POUGHKEEPSIE, NY (July 31, 2026) – New York State Senator Rob Rolison (39th District) is calling for the immediate restoration of emergency call boxes on the Walkway Over the Hudson after learning they have reportedly been out of service for several months—raising serious concerns about emergency preparedness at one of New York's most visited state parks.

In a letter to the New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation, Senator Rolison requested an explanation for why the emergency phones have remained inoperable for so long and what steps are being taken to restore them. During a recent visit, his office observed only one emergency call box on the Dutchess County side of the bridge and was unable to locate one on the Ulster County side.

The Senator noted that the Walkway welcomes hundreds of thousands of visitors annually and that local law enforcement has responded to numerous emergency incidents on the bridge in recent years where rapid intervention has helped save lives.

In addition to requesting a timeline for repairs, Senator Rolison asked state officials to outline their long-term plan for ensuring adequate emergency communications coverage across the entire Walkway and offered to assist in addressing any funding or infrastructure challenges that may be delaying improvements.

“Ensuring that visitors and staff have access to dependable emergency communications should be a shared priority. I appreciate your attention to this matter and look forward to working together to ensure the Walkway remains a safe destination for everyone. I stand ready to assist in any way I can, as the safety of all who visit and work at the Walkway is paramount,” the letter reads.