Scenic Hudson takes another step on RiverWalk

Scenic Hudson, the nonprofit environmental organization based in Poughkeepsie, is taking another step in the development of the RiverWalk Connection in Tarrytown. It has issued a Request for Proposals (RFP) to find a consultant to assist with the design development of the RiverWalk Connection, which will connect the completed section of RiverWalk at Losee Park in Tarrytown with the completed section near the end of Van Wart Avenue south of the new Governor Mario M. Cuomo Bridge.

According to Scenic Hudson, Westchester RiverWalk is a planned 51-mile multi-use path along Westchester County’s Hudson River shoreline. Currently, approximately 32 miles of the trail are complete. The incomplete section that Scenic Hudson describes as being most urgently in need of construction, and the subject of its RFP, is a gap of less than a mile under the Cuomo Bridge between Green Street and the existing trail at Van Wart Avenue in Tarrytown.

Scenic Hudson is the project sponsor for the environmental review and design of the Westchester RiverWalk Connection and has secured funding from Westchester County for the environmental review and from New York State for the design development work.

According to Scenic Hudson, the property in the project area is owned by public entities including the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA), which owns the Metro-North railroad tracks, the NYS Thruway Authority and the Village of Tarrytown. Scenic Hudson says that the lands that are under water adjacent to the project area may be under the jurisdiction of the New York State Office of General Services.

Scenic Hudson says that the project 
 must be designed to safely accommodate bicyclists and pedestrians as well as accommodate the needs of emergency responders and maintenance staff and equipment. 
The design also needs to address the risk posed by sea level rise and storm surge.

Scenic Hudson wants to find a design firm that has a demonstrated history of providing engineering, design, and consulting services on successful waterfront trail and open space projects.

In describing the RiverWalk, Scenic Hudson said, “Currently, more than 32 miles of RiverWalk provide recreation for pedestrians and bicyclists, reduce dependency on car trips, and increase visitor appeal — all while benefiting public health, fostering a sense of community, improving residential property values, and invigorating commercial areas. Several portions of the RiverWalk pass through parks created or enhanced by Scenic Hudson.”