CATSKILL SCENIC TRAIL REOPENS EAST OF STAMFORD AFTER LOCALS LEND A HELPING HAND

ARKVILLE, NEW YORK (April 2, 2023) — On April 6th, Catskill Revitalization Corporation (CRC) executive director Todd Pascarella received a call from a Stamford farmer alerting him to a concerning condition on the Catskill Scenic Trail. A large culvert measuring five feet in diameter was apparently clogged and the water was backing up into adjacent farm fields and had been rising up the side of the rail bed about a foot each day.

It was quickly determined that the old 100-foot-long metal culvert pipe had completely collapsed in the middle under the trail and virtually no water could pass through. “The farmers along the trail immediately offered help, there was a large excavator there by the end of the day, and more equipment on its way the next” said Pascarella.

The owners of Eklund Farm Machinery and Prospect Livestock were situated to lend a hand in a hurry both with machines and men to operate them. With the problem being in a wetland area along Route 23, Pascarella called the DEC to be advised on how to proceed. After some back and forth, an emergency permit to replace the culvert was issued the next day. In addition, the DEC officials connected Pascarella with a dewatering pump on loan from Greene County Soil & Water Conservation District to keep the water out of the work area.

The CRC is a not-for-profit that maintains the rail trail as a community resource, and it generates no revenue from the trail itself. The costs associated with the trail are covered by a few grants from local foundations and with donations from trail supporters. The annual budget is limited though, and as the scope of the culvert project became apparent, Pascarella realized this single project could cost more to complete than the CRC typically spends on the entire 26-mile Catskill Scenic Trail in an entire year. Such a large and unexpected project could overwhelm the organization, “But when I turned to Billy Eklund for a cost range to complete the entire thing, he simply said don’t worry about that he would provide whatever was needed so that the trail could open back up,” Pascarella said.

As it turns out, the project was a great example of true community collaboration motivated by generosity and the desire to take care of a cherished local asset, the Catskill Scenic Trail. “If ever a major culvert had to collapse, it could not have found a better place to happen than Stamford, these farmers are amazing here, totally inspirational.”

The Catskill Scenic Trail is now open again to all hikers, bicyclists, runners, and horseback riders.      

If there are any questions or concerns about the Catskill Scenic Trail, please contact Todd Pascarella, Executive Director of both the Delaware Ulster Railroad and Catskill Scenic Trail at director@durr.org.