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Beacon Today
By the People, for the People
Hudson Highlands Fjord Trail Awards $450,000 for Putnam Sidewalks
Grant will fund sidewalk extensions in Cold Spring and Philipstown to improve pedestrian access to popular hiking trails.
Published on Feb. 18, 2026
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The Hudson Highlands Fjord Trail Inc. has pledged $450,000 to the Village of Cold Spring and Town of Philipstown to extend sidewalks from Mayor's Park to Route 9D and Little Stony Point along Fair Street. The $2 million project aims to provide a safe pedestrian route and alleviate overcrowding in the area, which sees many out-of-town hikers walking from the Cold Spring Metro-North station to reach hiking trails.
Why it matters
The sidewalk extensions are part of the larger 7.5-mile Fjord Trail project connecting Cold Spring and Beacon, which is designed to improve access and safety for pedestrians and hikers in the area. The grant funding will help the local municipalities complete this important infrastructure project.
The details
The $450,000 grant from the Fjord Trail organization will cover the 20% local match required for the $2 million sidewalk project, with the remaining 80% coming from a state grant. The new sidewalks will run from Mayor's Park to Route 9D and Little Stony Point, providing a safe pedestrian route from the Cold Spring train station to popular hiking destinations. The project will also result in Dockside Park becoming part of the Fjord Trail, allowing for continuous safe passage.
- The Putnam section of the Fjord Trail project is still about two years away, as the organization has decided to prioritize the northern section from Breakneck Ridge to Beacon first.
- Construction on both the northern and southern sections of the Fjord Trail is expected to get underway later this year, according to the project's environmental impact statement timeline.
The players
Hudson Highlands Fjord Trail Inc.
The organization leading the development of the 7.5-mile Fjord Trail connecting Cold Spring and Beacon.
Kathleen Foley
The mayor of Cold Spring.
Chris Winward
The mayor of Nelsonville.
John Van Tassel
The supervisor of Philipstown.
Riverkeeper
An environmental group that has expressed concerns about the impact of Fjord Trail construction on the river.
What they’re saying
“We were grateful for the $450,000 pledge, adding that the three municipalities must now come up with funds to construct sidewalks along Route 9D toward Breakneck.”
— Kathleen Foley, Chris Winward, John Van Tassel, Cold Spring Mayor, Nelsonville Mayor, Philipstown Supervisor (midhudsonnews.com)
What’s next
The judge in the case will decide on Tuesday whether or not to allow Walker Reed Quinn out on bail.
The takeaway
The Fjord Trail project's $450,000 grant for sidewalk extensions in Cold Spring and Philipstown is an important step in improving pedestrian access and safety in this popular hiking destination, though the full Putnam section of the trail is still a couple years away from construction.
