Harckham Leads Hudson River Valley Ramble Hike in Peekskill’s Fort Hill Park

Peekskill, NY – New York State Sen. Pete Harckham led a mile-long hike in Fort Hill Park here yesterday as part of the official events connected to the 21st annual Hudson River Valley Ramble, a “walk / hike / paddle / bike / tour” celebration of the natural beauty, historical and cultural treasures found in the Hudson Valley.

Over a dozen people joined Harckham for the early morning hike, including William C. “Willie” Janeway, executive director of the Adirondack Council and one of the architects of the Ramble while he was serving as the longtime regional director of the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation in the Hudson Valley / Catskill Region.

“The Hudson River Valley Ramble is a yearly reminder of just how incredible this part of the world is,” said Harckham. “The Covid-19 pandemic kept many of us sheltered and indoors last year, and this hike is proof of how important the Great Outdoors is to our physical and mental needs as humans.”

“As a Hudson Valley native, I love the Hudson River Valley Ramble and had a great time catching up with Senator Pete Harkham along the trail this weekend,” said Janeway. “The Senator has been a strong friend of conservation and the Adirondack Park and we look forward to making progress for forests, climate, water quality, wildlife and communities in the upcoming session.”

Harckham noted that Fort Hill Park, with its historical importance connected to the Revolutionary War, is “Peekskill's hidden gem”—just a few blocks away from the city’s downtown area—and yet home to different rock formations, Colonial-era stone walls and a protected woodland, all open to the public.

In 2019, Harckham was able to deliver a $221,000 state infrastructure grant to the City of Peekskill for Fort Hill Park, which helped expand and improve the trail network in the park.

“Fort Hill Park gives residents who live in an urban setting access to nature,” Harckham continued, “and it’s even close to an elementary school! The park offers great opportunities for residents interested in walking through the woods and taking in vistas of the Hudson Valley.”

To see more photos of the Ramble hike at Fort Hill Park, visit Senator Harckham’s Facebook page.