Sojourner Truth State Park

Sojourner Truth State Park is a 508-acre (2.06 km2) state park that is under construction in Ulster County, New York, to the north of the city of Kingston. It is bound by Hudson River to its east and New York State Route 32 on its west. The park was dedicated by Governor Kathy Hochul on February 28, 2022, in honor of Sojourner Truth, who was born nearby in Esopus, and Black History Month.[1] The park was officially opened by the governor on April 23, 2022, coinciding with Earth Day.[2]

Sojourner Truth State Park
Aerial map of the borders of Sojourner Truth State Park.
TypeState park
LocationKingston, New York, United States
Area508 acres (206 ha)
CreatedFebruary 28, 2022
Operated byNew York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation
StatusUnder construction

History

The site of this park was obtained by Scenic Hudson in 2019[3] and transferred to the state at a cost of $13.5 million, which was funded through the state's Environmental Protection Fund. Prior to its designation as a park, the site was used for industries such as cement production, brick making, quarrying, and ice harvesting.[4] Prior to the park's dedication by Governor Hochul, its informal names were Hudson Cliffs State Park and Quarry Waters Park[5]

Prior to its acquisition by Scenic Hudson, the site of this park was owned by the real estate development firm AVR, which sought to build housing on the property.[6] From the mid-1950s until 1985, Hudson Valley Cement operated a cement facility on the site; followed by Tilcon Minerals, which manufactured construction materials here until 2005.[7]

Park description

Along with industrial ruins, most of the park is 260 acres of forested hills with 37 acres of wetlands along the Hudson River. Two former quarries inside this park have been flooded since their abandonment, designed as Lost Lake and Quarry Lake. The Hudson River Brickyard Trail, which is managed by the nonprofit organization Scenic Hudson, runs through this park. The trail is part of the longer Empire State Trail.

References
  1. Doxsey, Patricia R. (February 28, 2022). "New state park in Kingston, town of Ulster named after Sojourner Truth". Daily Freeman. Kingston. Retrieved March 2, 2022.
  2. McCabe, Phyllis (April 25, 2022). "Opening of Sojourner Truth State Park". Hudson Valley One. Kingston. Retrieved April 25, 2022.
  3. "From Industry to Open Space—Making a Transformational Change in Kingston" (Press release). Scenic Hudson. October 29, 2019. Retrieved March 2, 2022.
  4. "Governor Hochul Announces New State Park Named for Sojourner Truth" (Press release). Governor’s Press Office. February 28, 2022. Retrieved March 2, 2022.
  5. Platt, Frances Marion (March 11, 2021). "Nature heals while planners plan at future Hudson Cliffs State Park". Hudson Valley One. Retrieved March 9, 2022.
  6. Smith, Jesse J. (January 24, 2020). "A new 508-acre Hudson River park for Kingston?". Hudson Valley One. Retrieved March 2, 2022.
  7. Pantuso, Phillip (March 11, 2021). "Scenic Hudson Saves a 500-Acre Plot on the Kingston Waterfront from Development". Chronograph. Retrieved March 2, 2022.

41°56′38″N 73°58′21″W

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