RGR Landscape led a large consultant team in the preparation of an Expanded Project Proposal for the Palisades Trailway—a more than 20 mile shared-use recreation path proposed along the route of the Palisades Interstate Parkway. The report, which adheres to the NYS DOT Design Procedures Manual, is intended to fulfill requirements of the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) and the NYS Environmental Quality Review Act (SEQR). Since public participation was an important component of the planning and environmental review process, RGR conducted a series of public workshops to seek input from local government officials and residents to better understand the goals and concerns of potential users as well as the adjacent property owners. The RGR team also prepared design documents for the initial segment, the Orangetown Rail Trail, which utilizes a former railroad right-of-way. The Palisades Trailway serves as an important link in a regional trail network that connects metropolitan areas of New York and New Jersey to natural areas such as Bear Mountain State Park.
