Action Plan
ACTION PLAN for WAPPINGER GREENWAY TRAIL
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INTRODUCTION
This Action Plan is a structured inventory of existing conditions along the proposed route and
the corresponding actions and/or resources needed to bring those conditions in line with the vision
of the completed trail. This document will serve as an interim road map for focusing local efforts
toward implementation.
MISSION
The mission of the Wappinger Greenway Trail Committee is to develop a key segment of the
Hudson River Greenway Trail System linking the resources of the Village ofWappingers Falls
with those of the adjacent communities of the Towns of Wappinger and Poughkeepsie, with a
focus on the Wappinger Creek and the Hudson River. A key element of the trail vision is to
develop sites in the village center ofWappingers Falls for users of the trail, both tourists and
community residents, to enjoy views of the Wappinger Creek and its magnificent natural falls. The
trail will provide public access and local recreational opportunities, spur economic development
and tourism, protect natural and cultural resources and provide opportunities for historic and
natural interpretation of the historic uses of the falls' power and the ecological significance of the
Wappinger Creek. Establishment of this route will create opportunities for local residents
(especially those older and younger residents who do not have access to cars) to walk to
significant community destinations along a scenically inspiring path.
TRAIL ALIGNMENT CORRIDORS
The Wappinger Greenway Trail is a 7.5 mile figure 8 loop of on- and off-road trails encircling
the lower Wappinger Creek and the Wappinger Lake. It was designed based on the initial input
from Frances Reese, a preeminent environmental advocate. The trail will link historic, cultural,
natural and economic resources ofIocal and regional significance, and it will be a key segment in
the Hudson River Valley Greenway System. This unique trail ties together village, town and
county parks; the Central Business District of the Village ofWappingers Falls, the Wappinger
Historic District (on State and National Registers), the Grinnell Public Library, County Players
Community Theater, the Wappinger Creek (Dutchess County's major Hudson River tributary),
and Wappinger FaIls; Reese Audubon Nature Preserve, and even a 19th century industrial facility
that has undergone adaptive reuse (Market Street Industrial Park). The Metro North trail station
in New Hamburgh is one block from the proposed trail. The on-road parts of the trail include:
New Iy ork State Routes 9 and 9D (part of Route 9D is also East and West Main Street and South
Avenue in the Village ofWapppingers Falls).
The following are the destination nodes in the trail. Each park indicates its location within the
trail segments and municipal ownership of the park.
1. Galucci Park - segment 3; Village Park
2. Reese Audubon Sanctuary - segments 8 and 9; County Park
3. Reese Park - segments 12, 13 and 14; Town of Wappinger Park
4. Mesier Park - segments 16 and 17; Village Park
5. FaIls View Park - overlooking the gorge (trail across gorge in segment 4); Village Park
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ACTION PLAN for WAPPINGER GREENWAY TRAIL
6. Grinnell Library - segments 16 and 17
7. Central Business District of the Village ofWappingers Falls - the businesses between
segments 3 and segment 17
8. Market Street Industrial Park - segments 5,6 and 12.
Some connections between the on- and off-road parts of the trail are in the following ball
fields. Three of these fields are in the Village ofWappingers Falls while one is in the Town of
Poughkeepsie.
1. Canale Field - segments 1 and 2; Village field
2. Veteran's Field - segments 18 and 19; Village field
3. Temple Field - segment 12; Village field
4. New Hamburgh - segments 9 and 10; Town of Poughkeepsie field
SEGMENTS
The trail itself is broken into the following segments. Each segment indicates whether it is an
on-road segment or an off-road segment.
1. Route 9 West to Canale Field through the Wappingers Rural Cemetery around Wappingers
Lake (off-road)
2. Canale Field South to Route 9D/West Main Street in Wappingers Falls (off-road)
3. West Main Street in Wappingers Falls South to Givens Avenue (on-road)
4. Givens Avenue South to the Market Street Industrial Park (off-road)
5. Market Street Industrial Park (off-road)
6. Market Street Industrial Park North and West to Scenic Hudson property
(Scheinberg/Lathrop ) (off-road)
7. Scenic Hudson property (off-road)
8. Reese Audubon Sanctuary (off-road)
9. Reese Audubon Sanctuary North to New Hamburgh Ball Field (off-road)
10. New Hamburgh Ball Field West to Main Street and Front Street, New Hamburgh (on-road)
11. Front Street South to Creek Road over the Wappinger Creek Bridge (on-road)
12. Creek Road East to Market Street Industrial Park passing Reese Park (on-road)
13. Reese Park (off-road)
14. Reese Park East to Route 9D/South Avenue in Wappingers Falls (off-road)
15. South Avenue North to the Village Hall (on-road)
16. South Ave.nue West along the Mesier Park to Spring Street (on-road)
17. Spring Street to Wappingers Lake (on-road)
18. Spring Street to Veteran's Park Field (off-road)
19. Veteran's Park Field East to Liss Road (off-road)
20. Liss Road East to Route 9 around Wappingers Lake (on-road)
21. Route 9 Pedestrian Bridge connecting North and South sides ofWappingers Lake (on-road)
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ACTION PLAN for WAPPINGER GREENWAY TRAIL
SEGMENT CONDITIONS
SEGMENT #1: Route 9 West to Canale Field through the Wappingers Rural Cemetery
around Wappingers Lake
. Physical Characteristics: trail along ridge line; view ofthe Wappinger lake
· Parcel Continuity: ?
