Open Space Institute and West Point Cadets Unveil New Bridge at Schunnemunk State Park

Collaboration enhances recreational access to nature, showcases cadet expertise

CORNWALL, NY – OSI and collaborators, including the U.S. Military Academy (USMA) at West Point, Palisades Interstate Park Commission (PIPC), and the New York State Office of Parks, Recreation, and Historic Preservation (OPRHP) celebrate the completion of a second pedestrian trail bridge at Schunnemunk State Park. This project, achieved through ongoing collaboration, highlights their dedication to enhancing recreational infrastructure within New York’s state parks, marking the seventh year of cooperation between OSI and the cadets. (Photos available here.)

Constructed by a team of five Civil Engineering cadets, with two faculty advisors, the new bridge offers an elevated pathway across a marshy swale. Serving as a capstone project for the cadets’ senior year, this project provided the cadets with invaluable hands-on design, management, logistics and construction experience as they prepare for their future careers. The steel arch bridge was built to support year-round, multi-use recreational access, including hiking, biking, running, and cross-country skiing.

Located within the viewshed of the historic Moodna Viaduct, Schunnemunk Meadows was permanently protected by OSI in 2015 and transferred to OPRHP in 2018 as an addition to Schunnemunk State Park, with OSI managing the land through 2028. Over the past two decades, OSI has protected more than 3,300 acres to create and expand Schunnemunk State Park for public benefit and enjoyment.

“Our work with the U.S. Military Academy continues to yield remarkable results, with each class of cadets bringing forth innovative designs that enhance our state parks,” said Peter Karis, OSI’s vice president of parks and stewardship. “This new Schunnemunk Meadows bridge expands recreational opportunities and stands as an enduring testament to the cadets’ expertise and dedication to service. Working with our future Army leaders is always a highlight of our year.”

State Parks Commissioner Pro Tempore Randy Simons said, “Schunnemunk State Park is a true gem, offering incredible mountain top views and rolling meadows for hiking, biking, running, and skiing. I am grateful to the Open Space Institute and U.S. Military Academy for this project to improve recreational access within the park and help visitors to experience more of what Schunnemunk has to offer.”

Led Klosky, Professor of Civil Engineering at West Point, expressed profound satisfaction with the project’s outcome. “These bridge projects serve as a unique training ground for our cadets, honing essential skills like design, construction, project management, and teamwork—qualities indispensable for U.S. Army officers. Confronting the challenges of remote construction adds an extra layer of complexity. The team’s success with the Schunnemunk Meadow Bridge is commendable; their hard work and dedication delivered functionality and enduring elegance that will withstand the test of time.”

Cadet Skyler Johnston, who acted as project manager for the cadet team said, “It was a great experience working through such a complex problem. The rolling hills inspired the arch. We wanted to complement the natural scenery so that the bridge adds to the landscape. The scope of this project helped me build my confidence.”

Over the past seven years, OSI has contributed more than $115,000 to construct cadet-built pedestrian bridges in state parks.

Generous donations from community partners, including John Bernauer, President of Industrial Services Enterprises, have played a vital role in the project’s success. Bernauer’s support includes a donation of $13,000 worth of steel for the bridge, and mentorship. Bernauer rallied his colleagues at Metals USA and Greiner Industries to fabricate and roll the steel needed for the arch.

“It’s an honor to guide these impressive cadets, supporting them in bringing their vision from concept to reality. Playing a part in crafting infrastructure that not only enriches the community but also molds the future of these emerging leaders is immensely fulfilling. My sincere appreciation goes out to Metals USA and Greiner Industries for their indispensable support and partnership in bringing these projects to fruition,” said John Bernauer, President of Industrial Services Enterprises.

The Schunnemunk Meadows bridge project is part of a larger effort led by OSI to build a formal shared-use trail network in Orange County. After decades of OSI’s work to create and expand Schunnemunk State Park, OSI is partnering with OPRHP to build a 2.4-mile loop trail through Schunnemunk Meadows that will connect the Otterkill Road Trailhead to the future Schunnemunk Rail Trail.

OSI has undertaken significant efforts to develop the primary segments of the Schunnemunk Meadows Trail and enhance the Otterkill Road Trailhead. These endeavors, spearheaded by Lucy Waletzky’s leadership, entail substantial financial investment. In 2022, OSI secured a $500,000 Environmental Protection Fund grant from the New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation through Title 9 of the Environmental Protection Act of 1993. Additionally, the project benefits from a grant of $250,000 from the Hudson River Valley Greenway.

The vision to create the Schunnemunk Meadows Trail was outlined as a top priority project in OSI’s Highlands West Trail Connectivity Plan, an OSI-created plan that establishes a vision for an interconnected trail system spanning more than 93,000 acres of protected land in the region. The Schunnemunk Meadows Trail will expand recreational opportunities for the public and further establish Schunnemunk State Park as a destination easily accessible from the New York metropolitan area. Phase One of the Schunnemunk Meadows Trail project is anticipated to be completed by winter 2025.

OSI’s ongoing connection with West Point has yielded eight trail bridges. Earlier projects have been completed at Harriman State Park, and five bridge replacements were completed along the School Mountain Road section of the Hubbard Perkins Loop Trail at Fahnestock State Park.

About OSI

Since its founding in 1974, OSI has protected more than 38,000 acres in the Highlands West region. At Schunnemunk State Park alone, OSI protected nearly 3,300 acres to create, expand, and improve Schunnemunk State Park for public benefit and enjoyment. Schunnemunk State Park offers ridge-top views of the Hudson Highlands to the east, and the Shawangunks and Catskills to the west. OSI’s latest projects in the area, including the Highlands West Trail Connectivity Plan, seek to expand the region’s recreational trail network, preserve scenic views, and protect the area from overdevelopment.

About West Point

The U.S. Military Academy at West Point is a four-year, co-educational, federal, liberal arts college located 50 miles north of New York City. It was founded in 1802 as America’s first college of engineering and continues today as the world’s premier leader-development institution, consistently ranked among top colleges in the country. Its mission remains constant—to educate, train, and inspire the Corps of Cadets so that each graduate is a commissioned leader of character committed to the values of Duty, Honor, Country and prepared for a career of professional excellence and service to the nation as an officer in the U. S. Army. For more information, go to www.westpoint.edu.