Amenia hears plan for hiking and biking trails

Amenia hears plan for hiking and biking trails
Amenia Town Hall
Photo by John Coston

AMENIA — Mountain bikers and hikers may soon enjoy miles of local trails thanks to the Amenia Trails Project described for the Town Board at its regular meeting on Thursday, July 19.

Representing Hollyhock Foundation, a New York City organization that focuses in part on environmental solutions to combat greenhouse gases, was Lauren Zane who described planning for a biking and hiking park along Old Route 22 near Wassaic.

Rock Solid Contracting would be hired to build 10 to 12 miles of trail on 470 acres distributed over three connected parcels of land. Trail construction would take about six to nine months to complete. Trails would be three feet in width with minimal impact to the land and boardwalk installed only where necessary.

An existing home on the property would be razed to accommodate a parking area. Existing forestry access roads on the property, six feet in width, would remain to offer passage for emergency vehicles.

Participating partners in the project are the New York Department of Environmental Conservation, Dutchess County Department of Public Works, New York State Electric and Gas and the Dutchess Land Conservancy, Zane reported.

Area residents offered positive comments on the plans seeing the value of recreational expansion and conservation of the land.

Councilmember Brad Rebillard asked for details on access for emergency vehicles.

Determining that the trails would be open from spring to fall for recreation, councilmember Nicole Ahearn noted that hunting season begins on Oct. 1 each year.

Town Supervisor Leo Blackman commented that for people who travel north by train to Wassaic, this trail system could be a popular draw for recreation. He asked about the possibility of a connector with the rail trail.

“We’re open to ideas,” Zane said, adding that connector access is being researched.

Asking about what the next step toward approval should be, Zane determined that she should approach the Planning Board about the plan. The Planning Board will then report back to the Town Board.

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