. Landscape/Landform Context:
· Neighborhood(s): N/A
. Roadway Type(s): N/A
. Easement(s) and/or Agreement(s): ?
· Plan Conditions: done
· Design Conditions: done
. Physical Conditions: off-road trail; needs some work
· Action Items:
1. Trail needs to be marked
2. Trail needs minor leveling above the fence
3. Entrance sign at beginning of trail from Canale Field
4. Entrance sign at Route 9
SEGMENT #2: Canale Field South to Route 9D/West Main Street in Wappingers Falls
. Physical Characteristics: Village ball field
· Par~el Continuity: Village owned
. Landscape/Landform Context: open flat area
· Neighborhood(s): N/A
· Roadway Type(s): N/A
. Easement(s) and/or Agreement(s): N/A
· Plan Conditions: done
· Design Conditions: done
. Physical Conditions: on-road trail; sidewalks; done
· Action Items:
1. Eintrance sign at Thornton's gas station
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ACTION PLAN for WAPPINGER GREENWAY TRAIL
SEGMENT #3: West Main Street in Wappingers Falls South to Givens Avenue
. Physical Characteristics: Village streets with houses close to sidewalk
. Parcel Continuity: Village owned street; Village owned land for Galucci park
. LandscapelLandform Context: hilly and partially beside falls
. Neighborhood(s): mixed use Village neighborhoods
. Roadway Type(s): State road and Village street
. Easement(s) and/or Agreement(s):
. Plan Conditions: park planning to do
. Design Conditions: park design to do
. Physical Conditions: on-road trail; sidewalks; park to be done
. Action Items:
1. Plan and implement Galucci Park.
2. Road needs to be marked
3. Entrance sign at corner of West Main Street and Givens Avenue
4. Entrance sign at beginning of trail from Givens Avenue
SEGMENT #4: Givens Avenue South to the Market Street Industrial Park
. Physical Characteristics: entrance in front of apartment house and then tree covered hilly
trail with asphalt covering (This used to be the path that some Village residents use to go to
work industrial facility in the 19th Century.)
. Parcel Continuity: Village ownedlMarket Street Industrial Park owned?
. LandscapelLandform Context: wooded trail
. Neighborhood(s): N/A
. Roadway Type(s): N/A
. Easement(s) and/or Agreement(s): ?
. Plan Conditions: done
. Design Conditions: done
. Physical Conditions: off-road trail needs work
· Action Items:
1. Trail needs to be marked
2. Trail needs to be maintained
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ACTION PLAN for WAPPINGER GREENWAY TRAIL
SEGMENT #5: Market Street Industrial Park
. Physical Characteristics: 19th century Industrial facility currently being used by many small
businesses
. Parcel Continuity: Privately owned by Fedigan Brothers (Market Street Industrial Park)
. LandscapelLandform Context: 19th Century industrial facility that has undergone adaptive
reuse
. Neighborhood(s): industrial park
. Roadway Type(s): gravel roads
. Easement(s) and/or Agreement(s): ?
. Plan Conditions: done
. Design Conditions: done
. Physical Conditions: good for vehicle access including new industrial bridge over Wappinger
Creek; grant moneys have been obtained and used to construct a new bridge over the creek.
· Action Items:
1. Trail needs to be marked inside the park
2. Trail entrance to off-road Scenic Hudson property needs to be marked
3. Trail entrance to off-road Givens Avenue trail needs to be marked
SEGMENT #6: Market Street Industrial Park North and West to Scenic Hudson property
(ScheinberglLathrop)
. Physical Characteristics: steep wooded slopes
. Parcel Continuity: Market Street Industrial Park/Scenic Hudson
. LandscapelLandform Context: very steep wooded slopes overlooking the creek
· Neighborhood(s): N/A
. Roadway Type(s): N/A
. Easement(s) and/or Agreement(s): ?
