NEW YORK, NY — May 23, 2013 — The Open Space Institute and Wallkill Valley Land Trust (WVLT) are in the home stretch for fundraising as the reopening of the historic, and once again safe for public use, Rosendale Trestle approaches.
The two organizations only have $165,000 left to raise for the overall $1.54 million project, which has funded the restoration of the 116-year-old trestle, once part of an active railroad that ferried Ulster County produce down to markets in New York City.
With fundraising nearly complete, OSI and WVLT expect to reopen the trestle—which offers incredible views of the Shawangunk Ridge, the Binnewater Lakes region and the hamlet of Rosendale—to the public within the next six weeks.
New railroad ties and naturally weathering Corten steel railings were mounted on the trestle last year. The final step before reopening is to install recycled composite decking material (the walking surface) over top of the railroad ties.
As part of the final fundraising push, area businesses and residents are invited to purchase commemorative plaques that will be attached to the railing of the 940-foot-long trestle. The 4 ¾” x 4 ¾” bronze plaques will be etched and then lacquer sealed. The plaques are available for $1,200 each and can be purchased from the Wallkill Valley Land Trust.
The completion of the trestle restoration furthers OSI and WVLT’s goal of a continuous, 24-mile recreational rail trail running from the town of Gardiner to the city of Kingston. In August 2009, the two organizations partnered to acquire 11.5 miles of railroad bed that expanded the rail trail through the towns of Gardiner, New Paltz, Rosendale and Ulster, and on to Kingston. While the trestle has been restored, OSI and WVLT have simultaneously been working to restore those sections of rail bed along the trail.
Upon opening the trestle, the trail will be accessible to walkers, hikers, bikers and horseback riders. An official announcement of a grand opening celebration later this spring is forthcoming.