FALLSBURG, NY — New York State, Sullivan County and the Town of Fallsburg celebrated the opening of the Neversink River crossing on the Fallburg section of the Sullivan O&W Rail Trail with a ribbon cutting on Thursday, September 17. The 12-foot-wide, 180-foot-long bridge now connects over 13 miles of trail, from Mountaindale to Ferndale.

The project served as the latest step in an ongoing effort to use a 50-mile-plus section of former railway track used by the New York, Ontario & Western Railway (NYO&W) to create a trail network to connect communities in Sullivan County and provide opportunities for outdoor recreation. The project cost $3.4 millions, funded by $1.3 million in federal grants, $1.2 million in state grants and a $400,000 private contribution. Sullivan County also provided $500,000 in matching funds, and the Town of Fallsburg provided in-kind services.

“It’s a special honor to stand here today and celebrate something that, for so many people, has been a long time coming,” Fallsburg Town Supervisor Nate Steingart said at the ribbon cutting for the crossing. “When you look at this bridge, it’s easy to see steel and concrete, but I see something different. I see a community coming together.”

Chair of the Sullivan County Legislature Nadia Rajsz emphasized the teamwork and collaboration that made the project come to fruition. At the ribbon cutting, Rajsz thanked the people involved, including county employees, town employees, lawmakers and local philanthropists, including Sullivan 180 and the Gerry family.

“You’re about to stroll through all the natural beauty this location offers, but what you won’t see is the incredible effort that led to this moment,” she said. “As you can see, this initiative took a massive amount of collaboration. And if any one of those organizations had not been able or willing, we would not be here today. I am immensely grateful to everyone who has made this day possible.”

Joseph Perrello, who represents Fallsburg in the legislature, said the project was not an easy one, but the players that made it happen knew that the work would be worth it.

“We knew that this was an important piece of the puzzle that we needed to put in place so we could continue the trail. And I’m glad that we all decided to do it,” Perrello said. “The county is here to help everybody to move forward, get progress, and this is one piece of the puzzle that we’re trying to put together.”

But now the work is completed, and residents and visitors of Sullivan County can cross the Neversink as they walk miles of trails. In his remarks, Steingart said that the new crossing serves as a symbol for the wider goals of the Sullivan O&W rail trail project.

“The bridge isn’t just about getting from one side of the Neversink to the other. It’s about connecting people,” Steingart said. “It connects communities and brings us closer to the vision of more than 13 miles of trail that connects Mountaindale to Ferndale, and it gives our residents another place to walk, ride and exercise, and enjoy nature and spend time with their families.”