Governor’s state budget includes $2 million to major extension of rail trail

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Credit Kingston Daily Freeman

KINGSTON – Governor Cuomo’s proposed state budget includes $2 million for the development of a rail trail from Kingston to the Ashokan Reservoir. The ultimate goal is to connect it to the Walkway Over the Hudson.

Ulster County Executive Michael Hein said they are working to create “a world class tourism destination” in the county. He said the project has “far reaching regional significance and will positively impact tourism, public health, economic development” and will allow residents and visitors from across the globe to enjoy the “pristine beauty” of Ulster County.

“In many places actually, communities have done a wonderful job of creating rail trails and it will interconnect many of the rail trails,” Hein said. “We look to create potentially the largest interconnected rail trail system in the State of New York.”

Hein first proposed the extended trail last October calling for the development of a multi-use recreational trail along the county-owned Ulster & Delaware Rail corridor, which stretches more than 38 miles from Kingston to Highmount near Belleayre Mountain.

The county executive said the initiative will create key linkages to other upstate rail trails and ultimately connect the Walkway over the Hudson.