. Plan Conditions: needs to be done
. Design Conditions: needs to be done
. Physical Conditions: ?
· Action Items:
1. Engineering plan for trail design on steep slopes
2. Trail needs to be marked
SEGMENT #7: Scenic Hudson property
. Physical Characteristics: wooded area
. Parcel Continuity: Scenic Hudson
. ~andscapelLandrorm Context: wooded land overlooking the Wappinger Creek
· Neighborhood(s): N/A
. Roadway Type(s): N/A
. Easement(s) and/or Agreement(s): ?
. Plan Conditions: done
· Design Conditions: done
. Physical Conditions: needs work
· Action Items:
1. Trail needs to be marked
2. Trail needs maintenance and brush removal
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ACTION PLAN for WAPPINGER GREENWAY TRAIL
SEGMENT #8: Reese Audubon Sanctuary
. Physical Characteristics: wooded area
. Parcel Continuity: Reese Audubon Sanctuary?
. LandscapelLandform Context: ?
· Neighborhood(s): N/A
· Roadway Type(s): N/A
. fasement(s) and/or Agreement(s): ?
· Plan Conditions: done
· Design Conditions: done
. Physical Conditions: ?
· Action Items:
1. Trail needs to be marked
2. Trail needs maintenance and brush removal
3. Prepare Audubon Sanctuary booklet?
SEGMENT #9: Reese Audubon Sanctuary North to New Hamburgh Ball Field
. Physical Characteristics: ball field
. Parcel Continuity: Town of Poughkeepsie owned
. LandscapelLandform Context: Town of Poughkeepsie ball field
· Neighborhood(s): N/A
· Roadway Type(s): N/A
. Easement(s) and/or Agreement(s): ?
· Plan Conditions: done
· Design Conditions: done
. Physical Conditions: ball field
· Action Items:
1. Entrance sign at beginning of trail from New Hamburgh Ball Field
SEGMENT #10: New Hamburgh Ball Field West to Main Street and Front Street, New
Hamburgh
. Physical Characteristics: Town road
. Parcel Continuity: Town of Poughkeepsie owned
. LandscapelLandform Context: Town road
. Neighborhood(s): Residential area of hamlet of New Hamburgh; one block from Metro
North Rail road station
. Roadway Type(s): Town road; no sidewalks but wide enough for pedestrians on the North
side of the' 'road; south side of road is immediately adjacent to private property
. Easement(s) and/or Agreement(s): N/A
· Plan Conditions: done
· Design Conditions: done
. Physical Conditions: ball field
· Action Items:
1. Entrance sign at Main Street in New Hamburgh
2. Direction sign at the Metro North Train Station
3. Road needs to be marked
4. (Long term: add shoulders and sidewalks)
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ACTION PLAN for WAPPINGER GREENWAY TRAIL
SEGMENT #11: Front Street South to Creek Road over the Wappinger Creek Bridge
. Physical Characteristics: Town road
. Parcel Continuity: Town of Poughkeepsie Owned
. LandscapelLandform Context: Town road
. Neighborhood(s): Steep ridge and Wappinger Creek on the east side, Bottini storage tank
facility, Metro North train tracks and the Hudson River on the west side
. Roadway Type(s): Town road
. Easement(s) and/or Agreement(s): N/ A
. Plan Conditions: done
. Design Conditions: done
. Physical Conditions: no shoulders; no sidewalks
· Action Items:
1. Road needs to be marked
2. Entrance to Creek Road needs to be marked
3. (Long term: add shoulders and sidewalks)
SEGMENT #12: Creek Road East to Market Street Industrial Park passing Reese Park
. Physical Characteristics: Town road
. Parcel Continuity: Town of Wappinger owned
. LandscapelLandform Context: Town road along the Wappinger Creek
. Neighborhood(s): Some houses in the hamlet ofHughsonville set in the hillside
. Roadway Type(s): Town road
. Easement(s) and/or Agreement(s): N/A
· Plan Conditions: done
. Design Conditions: done
. Physical Conditions: no shoulders; no sidewalks
· Action Items:
