[Read more about these projects in the online version of our newspaper, Westchester Environment. Click here]

The Hutch: Putting the Park Back in the Parkway

An FCWC Staff Report

An October 2002 conference at Manhattanville College co-sponsored by FCWC jump started the effort to restore the beautiful old trails along the Hutchinson River Parkway. The demand for multi-use trails and trail systems is burgeoning throughout the country as people seek to enjoy their landscapes and make their hometowns livable and enjoyable. Jogging, walking and bicycle riding are three of the most popular recreational activities for Westchester county residents.

Eastern Trail Needed

There are four linear parks in the western part of our county- the Croton Aqueduct, the north and south county trailways, the Bronx River Parkway and the developing Hudson River Greenway. There is no comparable recreational opportunity in the densely populated south eastern part of the county. We need a restored Hutch trail. A redevelopment of that trail would also provide a wonderful linkage among the many communities along the Hutch and provide an option for using the greenway as an alternative means of getting from one community to another. And now with the development of the East Coast Greenway trail planned from Maine to Florida, the Hutch will serve to connect Westchester with the entire east coast.

State of the Hutch Trails

The Hutchinson River Parkway was the creation of the visionary Westchester County Parks Commission which recommended its construction in 1924 to provide a scenic and rapid route for cars but also to protect water supplies and provide a park for the local residents. It is the park part of the commission's goal that needs to be revisited. The park trail along the Hutch has fallen in many places into disrepair; it is in places narrow or overgrown, it lacks signage, trailside maps, and marked access points. In places, high way improvements implemented over the years interfere with its continuity.

Existing linkages

The Hutch Greenway is the connecting strand in the necklace of 5 beautiful county parks that run along the Hutch - Maple Moor in White Plains, Saxon Woods in Scarsdale, Twin Lakes in Eastchester, Nature Study Woods in New Rochelle and Willson's Woods in Mount Vernon. It offers continuing opportunities for a connection down to Pelham Bay Park, Orchard Beach, and City Island in New York City and on up into Connecticut. Not only could it connect all of these parks, but it runs along several other wonderful attractions in Westchester - beautiful lakes, the Weinberg Nature Center, the Leatherstocking Trail, Memorial Field, Quaker Ridge Golf course, Lake Isle, and several equestrian facilities. It is a remarkable resource with remarkable promise.

Participation essential

In order to advance the goal of resurrecting this trailway system, FCWC worked with Art Scinta the mayor of Pelham, Manhattanville College, the Purchase Environmental Protective Association and the Westchester Historical Society to gather those interested in the development of such a trail at the October conference. Some of the highlights of the conference are reported in these pages.

Gathering input from local citizens, bringing communities together, informing people about the trailway, and working with government at all levels to develop plans and fund the work necessary is required to make this a reality. Citizen participation is essential. Please contact FCWC at 914-422-4053 if you can help with any part of this effort.

[Read more about these projects in the online version of our newspaper, Westchester Environment. Click here]