Shandaken Rail Trail Project

Why didn't people who are for this project speak at the April town hall meeting? Why weren't adjacent land owners to the tracks notified of this project prior to starting research several years ago? What is the projected yearly maintenance costs that will come out of everyone's taxes?

I'm a Shandaken resident and am incredibly excited about this project. I believe the health benefits for our people and our economy will be apparent immediately upon its opening. My number one hope for our extensive trail system is its eventual connection to our downtown areas and this project moves our whole county in that direction. I'm incredibly excited for the day this network connects to Phoenicia.

As a resident and business owner in Shandaken, I welcome this effort as it would be a wonderful asset to our town. I hope our neighbors understand that this will certainly make for a a valuable recreational amenity for both residents and visitors to our area.

As a resident of Shandaken and an outdoors enthusiast, I am very excited about the proposed Shandaken rail trail. The double horseshoe curve dating back to 1870 is an engineering feat of major proportions. Although it is near a major highway and ski center, it is a quiet repose and a welcome retreat throughout the seasons. The opportunity to open this well kept secret to public use is a major benefit to the town, its residents and visitors. There are many nearby trails, but they are steep and rocky. This trail will be suited to people of all abilities. I enthusiastically support its development.

As a resident of Pine Hill, I am very excited to see this project come to fruition. Revitalizing the railway corridor as a multi-use trail will make it more enjoyable and safer to walk on for all of our local neighbors, more accessible to regional explorers of all abilities, and will help to reinvigorate our hamlet's history of hospitality as a once-thriving destination.

As a New York State licensed outdoor guide, I try to foster an appreciation for the outdoors in all of my clients, regardless of prior experience. Having access to a variety of types of trails in the Catskills is what will keep visiting families and individuals coming back to explore more, spending time and money in our small towns.

The 3500 peaks provide a lot of excitement and the occasional sweeping view, but many of them are incredibly difficult to traverse, the toughness of which has turned some hikers away for good. The Shandaken Rail Trail will provide another option for those seeking a less challenging introduction to our terrain, and for those who simply want to enjoy a walk in the woods without having to look down at one's feet the entire time.

As a resident who cares deeply about our community, I wholeheartedly support the proposed plan to convert the abandoned railroad tracks into a multi-use trail for walking and running. While I understand some neighbors have concerns, I believe the potential benefits of this rail trail far outweigh any perceived drawbacks.
This project presents an amazing opportunity to take advantage of an underutilized space and create a valuable recreational amenity for our area. The rail trail would provide a safe, off-road pathway for outdoor exercise that people of all ages can enjoy. It would be a great community asset for families, and nature enthusiasts alike to enjoy . An unbelievable plus for our community!
Moreover, similar rail trail conversions in other towns have proven to be incredibly beneficial, attracting visitors, stimulating spending at local businesses, and even increasing property values along the trail corridor. Our rural area could use an economic boost, and this trail has the potential to be a key part of revitalizing our community's vibrancy.
While change can be difficult, we already have other successful paths and trails in the region that have been embraced. This rail trail would build upon that existing infrastructure in an environmentally-friendly, cost-effective manner by repurposing the defunct rail line. With proper planning and community input, I am confident any concerns can be properly addressed.
I enthusiastically voice my support for converting these old rail tracks into a wonderful linear park and trail system. It would provide tremendous recreational, and quality-of-life benefits for our entire area. I urge my neighbors to join me in backing this fantastic project to make our community an even better place to live, work, and play.


Richard Greenberg

I was not able to attend the the meeting, but I've reviewed the materials and think this is a worthwhile project that will further connect the recreational infrastructure of the region. Thanks for your work!

Investing in biking infrastructure is vitally important to our community. Please continue to support these initiatives.

This would be a great addition to the rail trail. Opening up beach and trails around Belleayre to foot and bike traffic would be be great for residents and tourists alike. I strongly support this.

We think this is a wonderful project and can't wait to see it completed.

I was unable to attend the public meeting.

I certainly can understand and empathize with any bordering/nearby homeowners who may have expressed concerns about privacy, trash, traffic, parking and noise. Those of us, including myself, who are not on the so-called front line need to be especially mindful of those who are and put ourselves in their shoes.

With that in mind I hope that those of us who support rail and nature trails as a general concept understand that Rule #1 is to listen. How would one actually try to address the concerns raised, which, after all, are valid concerns? Are plans perhaps coming across as fait accompli?

