Linear park over Hudson River is a one-of-a-kind outdoor experience
The Buffalo News
July 7, 2016
Taking a stroll on the Walkway Over the Hudson State Historic Park is a one-of-a-kind outdoor experience. The view from the walkway is definitely one you won’t see from the road. The linear park, located about a 5 ½ hour drive from Buffalo, spans the Hudson River from Poughkeepsie, NY to Highland, NY. At 1.28 miles in length, that’s 6767 feet long, and 212 feet above the river, it is the longest elevated pedestrian bridge in the world.
My family recently vacationed in the Hudson Valley area and visiting the Walkway Over the Hudson was one of the highlights of our trip. Despite the fact that the day we were there was overcast and raining slightly, there were still quite a few people walking, running, biking, dog walking and skating along the walkway. I can imagine that on a bright sunny day it gets pretty crowded on the walkway.
History of the walkway
The Walkway Over the Hudson did not start out as a park, the steel structure actually first opened in 1888 as the Poughkeepsie-Highland railroad bridge, a key transportation hub that brought raw material from the west to industrial centers in the east, as well as carrying passengers over the Hudson River. When the bridge opened, it was the longest cantilevered and truss span in the world. In addition, it was the only railroad bridge crossing the Hudson River between Albany and New York City. During WWII, troops and supplies were carried over the bridge before going overseas.
However, train traffic began to decline throughout the 20th Century. In May of 1974, fire broke out on the bridge, severely damaging the tracks. It stood abandoned and unused until 1992, when a non-profit was organized to save the bridge and provide public access to it and to link it to rail trails on both sides of the river.
Construction work to transform the bridge into a pedestrian walkway began in 2008 and a year later the Walkway Over the Hudson Historic State Park opened to the public. It is an outstanding example of adaptive reuse; it is a National Historic Civil Engineering Landmark and the oldest surviving steel cantilever bridge in the world.
Planning your visit
There are 4 access points to the walkway, which is open daily from 7am to dusk. We chose to enter it on the Poughkeepsie side after parking at a free parking lot located at 61 Parker Avenue; if that lot is full, there is metered paid parking up the driveway in the official state park lot. You’ll find public restroom at the entrance, along with picnic tables, and depending on the time of day, there may be a food truck or two parked here.
You can also access the walkway via stairs from Washington Street or for a real treat, go to the Poughkeepsie Riverfront Park and ride the 21-story glass-enclosed elevator to the walkway deck. From the Highland side of the bridge, park your car in the parking lot off Haviland Road.
Once you are on the walkway, remember to stay to the right and watch out for runners, bicycle riders and skaters, as the walkway is part of a loop trail that goes into the various neighborhoods in downtown Poughkeepsie, as well as links to the Hudson Valley Rail Trail.
Be sure to take time to enjoy the view of the river, the city of Poughkeepsie and the Franklin D. Roosevelt Mid-Hudson Bridge, which is just south of the walkway. There are a number of benches at the mid-way point if you need to rest. There is also a designated “selfie” spot, just look for the blue footprints painted on the walkway deck. It’s the perfect spot to stand to grab a selfie with the FDR Bridge in the background.
If you happen to be visiting the area on a Saturday, Sunday or holiday, you can go to the Hudson Valley Rail Trail Caboose Gallery, located on the Highland side of the walkway. Housed in a circa 1926 caboose and open year-round, weather permitting, it has exhibits on the former railroad lines as well as current information about the rail trail.
There are a number of annual special events that take place along the walkway. The Walkway Marathon is held in June and on July 4th fireworks can be viewed from the walkway (for an admission fee). Their major fundraising event is coming up in September. Starry, Starry Nights on September 30th from 6-10pm, takes place at the Highland entrance to the walkway. The event includes dinner, wine and beer tasting and a fireworks display. Other events planned for the walkway include Movie Nights Under the Walkway in Upper Landing Park on August 6th and 20th and Moonwalk on August 19 and September 16.
Also in the area
Since a visit to Poughkeepsie is not really a day trip, here are a few other attractions you might want to include in your itinerary when you stay overnight in the area.
The Poughkeepsie Post Office is a 20th Century Colonial Revival building designed to be a reflection of the city’s history and architecture. Completed in 1946, it is a designated National Historic Landmark. President Franklin D. Roosevelt, whose family home is in nearby Hyde Park, laid the cornerstone for the building on October 13, 1937, the 250th anniversary of Poughkeepsie Settlement.
Inside the post office are five murals depicting historic occasions in local and national history. Two smaller murals are located on either end of the first floor lobby; they show the city’s growth from the early 17th century to the time the post office was built in the 1940’s.Three other larger murals are on the second floor; these can be viewed from the first floor lobby, as there is no public access to the second floor. The murals were painted by Olin Dowes, assisted by Works Progress Administration (WPA) artists. During the Great Depression, the government funded the Federal Arts Project of the WPA as part of FDR’s New Deal Program. Hundreds of artists throughout the country created paintings, murals, and sculptures as public works projects.
Speaking of Franklin D. Roosevelt, his home, Springwood, and his presidential library and museum are located about 15 minutes north of Poughkeepsie in Hyde Park. The Presidential Museum and Library is celebrating its 75th anniversary this year. The current special exhibit about Pearl Harbor, “Day of Infamy: 24 Hours that Changed History,” runs through December 31. Allow about 2-3 hours to tour the site.
If you go
Walkway Over the Hudson, 845-454-9649, www.walkway.org
Poughkeepsie Post Office, 55 Mansion Street, Poughkeepsie, 845-452-5297. Open Monday-Friday 9-5:30, Saturday 9-2:30.
