Westchester

Riverwalk

connection

in Tarrytown

Overview

Timeline

Stay Informed

partners & voices

Resources

Overview

Connecting a Trail, Connecting Communities

The proposed RiverWalk Connection in Tarrytown is a 0.6-mile trail that will create a safe, secure route beneath the Governor Mario M. Cuomo Bridge and connect sections of the Westchester RiverWalk trail between Sleepy Hollow and Irvington.

This Connection is part of a longer 51.5-mile trail that will ultimately traverse 14 cities, towns, and villages along the Hudson River shoreline and provide unprecedented opportunities for walking, biking, and picnicking along the river.

More than 32 miles of the trail have already been completed. Scenic Hudson, Westchester County, and the Village of Tarrytown are collaborating to build this small but important section, which is projected to open in 2029.

news + updates

New Trail Design Announced
October 1, 2023
Schumer Secures $2.8 Million for RiverWalk Connection to the Bridge and Route 9
January 10, 2023 | The Hudson Independent
U.S. Senate Leader Chuck Schumer Announces He Has Secured Almost $2.8 Million for Route-9 Westchester Riverwalk Connector for Project Filling Missing Links in Waterfront Trail
January 9, 2023 | Press Release

A Vision for the Future

Overview

A Short But Mighty Link

The Westchester RiverWalk Connection will increase public access to the Hudson River and:

  • Join two popular sections of the RiverWalk to make a continuous trail of almost 9 miles between Scenic Hudson RiverWalk Park at Irvington and Rockwood Hall State Park in Sleepy Hollow.
  • Improve the connection between a number of regional trails, including Westchester RiverWalk, the Old Croton Aqueduct State Historic Park, the Governor Mario M. Cuomo Bridge Shared Use Path, and the Empire State Trail.
  • Create pedestrian and bicycle access between these regional trails and Metro-North, Bee Line Bus, and Hudson Link transit services at Tarrytown Station.
  • Provide a way to walk or cycle between the many historic sites along the trail, including Sunnyside, Lyndhurst, Philipsburg Manor, and Rockwood Hall State Park.

Trail Markers

Miles
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Full length of the Westchester RiverWalk

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Number of communities along the full RiverWalk Trail

Miles
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Length of the Tarrytown Connection

Overview

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the Westchester RiverWalk?
Westchester RiverWalk is a planned 51.5-mile multi-use pathway paralleling the Hudson River in Westchester County that when completed, will link village centers, historic sites, parks, and river-access points via a connection of trails, esplanades, and boardwalks. The route spans 14 municipalities and is part of the Hudson River Valley Greenway system, which will eventually run 283 miles from The Battery in Manhattan to Whitehall. As of 2023, over 32 miles of the RiverWalk have been completed.

What is the RiverWalk Connection Project?
The RiverWalk Connection is a proposed 0.6-mile trail in Tarrytown that will create a safe, secure route beneath the Governor Mario M. Cuomo Bridge and complete a continuous 9-mile section of the RiverWalk trail between Sleepy Hollow and Irvington. A separate element of the project is intended to improve bicycle and pedestrian facilities along Green Street to Tarrytown Station.

Who is leading the Westchester Riverwalk Connection effort?
Scenic Hudson is spearheading a collaborative effort to complete the Connection, in partnership with Westchester County and the Village of Tarrytown. A steering committee consisting of representatives from the Village of Tarrytown, Westchester County, Metro-North, New York State Thruway Authority, and the New York State Department of State will meet regularly in an advisory capacity throughout the duration of the project.

Who will be able to use the trail when it is complete?
The trail will be free and open to the public. It will be ADA-compliant and the intent is that the trail will be open to cyclists and pedestrians alike.

How much will the project cost?
Preliminary estimates indicate that the project may cost $40-50 million. The final budget for construction will be determined once the design is completed.

How is the project being funded?
This is a public-private partnership. Scenic Hudson is leading the collaborative effort to complete the project. Funding will come from grants from local, state, and federal agencies. Details are available in the Facts & Files section below.

Is there somewhere I can look at copies of the various reports, applications, and awards related to the project?
Documents related to the project can be found in the Facts & Files section below.

