Heritage Trail's 2.2-mile extension in Goshen is completed

Local officials held a ribbon-cutting on July 17 to celebrate the completion of a 2.2-mile extension of the Heritage Trail from the village to town of Goshen.
The Orange County trail was paved from West Main Extension Avenue in the village to Hartley Road in the town, making the linear park 16.2 miles long.
“The Heritage Trail is an important recreation destination, and this provides residents with even more access to it,” said County Executive Steve Neuhaus. “Tourists and residents alike visit the trail to enjoy the beauty of our county. The trail is also instrumental not only as an educational tool, but also as a contributor to the county’s economic development. I enjoyed working with the legislature, our department of public works, and our parks and planning departments, as well as the involved municipalities to finish this important project.”
The county spent $500,000 on the project and provided the labor.
Later this summer, construction will begin to extend the trail an additional 4.2 miles from Hartley Road to East Main Street in the City of Middletown. This next phase will create a 20.4-mile paved trail from River Road in Harriman to East Main Street in Middletown. It's expected to be complete in the fall of 2020.
Some 150,000 people a year use the trail for running, biking, hiking, and environmental and natural studies. It has access points in Monroe, Chester, and Goshen, and features historic landmarks, scenic views, a bird and wildlife sanctuary, and access to dining and shopping in the municipalities through which it runs. It's the second-most used county park behind Thomas Bull Memorial Park in Hamptonburgh.