MAMAKATING – Those traversing the O&W Rail Trail in Mamakating will have to consider nearby routes as of last week, as a closure is now in effect that will last until the end of October.

Part of a FEMA-funded flood mitigation project, crews will be working on repairing a section between Sullivan Street and McDonald Road that was damaged by Hurricane Ida in 2021. The construction work will include repairing the bridge, installing new culverts (which help channel water under the pathway), as well as improving the overall condition of the trail.

“We closed the O&W Trail yesterday,” Goodman stated during last Tuesday night’s board meeting. “The contractor is going to be bringing equipment in.”

Before contractors could begin work, preparation had to be completed first. This included trimming and mowing vegetation to allow smoother access to the work area. The town also installed signs and barricades informing visitors and residents about the closure.

The temporary closure comes as the Town of Mamakating continues moving forward with broader improvements to its trail network. While portions of the O&W Trail undergo repairs, other parts of the town’s historic canal trail system are advancing through recently approved funding.

Earlier last month, the Democrat reported that the town board officially ratified agreements tied to two state-funded grants totaling $225,000 that will go toward completing a 1.5-mile stretch of the Delaware & Hudson (D&H) Canal towpath into a fully established pedestrian and bike trail.

Having spent years in the making through collaboration between many town administrations, the project will connect existing portions of the trail system and create a longer route linking residential neighborhoods, municipal facilities, the Village of Wurtsboro, and local businesses.

“We’re very lucky to have this money coming in,” Goodman stated during that May meeting, adding that the grants were secured through State Senate and Assembly initiatives.

The funding will be split between two sections of the trail. A $100,000 grant will support improvements to approximately 1,500 feet of trail from Chase School to McCune Place, while a second $125,000 grant will focus on an additional 2,000-foot section connecting McCune Place to the existing Town Hall trail link.

When the project is finished, the D&H Canal Trail improvements will further refine Mamakating’s recreational connections, including links to the Shawangunk Ridge Trail, the Long Path, the Mamakating Rail Trail, and the Sullivan O&W Trail.

During this past Tuesday’s meeting, Goodman acknowledged that the trail is a popular destination and that visitors and trail-goers may be disappointed by the temporary closure, but pointed to other routes available for those who still want to enjoy the outdoors during the project.

“We posted online alternate places that if anybody is so disappointed that they can’t walk on that trail, there are plenty of other trails for them to go out and get their exercise,” Goodman said.

The closure does not impact the entire trail system, however, as the D&H Canal Trail will remain available for visitors and residents to enjoy.

Those with questions or concerns about alternate hiking paths or the trail itself are encouraged to contact Mamakating Town Hall at 845-888-3000, option four.