Will community members have an opportunity to provide input?
Absolutely! We had our first public meeting in 2022, and have met with various stakeholders, including Metro-North and the Tarrytown Volunteer Ambulance Corps. We welcome your input on this project at future public meetings. If you are part of a group that would like a presentation, please email info@riverwalkconnection.org. You can also sign up for this email list to stay informed about future public events.

How can I stay up to date on the progress of the project?
You can sign up for this email list to stay informed.

Is there someone I can contact if I have a question or comment about the project?
Please send your inquiries to info@riverwalkconnection.org.

Project Timeline

Schedule

  • 2016 - Sleepy Hollow-Tarrytown Trails Strategy Recommends Trail Extension
  • 2021 - Feasibility Study Completed
  • 2021-2024 - Secure Initial Funding
  • 2024-2025 - Environmental Review
  • 2025-2027 - Design and Permitting
  • 2027-2029 - Construction
  • 2029 - Trail Opens

Project Timeline

January 9, 2024
December 8, 2023
November 29, 2023
October 18, 2023
September 20, 2023
August 8, 2023
May/June 2023
May 16, 2023
May 8, 2023
February 10, 2023
January 20, 2023
January 17, 2023
January 2023
August 19, 2022
January 2022
June 28, 2022
June 22, 2022
June 10, 2022
March 4, 2022
2021
November 17, 2021
November 10, 2021
2021
2021
June 24, 2018
2018/2019
2018
2016
2016
Presentation to Westchester County Legislator Jewel Williams Johnson.
Presented revised plan to Riverkeeper.
Presented revised plan to the Tarrytown Board of Trustees.
Presented revised plan to Westchester County Executive George Latimer.
Meeting with Metro-North resulted in a redesign of the plan.

Briefed Riverkeeper on plan.
New York State Senate Majority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins' leadership resulted in a $2 million grant for design through the State and Municipal Facilities Capital Program (SAM).
Presentation to New York State Department of Transportation.

Met with Montefiore Medical Center to discuss Transit Connector.
Engineering firm Stantec provided drawings of the route of the Connection on Paulding Ave. to respond to JCC concerns.
Scenic Hudson put out RFP for environmental review.

Met with representatives of Montefiore Medical Center for site visit.
U.S. Senator Chuck Schumer, with the cooperation of former U.S. Congressman Mondaire Jones, secured $2.8M in a Community Project Funding Grant (Transit Connector Award) from U.S. DOT Federal Transit Administration.
Met with representatives of the Harold & Elaine Shames Jewish Community Center to discuss concerns about routing the Transit Connector through the site.
Governor Kathy Hochul identified the project as a State-of-the-State priority and earmarked $3.5 million in her Executive Budget for design, engineering, permitting, and additional studies.
Presentation to Metro-North Railroad.
Westchester County hosted a public meeting at the Tarrytown Senior Center.
Scenic Hudson put out an RFP seeking Owner's Representative services to oversee the federal (NEPA) and State (SEQRA) environmental review and design development through biddable construction documents for the Westchester RiverWalk Connection.
Presentation about RiverWalk Connection given to Washington Irving Boat Club.

Westchester County committed $1.3 million in its 2022 budget for an environmental review.
The Tarrytown Village Board of Trustees passed a resolution expressing the Village's commitment to serve as lead agency in the environmental review.

Met with Tarrytown Village Board of Trustees.

Feasibility study completed.

Sleepy Hollow & Tarrytown Multimodal Transportation Study completed.
Scenic Hudson, NYS Thruway Authority, Village of Tarrytown, Westchester County Planning, Metro-North, Dept. of State, and Stantec (the feasibility engineers) hosted an Open House at the Shames JCC on the Hudson to gather community input on the project.

Scenic Hudson applied for and was awarded a $40,000 Greenway Grant to plan for the connection.
Scenic Hudson awarded $500,000 to conduct a feasibility study from a community benefit fund created by the New York Thruway Authority to help communities mitigate the impact of bridge construction.

Sleepy Hollow-Tarrytown Trails Strategy recommended extending RiverWalk under the bridge. Both villages endorsed and took action to implement the plan.