Franklin D. Roosevelt home, presidential library and museum, Route 9 Hyde Park, 800-FDR-VISIT, www.historichydepark.org or www.nps.gov/hofr
Directions
From Buffalo take the NYS Thruway east towards Albany. Take the I-87 south to NY 299 east in New Paltz. Follow NY 299 east, US 9W south and US 44/55 east to Poughkeepsie.
My family recently vacationed in the Hudson Valley area and visiting the Walkway Over the Hudson was one of the highlights of our trip. Despite the fact that the day we were there was overcast and raining slightly, there were still quite a few people walking, running, biking, dog walking and skating along the walkway. I can imagine that on a bright sunny day it gets pretty crowded on the walkway.
History of the walkway
The Walkway Over the Hudson did not start out as a park, the steel structure actually first opened in 1888 as the Poughkeepsie-Highland railroad bridge, a key transportation hub that brought raw material from the west to industrial centers in the east, as well as carrying passengers over the Hudson River. When the bridge opened, it was the longest cantilevered and truss span in the world. In addition, it was the only railroad bridge crossing the Hudson River between Albany and New York City. During WWII, troops and supplies were carried over the bridge before going overseas.
However, train traffic began to decline throughout the 20th Century. In May of 1974, fire broke out on the bridge, severely damaging the tracks. It stood abandoned and unused until 1992, when a non-profit was organized to save the bridge and provide public access to it and to link it to rail trails on both sides of the river.
Construction work to transform the bridge into a pedestrian walkway began in 2008 and a year later the Walkway Over the Hudson Historic State Park opened to the public. It is an outstanding example of adaptive reuse; it is a National Historic Civil Engineering Landmark and the oldest surviving steel cantilever bridge in the world.
Planning your visit
There are 4 access points to the walkway, which is open daily from 7am to dusk. We chose to enter it on the Poughkeepsie side after parking at a free parking lot located at 61 Parker Avenue; if that lot is full, there is metered paid parking up the driveway in the official state park lot. You’ll find public restroom at the entrance, along with picnic tables, and depending on the time of day, there may be a food truck or two parked here.
You can also access the walkway via stairs from Washington Street or for a real treat, go to the Poughkeepsie Riverfront Park and ride the 21-story glass-enclosed elevator to the walkway deck. From the Highland side of the bridge, park your car in the parking lot off Haviland Road.
Once you are on the walkway, remember to stay to the right and watch out for runners, bicycle riders and skaters, as the walkway is part of a loop trail that goes into the various neighborhoods in downtown Poughkeepsie, as well as links to the Hudson Valley Rail Trail.
Be sure to take time to enjoy the view of the river, the city of Poughkeepsie and the Franklin D. Roosevelt Mid-Hudson Bridge, which is just south of the walkway. There are a number of benches at the mid-way point if you need to rest. There is also a designated “selfie” spot, just look for the blue footprints painted on the walkway deck. It’s the perfect spot to stand to grab a selfie with the FDR Bridge in the background.
If you happen to be visiting the area on a Saturday, Sunday or holiday, you can go to the Hudson Valley Rail Trail Caboose Gallery, located on the Highland side of the walkway. Housed in a circa 1926 caboose and open year-round, weather permitting, it has exhibits on the former railroad lines as well as current information about the rail trail.
There are a number of annual special events that take place along the walkway. The Walkway Marathon is held in June and on July 4th fireworks can be viewed from the walkway (for an admission fee). Their major fundraising event is coming up in September. Starry, Starry Nights on September 30th from 6-10pm, takes place at the Highland entrance to the walkway. The event includes dinner, wine and beer tasting and a fireworks display. Other events planned for the walkway include Movie Nights Under the Walkway in Upper Landing Park on August 6th and 20th and Moonwalk on August 19 and September 16.
Also in the area
Since a visit to Poughkeepsie is not really a day trip, here are a few other attractions you might want to include in your itinerary when you stay overnight in the area.
The Poughkeepsie Post Office is a 20th Century Colonial Revival building designed to be a reflection of the city’s history and architecture. Completed in 1946, it is a designated National Historic Landmark. President Franklin D. Roosevelt, whose family home is in nearby Hyde Park, laid the cornerstone for the building on October 13, 1937, the 250th anniversary of Poughkeepsie Settlement.
Inside the post office are five murals depicting historic occasions in local and national history. Two smaller murals are located on either end of the first floor lobby; they show the city’s growth from the early 17th century to the time the post office was built in the 1940’s.Three other larger murals are on the second floor; these can be viewed from the first floor lobby, as there is no public access to the second floor. The murals were painted by Olin Dowes, assisted by Works Progress Administration (WPA) artists. During the Great Depression, the government funded the Federal Arts Project of the WPA as part of FDR’s New Deal Program. Hundreds of artists throughout the country created paintings, murals, and sculptures as public works projects.
Speaking of Franklin D. Roosevelt, his home, Springwood, and his presidential library and museum are located about 15 minutes north of Poughkeepsie in Hyde Park. The Presidential Museum and Library is celebrating its 75th anniversary this year. The current special exhibit about Pearl Harbor, “Day of Infamy: 24 Hours that Changed History,” runs through December 31. Allow about 2-3 hours to tour the site.
If you go
Walkway Over the Hudson, 845-454-9649, www.walkway.org
Poughkeepsie Post Office, 55 Mansion Street, Poughkeepsie, 845-452-5297. Open Monday-Friday 9-5:30, Saturday 9-2:30.
Franklin D. Roosevelt home, presidential library and museum, Route 9 Hyde Park, 800-FDR-VISIT, www.historichydepark.org or www.nps.gov/hofr
Directions
From Buffalo take the NYS Thruway east towards Albany. Take the I-87 south to NY 299 east in New Paltz. Follow NY 299 east, US 9W south and US 44/55 east to Poughkeepsie.
