Governor Hochul Announces Completion of $3.2 Million Renovation of Coxsackie State Boat Launch and Riverside Park in Time for Memorial Day Weekend

Governor Kathy Hochul today announced completion of a $3.2 million project to revitalize the Coxsackie State Boat Launch and Riverside Park on the Hudson River in Greene County. Open in time for Memorial Day Weekend, the state boat launch is the first to be renewed under the Hudson Eagles Recreation Area, an initiative to improve public access and resiliency on the wild stretch of the Hudson River between Albany and Kingston and enhance connections to the waterfront communities in the region.

"Just in time for Memorial Day Weekend, the newly renovated Coxsackie Boat Launch and Riverside Park offer the perfect opportunity for New Yorkers to kick off the summer season in the great outdoors," Governor Hochul said. "Our state parks, trails and boat launches are vital to the New York experience, and my administration will continue to invest in the many wonderful gems that make up our park system."

Site improvements include:

• New open-air pavilion to host weekly Farmers Markets and other special events.
• New trees, landscaping and seating throughout the site.
• Improved bike and pedestrian connections between the waterfront and downtown, as well as new sidewalks to improve pedestrian site circulation throughout.
• New welcome, wayfinding, and orientation signage, including water-facing site identification signage for boaters, as well as interpretive signage and other site elements to highlight local history and the environmental restoration of the Hudson River.
• Basketball court renovations.

Improvements to the boat launch include new floating gangways and docks to make launching easier, a new ADA-compliant kayak launch, and added space for transient boater tie-ups.

Environmental improvements include a new boat wash station to reduce the spread of aquatic invasive species, a rain garden to control stormwater, electric vehicle charging stations, and LED lighting fixtures.

The Hudson Eagles Recreation Area is focused on water-based access and experiences. Under the initiative, four additional state boat facilities - Schodack Island State Park, Crailo State Historic Site, Athens State Boat Launch, and Hudson State Boat Launch - will receive upgrades, expanding access for boating, fishing, and wildlife observation.

Pocket park amenities will also be added, such as picnic areas, gazebos, ample seating, and signage about nearby local amenities. The sites will be linked with shared branding, educational materials, and website. The $4.2 billion Clean Water, Clean Air, and Green Jobs Environmental Bond Act, if approved by voters in November 2022, will fund further improvements.

State Parks Commissioner Erik Kulleseid said, "The new and improved Coxsackie Boat Launch is an excellent blueprint for better connecting communities to the Hudson River. The Hudson Eagles Recreation Area will build on this achievement up and down the Hudson River. I applaud Governor Hochul for advancing this important work to improve parks and open space and protect our environment."

State Senator Michelle Hinchey said, "Greene County is one of the most beautiful areas in upstate New York, and the newly revamped Coxsackie Boat Launch and Riverside Park will continue to elevate our region as a hub of outdoor recreation and environmental preservation with strong economic ties to our local business community. I will always work to make sure Greene County receives the level of investment it deserves, and I thank Governor Hochul for moving this renovation forward to deliver an incredible multi-functional green space for our community to enjoy for years to come."

Assemblymember Chris Tague said, "The completion of the Coxsackie Boat Launch and Riverside Park's renovations is great news for local residents. I am especially excited about the new pavilion, which will host a farmers' market showcasing the best of what our local farmers, craftsmen and small business owners have to offer. I want to thank everyone who helped make this renovation a reality for their hard work getting it ready for operation in time for Memorial Day weekend."

Village of Coxsackie Mayor Mark Evans said, "The upgrade to this park will have a generational impact to the people of Coxsackie and the surrounding areas. We thank Governor Hochul and the State Parks for sharing the vision we had for the best waterfront on the upper Hudson River."

Riverkeeper Patrol Boat Captain and Vice President for Advocacy John Lipscomb said, "Thank you, Governor Hochul and Commissioner Kulleseid. The Hudson Eagles Recreation Area is an extraordinary initiative, reminiscent of the grand vision over a century ago that led to the creation of the Palisades Interstate Park farther south. The Hudson Eagles Recreation Area is a wonderful gift to the river we love, and to the communities along its shores. This park will help bring the Hudson River the recognition, protection, funding and habitat restoration it so needs and deserves."

Scenic Hudson Executive Director of Policy, Advocacy and Science Pete Lopez said, "Revitalization of the Coxsackie State Boat Launch and Riverside Park through advancement of the Hudson Eagles Recreation Area initiative represents a dynamic and compelling combination of environmental stewardship, economic investment and enhanced quality of life opportunities for the people of Coxsackie and the broader Hudson Valley. Governor Hochul and her administration are to be commended for their leadership in promoting increased access to the waterfront for local residents, strengthening local communities, and providing new opportunities for visitors to experience the Hudson's majesty and all the region has to offer. Even as we celebrate this accomplishment, we are all committed to doing more. Undertaking improvements in other parks that are part of this visionary initiative depends on the November passage of the Clean Water, Clean Air, and Green Jobs Environmental Bond Act."

The Coxsackie State Boat Launch project builds on Governor Hochul's efforts to expand and enhance outdoor recreation across New York State. The newly enacted Fiscal Year 2023 budget increased capital funding for State Parks by $140 million, for a total of $250 million. This substantial level of funding will aid the ongoing transformation of New York's flagship parks and support critical infrastructure projects throughout the park system.

The New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation oversees more than 250 parks, historic sites, recreational trails, golf courses, boat launches and more, which are visited by more than 78 million people annually.

For more information on any of these recreation areas, visit www.parks.ny.gov, download the free NY State Parks Explorer mobile app or call 518.474.0456. Also, connect on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.