1. Road needs to be marked
2. Entrance to Market Street Industrial Park needs to be marked
3. Entrance to park from Creek Road needs to be marked?
4. (Long term: add shoulders and sidewalks)
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ACTION PLAN for WAPPINGER GREENWAY TRAIL
SEGMENT #13: Reese Park
. Physical Characteristics: Town wooded park with stream
. Parcel Continuity: Town of Wappinger owned
. LandscapelLandform Context: Town park
. Neighborhood(s): N/ A
. Roadway Type(s): N/A
. Easement(s) and/or Agreement(s): N/A
. Plan Conditions: done
. Design Conditions: done
. Physical Conditions: needs some work
· Action Items:
1. Rebuild main trail footbridge
2. Repair and rebuild several small footbridges
3. Repair service road to upper visitor's parking lot
4. Correct trail erosion of creek trail
5. Create return road from upper visitor's parking lot
6. M'S?':' ~~~n trailjun~tion ~ t. ~ ~
7. Repair ~ p,t..~ ~ ~
~ ~install pond lighting
~K Trail needs to be marked
~..MY. Prepare Reese Park booklet
/t>-H": Spread woodchips on surface trail areas and around pond
I J..t-1: Cleanup debris (cars etc.) from the park
I~' Remove fallen trees
SEGMENT #14: Reese Park East to Route 9D/South Avenue in Wappingers Falls
. Physical Characteristics: wooded path
. Parcel Continuity: Town of Wappinger owned
. LandscapelLandform Context: wooded park
· Neighborhood(s): N/A
· Roadway Type(s): N/A
. Easement(s) and/or Agreement(s): N/A
· Plan Conditions: done
. Design Conditions: done
. Physical Conditions: wooded trail with beaten path
· Action Items:
1. Entrance to park from South Avenue needs to be marked
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ACTION PLAN for WAPPINGER GREENWAY TRAIL
SEGMENT #15: South Avenue North to the Village Hall
. Physical Characteristics: Village street with old houses, churches and some small businesses
and the Village Hall and police department
. Parcel Continuity: Village owned
. LandscapelLandform Context: Village street
. Neighborhood(s): residential and historic district
. Roadway Type(s): State road
. Easement(s) and/or Agreement(s): N/A
· Plan Conditions: done
. Design Conditions: done
. Physical Conditions: sidewalks on both sides in Village land; maybe 500' are in the Town of
Wappinger and do not have sidewalks
· Action Items:
1. Road needs to be marked
2. (Long term: add sidewalks in part of segment 14 by the Town of Wappinger?)
SEGMENT #16: South Avenue West along the Mesier Park to Spring Street
. Physical Characteristics: Village park
· Parcel Continuity: Village owned
. LandscapelLandform Context: Village street
. Neighborhood(s): street borders Mesier park: a landscaped park that houses the historical
Mesier Homestead. The Grinnell Library is across the street from Mesier Park at Spring
Street.
. Roadway Type(s): state road and village street
. Easement(s) and/or Agreement(s): N/A
· Plan Conditions: done
· Design Conditions: done
. Physical Conditions: tree covered sidewalk along the park perimeter
· Action Items:
1. Road needs to be marked
SEGMENT #17: Spring Street to Wappingers Lake
. Physical Characteristics: Village street that has Grinnell Library and ends in a dead end at
the Wappinger Lake
· Parcel Continuity: Village owned
. LandscapelLandform Context: Village street
. Neighborhood(s): mostly residential with some public buildings
· Roadway Type(s): Village street
. Easement(s) and/or Agreement(s): N/A
· Plan Conditions: done
· Design Conditions: done
. Physical Conditions: sidewalks most of the way to the Lake
· Action Items:
1. Road needs to be marked
2. (Long term: add sidewalks all the way to the Lake?)