I think a rail trail here will be terrific, especially for local residents who don't hike uphill and want to walk with friends and have some exercise. I love the idea of a place for families to ride bikes together. Walking or attempting to bicycle with passing cars on our narrow pot holed roads is not fun or safe. I'm excited that two historic bridges will be restored for pedestrian use as part of the trail since they are beyond unsafe at this time. This is the first appropriate-size investment to come to Shandaken in the 24 years I've lived here. I know it will come with problems that need to be sorted out. I look forward to hearing more about how we can protect the water filtration plant, avoid parking on our narrow roads and help property owners adjacent to the property feel secure and maintain privacy. If the design elements are similar to the Ashokan Rail Trail, we will have a real tribute to a former era as well as some beauty in a semi-natural spot that is slowly but dramatically falling apart from decades of neglect. I am among the very few who walk on the horseshoe trail several times a week year round. It breaks my heart to see its deterioration.

Hugely in favor of this project! As a family with young children, we love the Ashokan rail trail as an easy walking and biking path, and it would be great to have something similar near by. I am especially in favor of improvements that make nature accessible to more people.

I love rail trails but your recent presentation was very weak. The older fellow at least had a sense of humor that lightened up the crowd. The zoom was not good, but the crowd was amazingly patient. You should have sent a letter to all adjacent landowners telling them your plans and asking for feedback... Before going though all your calculations! A little grease quiets a squeaky gear.

The proposed rail trail will not lower the value of adjacent homes. I just saw a 1.2 million dollar property for sale that boasted fronting on the Appalachian Trail as a selling point. I believe the rail trail will actually raise property values. Please research this trend to counter the accusations of lowering home values.

I am totally in favor of the proposed rail trail. It will provide healthy exercise, and boost the tourism economy. The needs of hundreds of thousands of people outweigh the fears and inconvenience of a very few angry landowners. Do a better job of rewarding the few homeowners who's peace and privacy would be impacted by offering privacy screens, trees and bushes around their houses so people can't "peek in their windows". Walkway across the Hudson and the Ashokan rail trail do this successfully.

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Thank you for this detailed presentation. I am very much in favor of this rail trail being built in Shandaken! A huge asset to the town.

I'm disappointed that the meeting Q&A period felt very one-sided, in favor of those opposed to the project. I am not opposed to the Shandaken Rail Trail Project at all.

I look forward to the project moving forward, although I do share two important concerns that were brought up: 1) privacy for some select houses that are very close to the trail (there are not many of these); and 2) traffic/parking within the town of Pine Hill, especially near Station Road, Mill Street and Bonnie View.

Highmount has been my primary residence for 22 years. I hike a lot in the area. I used to walk along the tracks quite often. I stopped because it became too dangerous. I especially stopped bringing inexperienced hikers, older people or friends with kids. Besides the dangerous tracks (there are quite a few areas with rotted or missing structure), there is typically dirty standing water, garbage and old junk dumped on the tracks in some areas. Parking on the street is iffy.

No doubt, this project will make the tracks safer, cleaner and more popular. — Either way, the tracks will continue to be used. I strongly prefer them being improved so they function in an eco-friendly way for a wide variety of people of various ages and abilities/physical challenges.

After the important privacy and traffic/parking issues are addressed, I look forward to the public soon being able to walk, run, bike, snowshoe, cross-country ski, etc. on the trail. I'm also happy the project will bring much-needed tourist money into the area, which is especially important in the non-ski half of the year.

As a full-time resident of Pine Hill, I left the April 9th meeting feeling disheartened by the atmosphere of hostility and negativity that seemed to overshadow the discussion.

Having attended the PH2 meeting on the rail trail and in private discussion with members of the community, it is evident to me that there is significant support within our town for this initiative. However, many voices of support were overshadowed by louder dissenting opinions during the town hall, and unfortunately, individuals with insightful, valuable questions and even valid concerns on the project were also unable to be heard.

From my perspective, the Shandaken Rail Trail presents an exciting opportunity to enhance our community in numerous ways. Beyond simply providing recreational pathways, it has the potential to stimulate economic growth, promote outdoor activity and wellness, and preserve the natural beauty and history of our surroundings.

I'm reaching out to express my firm belief in the benefits that the rail trail can bring to Pine Hill and the wider area. I hope that going forward we can ensure that all voices are heard and that the project moves forward in a manner that reflects the desires and aspirations of our community.