A routine school field trip in Nyack turned into something straight out of an urban legend on Wednesday, when dozens of schoolgirls suddenly crawled out of a drainage tunnel behind a downtown restaurant.
The students had been on an unauthorized walk through a culvert during a visit to nearby Memorial Park when they surfaced in the courtyard of Hudson House, startling staff who watched them climb up from the tunnel. First responders were called in, checked the children, and ultimately sent them home. Village officials said no injuries were reported.
According to CBS News New York, Nyack Mayor Joe Rand said the girls were visiting Memorial Park when "they saw the culvert" and decided to keep going into a massive storm‑drain tunnel. Rand told the outlet the group walked roughly half a mile through dark, uneven terrain before emerging near Hudson House and added that he was grateful everyone made it out safely.
"It was filling up with kids," Hudson told CBS News New York, describing the moment staff realized the patio was turning into an impromptu exit ramp from the drain. He said the children looked excited and unharmed, and that restaurant employees helped alert authorities.
Where it happened
Hudson House sits on Main Street just below Nyack Memorial Park, which the village lists as an 11‑acre riverside park with playgrounds and a splash pad, per the Village of Nyack. With its Hudson River views, it is a popular spot for school trips and community gatherings.
Why culverts can be risky
The tunnel the students walked through is part of the village's stormwater system, and county planning documents flag culvert upgrades and Nyack Creek improvements as high‑priority mitigation projects. The Rockland County hazard mitigation plan notes that undersized or damaged culverts can worsen flooding and create life‑safety risks during storms, which is the very danger the mayor warned about if heavy rain had rolled in that afternoon.
What officials say they'll do next
Mayor Rand said he plans to review safety measures around the culvert entrance and reminded residents that drainage tunnels are not meant for recreation, no matter how adventurous they might look. Officials also thanked first responders for quickly checking on the students and escorting them to safety.
