Rail-trail leaders push signage, murals and grant work; Greenway grant expires at end of November

Hudson Valley Rail Trail leadership and town staff used the Sept. 17 meeting to review trail signage, public-art plans and a pending Greenway grant to complete the Ford Bridge and trail connections.

Heather Blakeley presented a comprehensive signage package for the John Burrows/Black Creek Trail tied to a greenway grant that she said expires at the end of November; the proposed package includes entry signs, kiosks, interpretive panels and minor repairs or refreshes to existing kiosk structures. Blakeley said the grant could cover sign fabrication while the highway department would provide in‑kind labor for installation; she asked the board to authorize staff coordination and to let highway crews complete some staining/painting and minor repairs.

Eric, identified later in the meeting as the new president of the Hudson Valley Rail Trail, told the board he wants to prioritize capital projects—improving the caboose, pavilions and trail amenities—and said the trail has seen "more vandalism on the trail than we've had in the last 5 years," citing damaged benches, a broken fence post and bathroom repairs as recent examples. He said membership stood at 129 and called for more volunteers to help maintenance and fundraising.

Speakers discussed coordinating with landowner David Weinberg on trail alignment and with highway staff for kiosk updates, and they mentioned applying for a Greenway grant to help finance Ford Bridge work (speakers discussed design, bids, and a placeholder figure mentioned in the meeting). Blakeley and others said some in‑kind matching hours remain to be documented by the highway department before grant closeout.

Board members asked staff to follow up with highway and water-department personnel about fence repairs and site access and to return with firm budget numbers and installation plans before fabrication and construction moves forward.