Dear Friends, H U D SO N H IG H L A N D S FJ O R D T R A IL A N N UA L R EP O RT 202 2 1 On behalf of the Hudson Highlands Fjord Trail board and staff, I am pleased to share with you our first Annual Report. Amy Kacala Executive Director Truly, time flies. It amazes me that I have been working to advance the Fjord Trail for eight years, first as Senior Community Planner with Scenic Hudson, and now as Executive Director of this new exciting nonprofit. During this time, I’ve enjoyed working with and being inspired by the group of committed partners, supporters, community members, and stakeholder entities, who have developed and continue to evolve an extraordinary vision for improving safe access and managing visitation at some of the most popular trails in the northeast. The Fjord Trail will be a 7.5-mile linear park through one of the most beautiful stretches of Hudson River shoreline. So much more than a walkable, bikeable route that connects the City of Beacon and the Village of Cold Spring, the Fjord Trail will be a recreational resource for locals; a much-needed method to manage visitation to the region’s most popular day hikes; and a means to welcome people of all ages, abilities, and backgrounds to connect to nature, and to one another. In the following pages, you’ll meet local residents who share, in their own words, their enthusiasm for the opportunities that the Fjord Trail will create and the role it will play, as both a visitor destination and an invaluable community resource. Over the last two years as HHFT Executive Direc- tor, I’ve had not only the pleasure of working with the stellar group of architects, landscape designers, and engineers who comprise our design staff, but also the honor of working with our board of directors to begin shaping HHFT as the nonprofit entity that will oper- ate, program, and steward the Fjord Trail linear park as it moves from vision to reality. Our small but mighty staff of five passionate professionals with experience in recreation management, communications, program- ming, and nonprofit administration are moving our mission forward in exciting ways. In this, our inaugural Annual Report, you’ll learn more about the history of and vision for the Fjord Trail project, and get a sneak peek into the design process for the first phase of construction: Breakneck Connec- tor and Bridge. Thank you for your interest and support over the last year! As always, don’t hesitate to reach out to us for additional information. We are grateful you are with us as we work to bring the Hudson Highlands Fjord Trail to life. See you on the trail!
