Governor Kathy Hochul announced a sweeping $25 million revitalization of Bear Mountain State Park on August 26, 2025, as part of her broader “Unplug and Play” drive to encourage outdoor recreation .
Under the newly unveiled initiative, improvements at the 115-year-old park will include:
- A fully accessible, multi-level playground carved into the mountain slope, featuring rock scrambles, 70-foot slides, and immersive play elements inspired by the park’s history.
- Enlarged paved picnic areas along the western edge of the main lawn and Hessian Lake, designed to enhance capacity while protecting park landscapes and mature trees.
- A new high-capacity restroom facility and gathering plaza.
- Landscape enhancements with native plants, shade trees, and meadows.
- Storm‑resilient upgrades, including daylighting a buried drainage pipe and establishing a naturalized stormwater basin to reduce sediment runoff into Hessian Lake.
- Upgraded electrical infrastructure and repairs to existing park structures .
The project is set to begin shortly after Labor Day 2025 and is expected to reach completion during the summer recreational season of 2027 . Throughout construction, Bear Mountain State Park will remain open to visitors, though some capacity restrictions will be in place .
Once complete, the upgrades aim to double the number of picnic areas and add 20 additional restroom fixtures, enhancing visitor capacity and comfort significantly .
Governor Hochul emphasized that Bear Mountain “has been a cherished destination for families and visitors for over a century,” and this major investment ensures the park remains a vibrant, accessible hub for generations to come .
This revitalization is part of a broader $200 million commitment in the 2026 state budget to modernize New York’s flagship parks and support critical infrastructure. It also aligns with the state’s ongoing Unplug and Play strategy, which includes initiatives like NY BRICKS, NY PLAYS, and NY SWIMS, aimed at expanding recreational and community facilities across the state .
Bear Mountain State Park, located roughly 40 miles north of New York City, spans 5,205 acres and is one of the oldest and most visited parks in the state system. It welcomed more than 2.3 million visitors in the past year, reflecting a growth of over 25% in the past decade.
Great news,
But when will our local Town add any new park?
This is probably the only place in the world were developments for young families are being built by the thousands another inch of playgrounds is being added.