The New Windsor Town Board voted unanimously on October 7 to support a resolution seeking the town's inclusion in the federal Highlands region, a move town officials say could open the door to federal money for land conservation and park improvements, including potential work at Little Falls Park. The vote does not mean New Windsor has received any funding yet — it only supports the town's request to be added to the federally recognized boundary maintained by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
As reported by Mid Hudson Times, New Windsor Recreation Director Jessica Dickinson brought the funding opportunity to Town Supervisor Stephen Bedetti's attention. Bedetti said adopting the resolution opens the door to federal funding, and that the town hopes to secure as much federal money as possible for projects like Little Falls Park. The mechanism that makes this possible is relatively new: a December 2022 reauthorization of the federal Highlands Conservation Act added a provision letting the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service expand the official Highlands boundary to include new municipalities upon a state's request, according to the Appalachian Mountain Club. Before that change, the boundary was fixed by 2004 maps.
What's at Stake for Little Falls Park
Little Falls Park, located off Bradford Avenue and Walsh Avenue, is a roughly 32-acre property along Quassaick Creek. The town has been pursuing formal dedication of the site as public parkland and developing preliminary plans that include walking trails, the two ponds and additional recreation areas.
A Bigger Trail Network Along the Creek
Little Falls Park could eventually become part of a larger network of trails and public green spaces, officials say. The town is eyeing a connection to the proposed 2.5-mile Quassaick Creek Greenway, a planned continuous trail and open space network linking the Hudson River, Muchattoes Lake and Crystal Lake along the creek that forms the border between Newburgh and New Windsor. The greenway is steered by Scenic Hudson alongside Orange County, local municipalities and the Quassaick Creek Watershed Alliance.
Newburgh has already signaled support for the broader effort. In September, the Newburgh City Council voted to back Scenic Hudson's application to the Orange County Open Space Fund to acquire roughly eight acres along Ellis Avenue on Snake Hill, property that borders Newburgh's water tower and Crystal Lake land with views toward Fishkill Ridge. Bedetti said the Highlands program could provide another funding source for projects that preserve natural resources and connect parks, trails and other protected areas.
What the Highlands Program Actually Covers
Established by Congress in 2004, the Highlands Conservation Act set aside the Highlands region as a national conservation priority and authorized federal financial assistance for high-priority conservation land. The region spans more than 3 million acres across New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania and Connecticut, encompassing forests, farmland, historic sites, recreational areas and drinking-water sources that serve more than 15 million people. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service administers the voluntary grant program for state and local governments as well as private forest and farm landowners, aiming to protect forests, wetlands, wildlife habitats and waterways in cooperation with willing property owners.
The program has distributed more than $80 million in federal Land and Water Conservation Fund money, according to the Appalachian Mountain Club; in 2022, more than 13,000 acres had been protected across the four-state region. But inclusion in the boundary is only the first step.
For now, the town board's vote formalizes its request for federal recognition, but inclusion alone would not guarantee funding.
