named programs · 4 · from sources
What they call their work
Breakneck Connector and Bridge
Construction of a new trail and pedestrian bridge to provide safe, cohesive access to the Breakneck Ridge trail system, reducing reliance on walking along Route 9D.
Fair Street Sidewalk Project
Partnership with Putnam County and local municipalities to extend sidewalks along Fair Street, improving pedestrian safety and connectivity to the Fjord Trail.
Hudson Highlands Fjord Trail
Development and construction of a 15-mile trail system connecting communities and natural areas in the Hudson Highlands, including the Breakneck Connector, Shoreline Trail, and extensions to Beacon.
Upper Overlook Restoration & Resiliency Project
Ecological restoration initiative to remove invasive species and reestablish native forest structure across 1.7 acres in the Hudson Highlands State Park Preserve.
activities · 4 groups
What they do
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Recreational Trail Development and Maintenance 2 activities
- Construct and improve trail infrastructure and access pointsDesigning and constructing key trail segments and connections including the Nimham Trail, Nimham Extension, Wade’s Hill Parking Lot, Breakneck Ridge Trailhead, Upper Overlook, and pedestrian improvements along Route 9D such as sidewalks, curbs, bridge footings, and utility pole removal to enhance safety and accessibility.
- Develop and manage the Hudson Highlands Fjord Trail linear parkDeveloping and managing a 7.5-mile linear park along the Hudson River connecting Cold Spring and Beacon, NY, designed for walking and cycling, with ADA-compliant access, trail amenities, and infrastructure to manage visitor use and enhance safety.
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Ecological Habitat Restoration 1 activity
- Conduct ecological restoration and habitat managementPerforming ecological restoration including erosion repair, invasive species management, native species reintroduction, shoreline resilience improvements, and stormwater management across multiple sites such as Breakneck Ridge and Little Stony Point; includes hand-removal of invasives like Asiatic dayflower and cultivation of native plants in a regionally sourced seed nursery.
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Community Stewardship Volunteer Programs 1 activity
- Organize volunteer programs for trail and environmental stewardshipOrganizing recurring volunteer work days focused on trail building, maintenance, ecological restoration, environmental education, adaptive hiking, and special events to support stewardship of the Fjord Trail and surrounding natural areas.
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Uncategorized 3 activities
- Conduct Floristic Quality Assessments for biodiversity baseline dataConducting scientific Floristic Quality Assessments (FQAs) using documented plant species and C-values to evaluate native plant community integrity and establish biodiversity baselines prior to restoration activities at sites like Little Stony Point and Breakneck Ridge.
- Lead environmental review and regulatory advocacy for trail developmentActing as project sponsor in the SEQRA environmental review process for the Hudson Highlands Fjord Trail Master Plan, including participation in public comment periods, submission of materials, and securing a Findings Statement outlining required mitigation actions.
- Produce public educational materials about the Fjord TrailProducing and publishing informational primers about the Fjord Trail to support public access, awareness, and engagement with the project.
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financials · form 990 · fy2023
revenue
Total revenue$1.72M
Contributions & grants$210K12%
Program service revenue$00%
Investment income$1.50M87%
Other revenue$12K
expenses
Total expenses$9.15M
Program expenses93%
Admin / overhead6%
Fundraising1%
Salaries & benefits$1.01M
Grants paid out$0
Largest expense lineCompensation
balance sheet
Total assets$37.46M
Cash$24.64M
Investments$3.12M
Liabilities$799K
Net assets$36.66M
Liquid reserves36.4 mo
4 years on record · 2020–2023 · YoY revenue +35.9%
leadership · form 990 part vii · fy2023
Who runs it
paid leadership · 4
| Name | Title | Hours/wk | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Edward O Sullivan | Director, President, Secretary | 5 | $636K |
| Jason Camporese | Chief Finance & Operations Officer | 5 | $394K |
| Amy Kacala | Executive Director | 50 | $208K |
| Mary Jane Martin | Dir. of Dev. and Com. Engagement | 40 | $150K |
board members · 6
- Andrew Chmar — Director
- Christopher Davis — Chair
- Daniel Kramer — Director
- Frederic C Rich — Director
- Richard Shea — Director
- Usha Wright — Director
relationships · 31
Who they work with
- Arup Partner — Engineering and sustainability partner providing design and constructability expertise for the Shoreline Trail, including structures over railroad tracks.
- Arup Partner — Partners with Arup on shoreline trail constructability assessments.
- Central Hudson Partner — Collaborated on utility pole relocation from the west to the east side of Route 9D for the Breakneck Connector project.
