Client: NYS DOT Region 8 Poughkeepsie

The 105.3-mile historic parkway extends through Westchester, Putnam, Dutchess, and Columbia counties in the east valley of the Hudson Highlands. Heritage Landscapes led an interdisciplinary team to document, assess and develop a sound plan for the New York State Department of Transportation, Region 8 Poughkeepsie, to better manage the corridor as a scenic historic byway. Guided by historic documentation, field reconnaissance, and enumeration of resources, we determined the intrinsic qualities of the parkway corridor and developed a deeply informed plan. Project efforts:

• Engaged communities through meetings and surveys
• Collaborated with 30-member representative TPCM Plan Advisory Committee
• Performed historic research, field reconnaissance and data analysis to inform the plan
• Enabled efforts to conserve and enhance the scenic byway corridor
• Balanced values with the need to meet safety and transportation imperatives
• Develop integrated recommendations to inform and empower NYS DOT

Detailed mapping captured geographic context; roadway features including overlooks, rock faces, and curving alignment; scenic, cultural and recreational resources; and vegetation types. This Taconic State Parkway Scenic Byway Corridor Management Plan set forth recommendations to strengthen the continuity of the cultural landscape character, enhance the visitor experience, support the stewardship of natural and cultural resources; and inform staff management of the corridor by NYS DOT.

Taconic State Parkway Scenic Byway Corridor Management Plan

Heritage Landscapes, team lead, with L & D Engineers, Jim Donovan, natural resources; Heritage Resource Group for Scenic America, Carol Truppi, legal and scenic aspects, Urban Engineers, traffic engineering

This plan will aid NYSDOT in sustaining the outstanding scenic, natural, cultural, recreational and historic qualities of the Taconic State Parkway as a unique scenic byway and important transportation route.