Poughkeepsie…Dutchess County Department of Public Works crews are working on the construction of new parking lot to provide more than 100 additional parking spots with direct access to the popular Dutchess Rail Trail announced Dutchess County Executive William R. Steinhaus.    The new parking lot is under construction on Van Wyck Lane in the Town of East Fishkill, just south of the Dutchess Rail Trail bridge crossing over Route 376.  Construction is expected to be complete in the next few weeks.

County Executive Steinhaus said, “Mother Nature has finally begun to cooperate with us to allow work to progress on our newest Dutchess Rail Trail parking lot. Our county crews are doing a great job getting the work done and we look forward to opening the new parking lot very soon.” 

Work on the new parking lot had been delayed as Dutchess County Department of Public Works crews dealt with storm damage throughout the county from Tropical Storms Irene and Lee in August. Wet weather throughout the month of September has also been deterrent to the construction progress.   

The County Executive said, “We had many thousands of rail trail users over the three day Columbus Day weekend and with peak fall foliage season in bloom, we know the trail will be very popular so we are pushing for the new trail parking to be complete.”

The new parking lot closely borders the town of Wappinger with easy access from Route 376 and Lake Walton Road as well as the Myers Corners Road area.   The new lot will also be convenient for the Hillside Lake area residents and is only minutes away for many residents of LaGrange neighborhoods.   The parking lot is expected to have up to 120 parking spots including designated handicapped parking.    There will be direct trail access from the parking lot right onto the Dutchess Rail Trail.

This new parking lot will be in addition the Dutchess Rail Trail parking areas currently available including:

• Hopewell Depot Trailhead in East Fishkill
  
  
• Diddell Road Trailhead in Wappinger
  
  
• Gold Gym’s in LaGrange (parking is available in the rear parking lot with direct trail access)
  
  
• Old Manchester Road in LaGrange (just behind Page Home & Hardware Center)
  
  
• Overocker Road Trailhead in Poughkeepsie
  
  
• Love Road in Poughkeepsie
  
  
• Morgan Lake Trailhead in Poughkeepsie

Click here to see a photo gallery of construction on the new parking lot:  http://www.co.dutchess.ny.us/CountyGov/Departments/DPW-Parks/20582.htm