- Consigli Construction Partner — Construction contractor managing site work for the Breakneck Connector project.
- Darcstudio Partner — Design firm responsible for header image and Trail Features rendering.
- Gray Organschi Architecture Partner — Provides architectural renderings for trail amenities.
- Hudson Highlands State Park Preserve Partner — Staff from the preserve support HHFT’s volunteer restoration efforts along the Fjord Trail corridor.
- Lower Hudson PRISM Partner — Collaborates with HHFT on volunteer-based invasive species identification, tracking, and removal along the Fjord Trail corridor.
- Metro-North Partner — Collaborating to connect the Breakneck Ridge train station to the Fjord Trail.
- Metro-North Railroad Partner — Key project partner in designing the Fjord Trail to restore public access to the Hudson River shoreline.
- NYS Department of Transportation Government — Coordinated culvert replacement within the DOT right of way along Route 9D.
- New York State Department of Environmental Conservation Government — Provided $67,022 grant to HHFT for ecological restoration of a degraded forest area in Hudson Highlands State Park Preserve.
- New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation Government — Lead agency for environmental review and permitting; collaborates with HHFT on Fjord Trail implementation.
- New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation Government — Lead agency responsible for administering the SEQRA review process for the Fjord Trail project.
- New York State Parks (OPRHP) Government — HHFT operates under a management agreement with OPRHP and follows their policies, permits, and natural resource stewardship priorities.
- New York-New Jersey Trail Conference Partner — Supports HHFT’s volunteer restoration work along the Fjord Trail corridor.
- ORCA Partner — Collaborates with ORCA on visitation management planning and toolkit development.
- Putnam County Partner — Collaborates with HHFT on the NYS DOT TAP grant application for pedestrian safety improvements on Fair Street.
- RBA Architects Partner — Partner firm that created the park diagram for the Fjord Trail project.
- SCAPE Partner — Collaborates with SCAPE on shoreline trail concept design and the Breakneck Connector and Bridge.
- SCAPE Landscape Architecture Partner — Collaborates on design renderings and planning for the Fjord Trail, including connectors and trail features.
- SCAPE Landscape Architecture Partner — Design partner collaborating on the ecology-forward, resilient design of the Shoreline Trail.
- SCAPE Landscape Architecture Partner — Design partner responsible for key renderings and planning elements including 'The Fjord Trail Will...' visuals.
- SCAPE Landscape Architecture Partner — Design partner responsible for shoreline trail renderings and landscape architecture
- SLR Partner — Works with SLR on alternative route analysis and trail reach reviews.
- SLR Consulting Partner — Environmental and sustainability consulting partner supporting the Shoreline Trail project with technical expertise in complex ecological challenges.
- Scenic Hudson Partner — Partner organization providing access to Long Dock Park, a northern entrance point for the Fjord Trail.
- Town of Philipstown Partner — Partner in the TAP grant application for sidewalk improvements on Fair Street.
- Trillium Invasive Species Management Partner — Partners with HHFT on invasive plant removal and native species collection for the Native Seed Nursery.
- Ty Cole Partner — Photographer providing imagery for Master Plan and Timeline materials.
+ 1 more
strategies · 5
How they approach the work
Named approaches extracted from this org’s sources. Where others share an approach, follow it to see the full set of orgs running it.
- Community-Informed Trail Developmentmethodology: community-informed_developmentBy involving the community in planning and staging decisions, the organization ensures that trail development reflects local needs and values, leading to broader support, equitable access, and sustainable outcomes because community ownership increases stewardship and reduces conflict.
- Integrated Ecological Restorationmethodology: relational_restorationBy combining invasive species removal, native habitat restoration, and long-term monitoring with community engagement, ecological recovery is sustained over time because restoration is treated as an adaptive, relational process rather than a one-time intervention.
- Place-Based Environmental Educationmethodology: place-based_educationBy integrating interpretive elements and programming into the trail experience, visitors develop deeper connections to the landscape because understanding cultural, historical, and ecological significance fosters stewardship and responsible use.
- Universal Access by Designmethodology: universal_access_designBy adhering to AGODA and ADA standards in trail design, the organization ensures inclusive access for people of all ages and abilities because physical accessibility fosters equity and broadens community engagement with nature.
- Visitation Management Through Designmethodology: visitation_managementBy designing trails and visitor hubs to redirect foot traffic and distribute use, the organization balances public access with ecological protection because centralized orientation and infrastructure routing reduce pressure on sensitive areas and prevent overuse.