Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation

June 04, 2025

(518) 486-1868 | news@parks.ny.gov

New York State Parks Announces $2.5 Million In Funding for the Harlem Valley Rail Trail in Columbia County

Funds to be used on a new connection between Copake and Hillsdale  

The New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation (OPRHP) announced today that $2.5 million in capital funding from the FY2025-26 Enacted Budget has been committed to a new section of the Harlem Valley Rail Trail (HVRT). Crossing State Route 22 in Columbia County, the 1 mile section of planned trail links the towns of Copake and Hillsdale via the Black Grocery Road and Orphan Farm Road trailheads. Utilizing a newly acquired parcel of vacant land, this segment of the HVRT once completed will bring the total distance of contiguous trail to 26.5 miles. 

"Bridging the gap across State Route 22 is the next milestone towards the completion of the Harlem Valley Rail Trail," Commissioner Pro Tempore Randy Simons said. "Trailways like the Harlem Valley Rail Trail provide New Yorkers with an affordable option to explore their communities and enjoy the great outdoors. Thanks to Governor Hochul, the Harlem Valley Rail Trail Association, our state legislators and U.S. Senators Chuck Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand, we are now one step closer toward fulfilling the vision for a 46-mile recreational trail between Wassaic and Chatham." 

The Harlem Valley Rail Trail connects 150,000 annual users to communities in Columbia and Dutchess County. Of the trail's 46 planned miles, 26 miles have been paved with the remaining sections in various stages of planning and development. Running through the Harlem Valley and Taconic Hills of eastern New York, the HVRT was built over a 19th century railroad that existed between New York City and Chatham, New York. 

Funding sources for this $4.9 million extension of the HVRT includes $2.5 million earmarked in the Fiscal Year 2026 Executive Budget, previously awarded $1.9 million in federal Transportation Alternatives Program funds and $230,000 in Environmental Protection Fund grants matched by the Harlem Valley Rail Trail Association. 

Senator Chuck Schumer said, "Growing the Harlem Valley Rail Trail will create huge benefits for locals, tourists, and businesses. I'm thrilled to deliver nearly $2 million in federal funding to link Copake and Hillsdale, bringing the Hudson Valley Rail Trail to longer than a marathon's length. "More and more people are recognizing the tremendous natural beauty of places like Columbia County, and I'm grateful that Governor Hochul is putting federal dollars to good use, recognizing that investing in outdoor recreation is investing in the future of these rural and scenic communities." 

Senator Kirsten Gillibrand said, "This $2.5 million in funding will promote healthier outcomes for our communities, cultivate greater access to green space, and preserve enjoyment in nature for the residents of Columbia County and Dutchess County. I am a proud supporter of expanding recreational resources and local economic drivers, like the Harlem Valley Rail Trail, and I will keep fighting in Congress to deliver funding for these types of projects so that people across our state can enjoy the beautiful landscapes that we call home."  

Senator Michelle Hinchey said, "Connecting Copake and Hillsdale along the Harlem Valley Rail Trail has been a longtime goal for so many of our neighbors in Columbia County, and I'm proud to have helped secure state funding to construct this new section. Outdoor enthusiasts will soon be able to access a continuous path—enhancing quality of life while also bringing more people and economic activity to our local shops and small businesses. Trail expansions like this help us make the most out of our beautiful region, and we can't wait to see our neighbors and visitors out enjoying it." 

Assemblymember Didi Barrett said, "The long-anticipated section of the Harlem Valley Rail Trail that crosses Route 22 in Columbia County is critical to the completion of this beautiful rail trail which runs along the eastern edge of my district in Dutchess and Columbia counties. For years, I have worked with the Harlem Valley Rail Trail Association, local elected officials, business owners and concerned residents to secure this funding, and I thank Governor Hochul and State Parks for their support of this critical project in the State budget." 

Harlem Valley Rail Trail Association Chairman Phil Meeks said, "The Harlem Valley Rail Trail Association (HVRTA) is excited about the funding that NYS OPRHP recently received to complete the crossing of Route 22 into the Village of Hillsdale. Upon completion of this crossing, the Harlem Valley Rail Trail (HVRT) will be one continuous 26.6-mile paved trail from Wassaic all of the way into the Village of Hillsdale. In the meantime, the HVRTA continues to work to secure the necessary funding via donations from residents and businesses across our communities to execute our long-range plan of extending the Trail into the Village of Chatham. At that point the HVRT will be a 46-mile off-road trail that will be enjoyed by over 400,000 users annually." 

Parks & Trails New York Executive Director Paul Steely White said, "Corridor gaps are a major barrier to the use of greenway trails. Fully connected greenways encourage active transportation, outdoor recreation, and community development. The expansion of the Harlem Valley Rail Trail will not only create a safer, more convenient route for trail users–it will connect communities and shape tourism destinations all across the region." 

The project builds on Governor Hochul's efforts to encourage affordable outdoor recreation. The Fiscal Year 2026 Budget includes $200 million for State Parks to invest in and aid the ongoing transformation of New York's flagship parks and support critical infrastructure projects throughout the park system. The Governor's new Unplug and Play initiative also earmarks $100 million for construction and renovation of community centers through the Build Recreational Infrastructure for Communities, Kids and Seniors (NY BRICKS), $67.5 million for the Places for Learning, Activity and Youth Socialization (NY PLAYS) initiative helping New York communities construct new playgrounds and renovate existing playgrounds; and an additional $90 million for the continuation of the Statewide Investment in More Swimming (NY SWIMS) initiative including $50 million for a competitive grant program supporting municipalities in the renovation and construction of swimming facilities and $40 million for other swimming-based investments. 

For more information about the HVRT please visit www.hvrt.org. 

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