The Hudson River Watertrail Association

In the summer of 1998, Wilbur B. Van Schaack wrote a letter to Scott Keller, then President of the Hudson River Watertrail Association, in which he announced his firm intention to donate Bronck Island to HRWA for a camp site. Mr. Van Schaack lived most of his life in Greene County and then retired to Florida, although he came “home” whenever he could. He said he and his wife kept Bronck Island until it could be donated to “someone who cares.” His word was good.

Bronck Island is located in the Town of New Baltimore, on the west shore of the Hudson River. While it was originally a real island, dredge fill has turned it into a peninsula. The property has an easement through neighboring land on the north, but access through the easement is not practical as it is overgrown and often too muddy for passage. Fortunately, our neighbors to the south have been generous in allowing us to bring our construction materials through their properties. Water access is only practicable for small boats as a sandbar stretches out a considerable distance. Even at high tide, it would be difficult for motorized boats to access the property, so we are pretty well assured that only paddlers will choose to camp on the site.

It’s a beautiful site, with enough altitude to prevent high water and ice damage under most conditions. As with the entire Hudson River valley, poison ivy is everywhere, so we’ll have to consider what measures should be undertaken to minimize the problem.

Under the direction of HRWA Board member (and as of 2008 HRWA President) Bob Ihlenburg, work has been underway to develop the almost-25 acre property as a campsite, part of the Hudson River Valley Greenway Water Trail. The Greenway, a State agency, has awarded HRWA a grant to help develop a campsite with two tent platforms, a composting toilet and appropriate signage. Work groups convened this season from April through October and it’s pretty much complete. The nearest launch is Stuyvesant Landing (see page 23 of the Guide) from which it’s a short paddle across to Bronck Island. Launches from the west bank are considerably farther away-a matter or three or four miles from New Baltimore (Cornell Park) on the north or from Coxsackie on the south.

HRWA has also been approached about a possible campsite further north as part of the Rensselaer County Trail Project and we’re currently in discussion about how that could be accomplished. We’d also love to hear from anyone who would like us to be involved in other possibilities.

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