News

Best Paved Bicycle Trails in the USA & Beyond, a Facebook group with more than 180,000 members, has made the Ashokan Rail Trail its cover feature. The Ashokan isn’t paved. The group has widened its scope to smooth trails, since some paved trails turn out to be rough and some unpaved ones ride like glass. […]

On September 15, Paul Steely White, Executive Director of Parks & Trails New York (PTNY), presented findings from PTNY’s study The Economic Impact of the Empire State Trail to the Ulster County Legislature, at the invitation of Chair Peter Criswell. The statewide numbers are big: $1.87 billion in annual economic activity, more than 9,600 jobs, […]

New York Focus looks at how Buffalo, Rochester, Syracuse, and Albany are investing in safer cycling infrastructure, and how the Erie Canalway Trail and Empire State Trail tie them together. It’s useful background on where Ulster County fits in. Read it here →

On August 5, Parks & Trails New York (PTNY) presented new findings on the Empire State Trail’s economic impact at a press event at SUNY Ulster in Stone Ridge. Hundreds of cyclists from 26 states on Cycle the Hudson Valley, PTNY’s multi-day group ride, joined local leaders and community members, along with County Executive Jen […]

On Thursday, July 2nd, 2026, Tom Baird from Barton & Loguidice, the firm hired by the County Legislature to assess the feasibility of rail, trail and rail-plus-trail on the undesignated section of the U&D corridor, presented his draft report to the Housing & Transportation Committee. The video recording of this meeting is available below. Check […]

The Ashokan Rail Trail Wins Big in Chronogram’s 2026 Readers’ Choice Awards Great news for trail lovers in the Hudson Valley: the Ashokan Rail Trail has taken the top spot in two categories in Chronogram’s 2026 Readers’ Choice Awards: #1 Bike Trail and #1 Rail Trail. This recognition, voted on by Chronogram readers across the […]

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: July 2, 2026 Kingston, NY – Today’s presentation from Barton & Loguidice to the Ulster County Legislature’s Housing & Transportation Committee confirms a long-standing reality: co-located rail-with-trail on the 1.67-mile undesignated section of the U&D corridor is not feasible. The B&L study, which was commissioned by the Legislature after a policy recommendation […]

A landmark statewide economic impact study released on June 9th, 2026 by Parks and Trails NY finds that New York’s 750-mile Empire State Trail is delivering transformative economic, health, and environmental benefits to communities across the state. According to the study, the trail system is generating $1.87 billion in economic activity while connecting millions of […]

The Ulster County Legislature’s Housing and Transportation Committee received a presentation from Tom Baird, senior associate at Barton & Loguidice, regarding the engineering study being conducted on the “undesignated section” of the Ulster & Delaware Corridor. Baird’s presentation, which was part of the committee’s regularly scheduled meeting last week, discussed the current study status, the […]

The Happy Trails Photo Contest’s exhibit opening was a resounding success, with dozens of community members enjoying the exhibit on the day of its opening, March 7. Category prizes and the Best in Show awards were given by the judges as attendees viewed all submissions celebrating art of the ART! The contest was launched last […]

In a resounding 19-3 vote, the Ulster County Legislature granted Chair Peter Criswell the authority to negotiate an agreement with the NYCDEP to replace the Basin Road trestle. We appreciate everyone who came out to support the legislature in voting “yes” on Resolution 5, and we thank those who chose to participate in the public […]

Last year, Resolution 451 failed to gain the support needed to pass the full legislature in December. This year, the newly-constituted Housing and Transportation Committee moved quickly to advance a new version – Resolution 5 – out of committee and toward a vote by the full legislature on February 17th. The meeting was tightly managed […]