Orange County begins process to link Heritage Trail with Schunnemunk Rail Trail

Orange County legislators and county officials initiated formal steps to connect the county’s 19.5-mile Heritage Trail in the Village of Chester with the proposed 10-mile Schunnemunk Rail Trail, County Planning Commissioner Alan Sorensen said, noting an opportunity to purchase a 9.2-acre WYE parcel that would create a direct link at Camp LaGuardia. Sorensen also said the Legislature plans to apply to the state for a $5.8 million pass-through grant from the federal government and added, “We have an opportunity to purchase the WYE (‘why’), which is a railroad junction that connects the Heritage Trail with the Schunnemunk Trail at Camp LaGuardia, and by purchasing that segment of property - it’s 9.2 acres - we will have a direct connection from the Heritage Trail to the proposed Schunnemunk Trail, which we will begin construction of this year,” he said.

The Schunnemunk Rail Trail is described by county materials and conservation partners as a 10-mile, multi-use corridor along the former Erie–Lackawanna Railroad that begins at the Moodna Viaduct in the Town of Cornwall, traverses Blooming Grove and Chester and the Village of Washingtonville, and terminates at Camp LaGuardia in Chester. The Open Space Institute, which purchased the corridor in 2019 and transferred it to Orange County on October 29, 2024, characterized the transfer as saving the railbed from warehouse development and said the land transfer “sets the stage for the future construction of the Schunnemunk Rail Trail at Schunnemunk Mountain State Park. This trail will improve public access to nature, support public health and wellbeing, provide new non‑motorized transportation options, and further a regional network of connected trails.”

County officials have outlined a phased approach. Sorensen said the initial portion will be two miles and “will end at the railroad trestle in Salisbury Mills,” and he said construction “we will begin construction of this year” and is “anticipated to be built by the end of the year.” OSI materials and county notices caution that construction is subject to County Legislature approval and required environmental reviews before work proceeds.

Funding and approvals remain central near-term tasks. The Legislature’s planned application for a $5.8 million state pass-through federal grant would be one funding source; OSI and county documents note the county must complete environmental review and legislative approvals. Orange County Executive Steve Neuhaus framed the acquisition and trail vision as preservation and a community asset: “Acquiring the Schunnemunk Rail Trail is a significant step in preserving an important piece of our region’s history while also creating a sustainable transportation and recreational asset for our community. Like the Heritage Trail, this corridor will provide residents and visitors for generations to come with a safe, scenic place to walk, bike, or commute, as well as to connect with the natural beauty of Orange County for generations to come.”

Orange County scheduled a public information meeting for Thursday, January 15, 2026, 6:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m. at Village Hall, 9 Fairlawn Drive, Washingtonville, to present project design, anticipated construction timeline, and next steps. Media and public inquiries may be directed to Rebecca Sheehan, Assistant to the County Executive and Director of Public Information and Media Relations, at 845-291-2700 or presscontact@orangecountygov.com.

Key open items for the project include the seller and purchase terms for the 9.2-acre WYE parcel, a specific calendar date for the construction start Sorensen referenced, the detailed budget and allocation of any $5.8 million grant, and the schedule and lead agencies for the required environmental reviews. If the Legislature approves funding and the county secures the WYE parcel, officials say the two-mile initial phase to the Salisbury Mills trestle would move the county from land preservation toward active trail construction and wider regional connectivity to Schunnemunk State Park, Goosepond Mountain State Park, and nearby rail stations.