OLIN was commissioned by Scenic Hudson to develop a design strategy for the transformation of a former industrial and mining site into a new 520-acre park in Ulster County, New York, along the Hudson River. The site includes 260 acres of woodlands, more than a mile of Hudson Riverfront offering sweeping views, a dramatic cliff and ridgeline, and 37 acres of wetlands. The ambition is to create a new model of state park that harnesses the site’s ecological recovery and embedded history to formulate a future that is economically sound, climate-conscious, and accessible to all.
The park’s size will enable opportunities for a range of outdoor experiences from intimate hikes and family gatherings to larger community events. It hosts a vital segment of the dual Kingston Greenline and Empire State Trails, connecting Kingston Point Beach with East Kingston, one of the few places where the 750-mile Empire State Trail will connect directly with the Hudson River. The park also features historical remnants of brickmaking, natural cement, and ice harvesting industries; the adapted structures and sublime quarried canyons reveal industrial hallmarks of the Hudson Valley’s critical role in New York State’s development while demonstrating a forward-thinking future of climate adaptation and unique disturbance ecologies. By utilizing the site’s numerous existing natural and industrial features, the park can become a significant economic asset to local communities and support residents’ livelihoods by attracting visitors with activities appropriate to the land’s considerable conservation values.
Through the team’s robust and inclusive public engagement campaign, Sojourner Truth State Park will reflect Kingston and Ulster County’s communities, values, and aspirations. Along with local community groups, OLIN conducted online meetings and interviews with stakeholders to facilitate active dialogues with residents and community leaders to understand how the future park can help realize connectivity and recreational and economic benefits.