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ACTION PLAN for WAPPINGER GREENWAY TRAIL
SEGMENT #18: Spring Street to Veteran's Park Field
. Physical Characteristics: mess of dredge material from lake
. Parcel Continuity: Village owned
. LandscapelLandform Context: proposed area of beach on the Lake
· Neighborhood(s): N/A
· ~oadway Type(s): N/A
. Easement(s) and/or Agreement(s): N/A
· Plan Conditions: done
. Design Conditions: dredge work is ongoing;
. Physical Conditions: a mess
· Action Items:
1. Entrance from Veterans Field to Spring Street needs to be marked
2. Dredging needs to be completed
3. Dredging material needs to be removed
4. Beach needs to be designed
SEGMENT #19: Veteran's Park Field East to Liss Road
. Physical Characteristics: Village baIl field and recreation area
. Parcel Continuity: Village owned
. LandscapelLandform Context: Village ball field
· Neighborhood(s): N/A
· Roadway Type(s): N/A
. Easement(s) and/or Agreement(s): N/A
· Plan Conditions: done
· Design Conditions: done
· Physical Conditions: baIl field
· Action Items:
1. Trail needs to be marked
SEGMENT #20: Liss Road East to Route 9 around Wappingers Lake
. Physical Characteristics: tree lined Village street
· Parcel Continuity: Village owned
. LandscapelLandform Context: residential area
· Neighborhood(s): residential area
. Roadway Type(s): quiet Village street with no sidewalks but wide enough for pedestrians or
bikes
. Easement(s) and/or Agreement(s): N/A
· Plan Conditions: done
· Design Conditions: done
. Physical Conditions: well maintained road with no shoulders or sidewalks
· Action Items:
1. Trail needs to be marked
2. Entrance to trail from Route 9 needs to be marked
3. (Long term: add sidewalks by the Village)
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ACTION PLAN for WAPPINGER GREENWAY TRAIL
SEGMENT #21: Route 9 Pedestrian Bridge connecting North and South sides of
Wappingers Lake
. Physical Characteristics: (proposed) bridge walkway
. Parcel Continuity: State owned
. LandscapelLandform Context: pedestrian bridge
. Neighborhood(s): N/A
. Roadway Type(s): state road
. Easement(s) and/or Agreement(s): ?
. Plan Conditions: ?
. Design Conditions: ?
. Physical Conditions: ?
· Action Items: ?
POTENTIAL RESOURCES
Three participating Greenway communities, the Town of Wappinger, the Village ofWappingers
Falls, and the Town of Poughkeepsie have been working cooperatively to implement the
Wappinger Greenway Trail. These municipalities have been coordinating on this project through
the Wappinger Greenway Trail Committee. These efforts have been and will be supported
through the member highway and recreation commissions as well as partnerships with businesses
and business associations such as the Wappingers Falls Business and Professional Associations
and Market Street Industrial park; nonprofit organizations such as Community Services
Programs, Inc.; the Dutchess County Soil and Water Conservation District, the New York State
National Guard "Challenge Program", a local AmeriCorps programs as well as numerous civic
organizations and individual volunteers.
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ACTION PLAN for WAPPINGER GREENWAY TRAIL
ACTION ITEMS
1. Prepare an Overall marketing plan for the Wappinger Greenway Trail
2. Prepare an Overall education plan for the Wappinger Greenway Trail
3. Prepare Overall Wappinger Greenway Trail booklet
4. Prepare Reese Park booklet
5. Prepare Reese Audubon Sanctuary booklet?
6. Design and/or prepare Trail signs: for major entrances, for roadways, for trails, and for
directions at major points
7. Remove fallen trees in segment 1
8. Trail maintenance for segment 1
9. Remove fallen trees in segment 4
10. Trail maintenance for segment 4
11. Remove fallen trees in segment 7
12. Trail maintenance for segment 7
13. Remove fallen trees in segment 8
14. Trail maintenance for segment 8
15. Remove fallen trees in segment 13
16. Cleanup debris (cars etc.) from the park
17. Rebuild Reese Park main trail footbridge
18. Repair and rebuild several small footbridges in Reese Park
19. Repair service road to upper visitor's parking lot in Reese Park
20. Correct trail erosion of creek trail in Reese Park
21. Create return road from upper visitor's parking lot in Reese Park
22. M~ ~ ['j!). trail junction in Ree~e Park ~ti ~ ~
23. Repair = ~~ R~l;~t': P.k ~ o-J..-J
~inst pond lighting in Reese Park
fJ, t{ 2"5. Spread woodchips on surface trail areas and around pond in Reese Park
;;f'~ Plan and implement Galucci Park in segment 3
,(, kr."Plan and implement Falls View Park
J1 ~ Engineering plan for trail design on steep slopes in segment 6
:;<q!J, Create a pedestrian bridge connecting North and South Route 9
~'\J6. (Long term: add shoulders and sidewalks by the Town of Poughkeepsie in segments 10 and
11)
)O.J1'. (Long term: add shoulders and sidewalks by the Town of Wappinger in segment 13)
)LJ2. (Long temi~add sidewalks in part of segment 14 by the Town of Wappinger?)
)?~. (Long term: add sidewalks all the way to the Lake in segment 17 by the Village ?)
:p.a-4. (Long term: add sidewalks in segment 20 by the Village)
RECEIVED
AUG 0 2 1999
SCHEDULE
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ELAINE SNOWDEN
TOWN CLERK
ACTION PLAN for WAPPINGER GREENWAY TRAIL
Second Half 1999
First Half 2000
Second Half 2000
First Half 2001
Second Half 2001
First Half 2002
Second Half 2002
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