Inwood Hill Park

Parks Welcomes Paddlers: New York State Adds First Nyc Park Sites To Its Hudson River Water Trail

Commissioner Adrian Benepe, Hudson River Valley Greenway Chairman Barnabas McHenry, Hudson River Park Trust President Connie Fishman and kayakers today celebrated the inclusion of the first NYC park sites in the State’s Hudson River Greenway Water Trail, as well as Parks’ initiative to create a NYC Water Trail that connects paddlers to waterways throughout the city. Commissioner Benepe also joined approximately 30 kayakers to travel the last leg of the 11-day Great Hudson River Paddle.

"As we begin to develop a NYC Water Trail, we are thrilled to have the first park sites added to the State’s Water Trail and to greet participants as they finish the Great Hudson River Paddle here in New York City," said Commissioner Benepe. "Throughout the city, parks along the shoreline are being built and renovated to reconnect the public with the water—Baretto Point Park, Brooklyn Bridge Park, Hudson River Park, Fort Totten Park and Fresh Kills Park to name just a few. Among the amenities available at these parks, many have or plan to have canoe and kayak launches."

The Great Hudson River Paddle celebrates the improvement of public access along the Hudson River and, as a result of Parks’ efforts, the New York State’s Hudson River Greenway Water Trail has added the first NYC park sites—Inwood Hill Park’s Dyckman Marina and the 72nd Street and 79th Street Boat Basin in Riverside Park. Three additional NYC sites have also been added to the Water Trail—Piers 66, 84 and 96 in Hudson River Park.

"One of the most exciting portions of the Annual Great Hudson River Paddle is the arrival in New York City," said Mary Mangione, Executive Director of the Hudson River Valley Greenway. "An important aspect of the Greenway’s mission is to increase public access to the Hudson River, so that all New Yorkers can experience this treasured resource. With assistance from NYC Parks Commissioner Benepe and Hudson River Park Trust President Connie Fishman, I am so pleased to add three New York City Parks sites and three Hudson River Park sites to the Hudson River Greenway Water Trail."

Parks & Recreation is also currently creating a NYC Water Trail, which will provide information on safe and legal access to the waters surrounding all five boroughs of New York City. The project will identify park launch sites, as well as connect those to non-park launch sites. The guide will also provide recreational, educational and scenic opportunities along the waterfront.

The New York State Hudson River Greenway Water Trail begins at the Erie Canal and is 156 miles long. Participants in the Great Hudson River Paddle began in Albany and traveled 145 miles of the Water Trail to Pier 96 in New York City.

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Muscota Marsh