

A Ground Breaking Ceremony is scheduled for Tuesday, May 4, 2010, at 3:00 pm. The ceremony will take place at the entrance of the Hudson Valley Rail Trail where the trail connects to the Walkway Over the Hudson - just off Haviland Road in Highland."

It is understandable and even laudable for New York State officials to explore every avenue in order to close the budget gap presented by the economic crisis currently confronting our state and nation. However, the proposal recently advanced by the New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation to drastically cut services at some of the state's most popular parks is shortsighted and foolish.

It amounts to cutting one of the state's only remaining economic development draws at a time when the state desperately needs the dollars that tourism brings. To save what amounts to a few pennies relative to the rest of New York's enormous budget, the State would jeopardize millions in tourism revenue.

In particular, the proposal calls for the seasonal closure of the Walkway Over the Hudson State Historic Park from December through March and closing the park two days each week the rest of the year. Since the Walkway opened in October, 2009, it has drawn an estimated 450,000 visitors, far exceeding original visitation projections and already making the Walkway the third most popular park in the state.

A significant portion of those visitors --perhaps as many a third--are tourists bringing new dollars into the Hudson Valley. That money is being spent in local restaurants, hotels, sports retailers, and clothing shops.  It is supporting businesses and helping to keep Hudson Valley residents employed. In the process, the money spent here is generating new tax revenue for both local municipalities and New York State.

Just last weekend (March 6 and 7) the Walkway was filled each day with several thousand walkers, runners, and cyclists enjoying the early spring weather. The crowds represented a refreshing cross section of our population, all happily pursuing healthy recreational activities together without rancor or competition. In short, the Walkway was providing thousands of New Yorkers with a healthy alternative that provides innumerable benefits and virtually no downside.

Just six months after investing nearly $20 million to help build the Walkway, it makes no sense for the State to withdraw administrative support and jeopardize the wonderful momentum that's been established. People are visiting the Walkway in droves, even during the winter months, because it has clearly captivated the public consciousness. Closing the Walkway now, even for part of the time, is penny wise but pound foolish. More creative solutions can and should be explored before taking this drastic and unwarranted step.

We are asking Walkway's supporters to rally on its behalf before the State makes a terrible mistake that could cause irreparable harm to the park's future and the region's already struggling economy. Please call or write your state representatives to register your support for keeping the Walkway open year around and seven days a week. It would be a monumental failure to close a proven world class attraction like the Walkway after we have come so very far to open it.

Please help us by joining the campaign to Keep the Walkway Open. Go to our Facebook page: KeepWalkwayStateParkOpen, join as a fan, and then check out ways to tell the New York State that this would be a very bad idea. With your help we can Keep the Walkway Open!  

Related Links:

 

The Walkway Over the Hudson State Historic Park triumphantly opened to the public on Oct. 3, 2009, marking the successful transformation of the historic Poughkeepsie-Highland Railroad Bridge into a new 1.25-mile linear park in the sky.

People are now streaming onto the bridge daily from entranceways located in the City of Poughkeepsie and the Town of Lloyd to enjoy the inspirational vistas from 212 feet above the Hudson River. But the work of the grassroots nonprofit organization, Walkway Over the Hudson, is not over. Its mission has simply changed and now begun anew.

Although the Walkway is now operated by the New York State Office of Parks, Recreation, and Historic Preservation, the nonprofit group Walkway Over the Hudson continues as a "Friends of the Walkway" organization, devoted to raising funds and developing programming to make the Walkway a vital part of the Hudson Valley community. Specifically, the  Walkway  organization is working hand-in-hand with New York State Parks on projects such as providing the amenities needed to appropriately furnish the park, (including benches, signage, shade structures, bicycle facilities, and landscaping) and partnering with all types of walking, hiking, running, bicycling and other sporting organizations to maintain an active schedule of events.

The Friends of the Walkway group is also working with local municipalities, businesses, nonprofits, and other groups to encourage the fullest possible public use of the park by organizing events, arranging public transportation, conducting public outreach, and seeking funding for long term capital needs.

Consider donating or becoming a part of this dynamic organization. For more information please visit the Donate Here page on this website.