Riverside Park

Parks and Hudson River Valley Greenway Celebrate Kayakers Finishing A 195-Mile Paddle

Parks Commissioner Adrian Benepe, Hudson River Valley Greenway’s Trails and Special Events Projects Director Scott Keller and the Dutch Consulate’s Director for Visual Arts, Architecture & Design Robert Kloos welcomed 37 paddlers as they wrapped up their 195-mile Great Champlain-Hudson Paddle journey down the Hudson from near the Canadian border to New York City. Commissioner Benepe and Director Kloos then joined kayakers to finish the trip at Pier 96 at 56th Street.

“The Parks Department is delighted to welcome kayakers to New York City after more than two weeks of paddling through New York State,” said Commissioner Benepe. “I’d like to thank the Hudson River Valley Greenway for organizing this fantastic voyage that celebrates New York’s waterfront and the history and culture that surrounds the Hudson River. Paddlers can explore more than 30 kayak launches throughout the five boroughs, and the second edition of our new NYC Water Trail map is available for free online.”

“I applaud Mayor Bloomberg and Commissioner Benepe for their commitment to the Hudson River Valley Greenway and for working to spread greenways and water trails throughout all five boroughs,” said Mark Castiglione, Acting Executive Director of the Hudson River Valley Greenway. “The Quadricentennial Great Champlain-Hudson Paddle embodies the spirit of ‘geotourism’ and showcases the Hudson River as a tremendous natural resource that supports recreation and tourism. This event is an exciting and interactive way to highlight the Hudson River Greenway Water Trail, the State’s efforts to revitalize our waterfronts throughout the Hudson River Valley Greenway corridor and the on-going renaissance of New York City’s waterfront areas.”

"Our waterways are the common threads that define our regions and celebrating them is a central part of the Quadricentennial. This year we have an opportunity to showcase the important role that the Hudson River, Lake Champlain, and the canals that join them, have played in the Empire State's 400 year history,” said Hudson-Fulton-Champlain Quadricentennial Executive Director Tara Sullivan. “On behalf of the Hudson-Fulton-Champlain Quadricentennial, we congratulate all the paddlers on their arrival in New York City on the final leg of the Great Champlain Hudson Paddle."

The Great Champlain-Hudson Paddle (GCHP) 9th annual journey celebrated the 400th anniversary of Henry Hudson’s and Samuel de Champlain’s voyages along the river and lake that bear their names. It also celebrated the 200th anniversary of Robert Fulton’s successful steamboat voyage, which inaugurated steam commerce on the Hudson River, by paddling from Moreau to New York City. HRVG’s Scott Keller guided the paddle and spoke about the trip.

Kayak enthusiasts from around the country started their adventure on August 3, and wrapped up their journey at Pier 56. They camped out in state and local parks along the way. The Hudson River Valley Greenway and the Hudson River Valley National Heritage Area organized the 15-day trip.

Paddlers passed five NYC Water Trail sites on their journey, including the launches at Inwood Hill Park, West Harlem Piers and Riverside South. To learn more about the NYC Water Trail and where you can kayak in your neighborhood, search the “NYC Water Trail” at www.nyc.gov/parks/video. Free maps are available online!

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Know Before You Go

Riverside Park

West 79th Street Boat Basin

Riverside Park (79th Street)