On Saturday, June 16, officials from Scenic Hudson, the Village of Cold Spring and New York State were joined by other project supporters in a groundbreaking ceremony for a new $3.6-million park at Scenic Hudson's West Point Foundry Preserve.
See these photos on Flickr for a slideshow with full captions and descriptions.
The event was attended by about 85 people and marked the beginning of an effort to create an education-heritage resource for the public that will tell stories of the foundry's contributions to the Industrial Revolution, its role in the Civil War and the land's remarkable ecological renewal. The new park will feature innovative interpretive elements, gathering areas and a universally accessible trail connecting to the Cold Spring train station. The new park is scheduled to be completed by fall 2013.
Foundry a leader in nation's Industrial Revolution
Located on a dramatic 87-acre forested site bisected by Foundry Brook, West Point Foundry Preserve is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The preserve contains the extensive remains of the 19th-century ironworks that manufactured cannons (Parrott guns) credited with helping to win the Civil War, some of the nation's first steam engines, pipes for New York City's water system and machinery essential for the cotton and sugar industries.
Park design will stimulate the mind and senses
Visitors will learn about the foundry's industrial significance while they also experience the inspiring natural beauty of surrounding wetlands, forests, Foundry Brook and the Hudson Highlands.
Historic paths and rail lines will be reinterpreted to connect stabilized building ruins and provide access as outlined by the Americans with Disabilities Act. A series of graphic panels and unique sculptural pieces, built to scale, will show how the foundry's water wheels and gun testing platform worked. Displays also will educate visitors about how Foundry Cove has been recovering from pollution caused by a former 20th-century factory nearby. Other features will include benches, overlooks and a gathering area with shade trees and picnic tables designed for school groups.
See this press release for additional details