Park Improvements at Harrier Hill

For a nice outing, head to Scenic Hudson's newly improved Harrier Hill Park off Rod and Gun Club road in the Town of Stockport (Columbia County). This peaceful 6-acre park -- located on the site of a former dairy farm -- offers magnificent views of the Hudson River and Catskill Mountains just minutes from the busy Route 9 corridor.

The new features start at the parking area, where Hemlock Hollow Farm of Philmont was hired to install timber "wheel stops" at each parking space and split-rail fencing around the perimeter. They also restored damaged grass in the surrounding area.

Park visitors will also enjoy six new benches -- fabricated from local storm-damaged white and red oak by May Hill Timber Frames of Ghent -- that were designed by Scenic Hudson staff to echo the open-sided corncrib-style picnic pavilion that was built last summer. May Hill Timber Frames also erected a new custom picket fence made from local cedar and featuring a unique spacing sequence. Plans are underway for additional park amenities, including a boardwalk and viewing area adjacent to the park's pond.

Harrier Hill Park is owned by Scenic Hudson and managed by Columbia Land Conservancy. Funding for these recent park improvements came from grants from the NYS Environmental Protection Fund and the Recreational Trails Program (a NYS Dept. of Transportation program administered by NYS Parks).