Orange County planners presented a master plan to convert the former Camp LaGuardia site into a major community park that would serve a dense, fast‑growing area of the county and connect to major regional trails.

The plan: county staff, working with the Open Space Institute, laid out a phased concept emphasizing a mix of active and passive recreation: multipurpose and natural trails, overlooks, improved access to Seeley Brook for fishing, ball fields and courts, a splash pad, playgrounds, gathering and event spaces, a dog park and a range of camping opportunities. The plan highlights the site’s strategic position at the intersection of the Heritage Trail and an emerging multiuse trail (the Stenel/Skamok Trail), making it a logical hub for pedestrian and bicycle access.

Funding for design: the legislature approved a $600,000 supplemental appropriation for engineering and design work (capital project number 98 in the 2025 capital plan) to begin cleanup and advance conceptual designs. County planners said the project will be implemented in phases beginning with site cleanup and selective demolition, then construction of initial recreation elements and trail connections, and later expansion tied to grant funding.

Why it matters: the site is in a part of the county with higher population density and limited major community‑park access; planners said the facility would broaden county recreational offerings and support economic and tourism opportunities. Staff noted the property’s complicated history — from a 1936 work‑farm to later municipal shelter uses — and said cleanup and phased development are necessary first steps.

Next steps: engineers are preparing design documents; county staff said they are monitoring grant programs and will pursue public funding opportunities to support park phases. The county described the $600,000 design appropriation as a Type II action under State Environmental Quality Review (SEQR) regulations and said the appropriation funds design work rather than a construction permit.