The New NY Bridge Working Group convened to begin collaborating on ways to connect Westchester RiverWalk under what was then called the Tappan Zee Bridge, then The New NY Bridge, and now the Gov. Mario M. Cuomo Bridge.

History

Stay Informed

Stay Informed

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Sign up to receive email updates on the project, including invitations to community input sessions and other public events.

Partners & Voices

The RiverWalk is a collaborative effort with support from individuals, organizations, businesses, and municipalities throughout the area. Here’s what some of them are saying about the project.

Partners & Voices

Testimonials

RiverWalk began as a vision on a napkin 20 years ago by County Executive Spano and we have been working with the local partners on each piece to get a continuous trail as close to the river as possible. Studying this piece of the RiverWalk is extremely important to be sure we are as environmentally sensitive as possible.
—Norma Drummond, Former Commissioner of the Westchester County Department of Planning
The RiverWalk project means an opportunity for recreation, the ability for a car-free commute to jobs and shops, less traffic congestion and pollution, and a boost to Westchester’s tourism economy. All are benefits that County residents and visitors will receive from the RiverWalk extension. This game-changing investment in the project will move it one step closer to construction — and increase its potential for receiving funds from the recently enacted federal infrastructure bill to complete it.
—Westchester County Executive George Latimer
The Westchester RiverWalk is an exciting component of the Hudson River Valley Greenway system and a boon to local recreation and tourism. It is also a critical link in our county trailway system, enabling pedestrians and cyclists in our area to travel between the river villages safe from road traffic. I can't wait to see it completed!
—MaryJane Shimsky, Member of the New York State Assembly, 92nd Assembly District
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Partners & Voices

supporters

Include your name/org
Business Leaders
  • Business Council of Westchester
  • Edge-on-Hudson
  • Hudson Gateway Association of Realtors (HGAR)
  • National Resources
  • OneKey MLS
  • Rand Commercial
  • Sleepy Hollow-Tarrytown Chamber of Commerce
  • Thalle Industries
  • Westchester County Association
MUNICIPALITIES & ELECTED OFFICIALS
  • U.S. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer
  • NYS Senate Majority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins
  • NYS Assemblymember Mary Jane Shimsky
  • Westchester County Legislator Margaret Cunzio
  • Westchester County Legislator Jewel Williams Johnson
  • Town of Greenburgh
  • Village of Irvington
  • Village of Sleepy Hollow
  • Village of Tarrytown
NGOS & Civic Leaders
  • Bicycle Touring Club of North Jersey
  • George Gumina, Friends of the Rockefeller State Park Preserve
  • Historic Hudson River Towns
  • Irvington Land Trust
  • Lucy Rockefeller Waletzky,  former Chair of the New York State Council of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation
  • Lyndhurst 
  • New Jersey Randonneurs
  • Parks & Trails New York
  • Rockland Bicycling Club
  • Westchester Cycle Club

Resources

Facts & Files

If you would like to take a deeper dive into the process behind the project, here are resources and documents you can explore. For a chronological history of the project, see the Project Timeline.

RiverWalk Connection Feasibility Study (2021)
Sleepy Hollow & Tarrytown Multimodal Transportation Study (2021)
Sleepy Hollow-Tarrytown Trails Strategy (2016)

Hudson River Valley Greenway Grant

The New NY Bridge Community Benefits Program

New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation Grant (via Gov. Kathy Hochul)

State and Municipal Facilities (SAM) Grant

Westchester County Department of Planning

Community Project Funding (CPF) Grant of the U.S. Department of Transportation Federal Transit Administration (via Sen. Charles Schumer)

March 4, 2022: Washington Irving Boat Club
June 28, 2022: Metro-North Railroad
May 8, 2023: Montefiore Medical Center
May 16, 2023: New York State Department of Transportation
August 8, 2023: Riverkeeper
September 20, 2023: Metro-North
October 18, 2023: Westchester County Executive
November 29, 2023: Tarrytown Board of Trustees
December 8, 2023: Riverkeeper
January 9, 2024: Westchester County Legislator Jewel Williams Johnson