2014 to 2011 Marbletown Trails Committee Activities
2014 Committee Activities
Bridge Over Kripplebush Creek is Completed
(August 2014) The new span over Kripplebush Creek completes the trail connection to the Town of Rochester. Engineering design of the bridge was done by Scott Davis and his staff at Peak Engineering of Stone Ridge. Construction was done by Ed Garland of Garland Excavation in Cottekill. The majority of financing was provided through a 1994 right of way agreement with Central Hudson.
The trail may now be entered from Kyserike Road at Williams Lumber to travel north into the town of Marbletown allowing an uninterrupted connection to Rest Plaus Road and continuing on to the town of Hurley. This part of the trail has been widened with considerable attention paid to drainage. More work of clearing and drainage is yet to be done on this portion of the trail, but trail users are invited to discover this beautiful portion of the trail. Users are reminded that the entire O&W trail is off limits to motorized vehicles and hunting.
Silos at Cottekill Are Blocked Up for Safety
(June 2014) The historic grain silos at the Cottekill trail parking lot have had their openings blocked up to prevent vandalism and ensure safety. The committee provided clean up activities around the area. Masonry work was provided by Roger Wells.
2013 Committee Activities
New Parking Area Behind Cottekill Fire House
Thanks to the generous right of way provided by the Cottekill Fire District, a large parking area designated for the trail was constructed in 2013. Garland Construction provided the material, equipment and labor at cost. Our own trail budget line paid for the work. The bumper railing was constructed by the Trail Committee. This is much needed parking for the entrance to the trail at Cottekill.
Expanded Parking at Marcott Road
Parking was expanded by three car widths at Marcott Road by removing a large, mostly dead, tree and installing 20 feet of culvert and fill and gravel. This was again done by Garland Construction at cost.
Welcome to Marbletown Signs
A Welcome Marbletown O&W Rail Trail sign was constructed and placed by the committee at the northern entry to our trail from Hurley. A similar sign will be placed on the south side of the Kripplebush Creek, near the Rochester town line, once the bridge is installed there in 2014.
New Picnic Tables
In a move to provide additional and more pleasurable rest areas new picnic tables were purchased at cost from Marbletown Hardware and placed at the Marcott, Cottekill, Leggett, Rte. 213 and Rest Plaus Road entry areas. Benches formerly at these entry points were placed at interior trail sites (the Beaver Pond, Lilac Hill, Leggett south overview of the pond and airport field, and the brook just south of Rondout Manufacturing. All the assembly and movements were performed by the trail committee.
Rest Plaus Road Trail Bridge Is Completed
On December 5, 2013 the Rest Plaus Road trail bridge was delivered and installed. It has become an icon of all the hard work done by committee volunteers and contractors alike. Providing engineering design and project management was Scott Davis, principal owner of Peak Engineering of Stone Ridge, major pre construction excavation was done by former Highway Superintendent Doug Stevens, construction of the foundation and excavation was done by P.J. Colucci Excavation of Gardiner using the standard bid process. Final construction of the access railings was provided by Roger Wells. We look forward to full use of the bridge, and the trail south, this Spring.
Kripplebush Creek Bridge Is Ready to Go
Also in December 2013, the steel and decking to cross the Kripplebush Creek was delivered to a holding area at Rest Plaus road. A significant effort remains to move the steel and decking approximately one half mile south to the abutments at the creek, create the footings for the bridge and install it. When completed the bridge will form the final stepping stone of the connection to the Rochester O&W trail. Plans call for installation by Summer 2014. Preliminary excavation was done by Doug Stevens.
2012 Committee Activities
Bird Houses For "Rent" On The Trail
Early this year your Trails Committee placed nine bird houses along the trail. They not only provide "affordable" housing for our feathered friends, but are a silent indicator that the trail user is one half mile from the nearest O&W rail road mile markers. The mile markers indicate how many miles it is to Kingston (K) or Ellenville (E). Check it out.
New Trail Signs Mark The Way
The Marbletown Trails Committee has recognized the need for signage indicating the trail path. Signs that indicate Marcott Road, Cottekill Road, Leggett Road, State Rte. 213 (and the path to take using the newly completed sidewalks to the traffic light) and Rest Plaus Road were manufactured free of charge by Wayne Schaeffer of USHECO Company, and painted and installed by the committee. Additional pedestrian stop signs along these points were also installed.
Committee Members Wear New Safety Vests
In January 2012 committee members began wearing new yellow safety vests with the Marbletown O&W Rail Trail logo designed by local resident Marian McCorkle. Trail stewards will be wearing these vests during our regularly scheduled work parties. Please say "hello" and thank them when you see these volunteers working on the trail.
Rest Plaus Road Trail Bridge Grant Awarded
The town applied for grant funding for a bridge over Rest Plaus Road through New York State Parks and Recreation. In December 2012 this grant was awarded! The bridge will eliminate the safety issues of this hazardous road crossing and provide for enhanced maintenance of the trail south of Rest Plaus Road. Bridge completion is expected by the end of 2013.
Route 213 and Trail Intersection Improvements
This intersection now has greatly improved safety and access to the rail trail. The new sidewalks, funded by a state grant, provide safe movement of trail users from the trail to the light at Lucas Avenue (County Route 1) and return to the trail. The new handrail on the hill provides assisted access to the southern entrance of the trail from Route 213.
Cottekill Hill Improvements
15 Lilacs, provided at cost by Davenport Farms, have been planted on the hill a quarter of a mile south of the Cottekill trail parking area. In addition a new 100 foot hand rail has been built to help with safe transit up and down the hill. A sign marking the abrupt downhill turn and an erosion preventing drainage swale have been installed at the top of the hill.
Bridge Widened Behind High Falls Train Station
The 4 foot wide trail bridge was widened to 8 foot providing much needed mower access to the trail south to Route 213. The trail path was also widened and made more traversable.
2011 Committee Activities
Future plans call for general trail bed improvements, trail bridges over both Rest Plaus Road and the Kripplebush Creek, improved trail access at Route 213, and new and improved signage. The funding for these activities will come from our limited trail budget and future grant awards. One such award was obtained from the Hudson Valley Greenway for a trail brochure and website design. The brochure was designed and printed in June, 2011. You can pick one up at any kiosk along the trail. Additionally, in 2011, the Leggett Road parking lot was expanded by the Town Highway Department to accommodate more trail users.
A 2011 Plan Achievement - We Did It!! Rest Plaus Road Bridge 12/19/2013