Swinging Bridge

In 2011, Palenville’s Swinging Bridge was destroyed by Hurricane Irene,
but the Swinging Bridge is still in the hearts of everyone who knows Palenville.

The local Palenville Memories project continues as we design a memorial to the Swinging Bridge, the Tannery Bridge and all the stories from Palenville's rich past.

We thank everyone who donates funds and supports these efforts.

Planning is underway for a pocket park featuring the Memory Bricks and the inspiring views of Palenville's Kaaterskill Creek.

The History of this Project

Plans and cost estimates were drawn up by an engineering firm and we were invited to apply for certain government grants to help fund the construction.
The Town of Catskill signed a document assuming the insurance for the Swinging Bridge.
A community group, Palenville The Hamlet, Inc., signed a contract with the Town to provide maintenance for the Bridge.
On the south side, an easement was generously donated by a private landowner to make a path from Mill Road to the creek.
The NYS Supreme Court decided against supporting the existence of a public easement from Route 23A to the north side of the site of the Swinging Bridge.
As of the end of January, 2020, we were still considering the next steps to Bring Back the Bridge and then the COVID epidemic began.
2024 — A possible site is located for a Bridge memorial.
2025 — Planning is underway for a pocket park.
2026 — Palenville Pocket Park opens with plans for a Memory Plaza using the Memory Bricks.

The Decision was Against Us

In a decision released in November, 2019, the Court did not uphold the existence of a public easement.

We were not allowed to rebuild the Swinging Bridge.

SWINGING BRIDGE 2019 — Oral testimony in the case of the Swinging Bridge concluded on Friday, April 26, after three days in NYS Supreme Court, Catskill. At issue is access to a footbridge that has crossed Kaaterskill Creek between Route 23A and Malden Avenue in the heart of Palenville for at least 125 years. During that time, the bridge was destroyed by floods four times and rebuilt each time by hamlet residents.

When Hurricane Irene destroyed the bridge in 2011, the community set out to restore it but the land owner on the north side refused to allow access to the site, claiming that no legal easement exists across his lands. After years of fruitless negotiations to purchase such a right of way, the community finally turned to the court, where testimony by long-time residents established a pattern of a century of continuous public use with no restriction by the landowners, extending right up to the date of the hurricane.

As 100-year-old Josie Edwards testified, she and her family repeatedly crossed the bridge in the 1920’s and 30’s without asking permission because “We all thought it was our road.”

In a decision released in November, 2019, the Court did not uphold the existence of a public easement.

Please send a tax-deductible donation today.

Preserve the memories of Palenville

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Palenville The Hamlet, Inc. is a 501(c)3 charity.

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