Spotlight On…Hudson Crossing Park

Spotlight On… Hudson Crossing Park — A Gorgeous Island Park You Need to Experience!

Welcome to another story in our Spotlight On… series! 🌟 At Rochester Accessible Adventures (RAA), we’re thrilled to introduce you to Hudson Crossing Park, a beautiful and welcoming outdoor destination along the Champlain Canal that’s becoming a model of inclusive recreation in the Hudson Valley.

Where Nature, History & Accessibility Meet

Hudson Crossing Park is a unique recreational and educational destination centered on Champlain Canal Lock 5 Island, just outside of Schuylerville, NY. It’s free and open year-round, with more than two miles of scenic trails, picnic areas, birding spots, and panoramic views of the Hudson River and Champlain Canal.

But what makes this park truly special is how thoughtfully it’s integrating accessibility into its offerings — making natural beauty, movement, and outdoor fun available to people of all abilities.

Accessibility in Action: An Ongoing Commitment

Hudson Crossing Park is on an active journey toward inclusion. Through participation in the NYOA/NYS Canal Corporation Accessibility Education Program, they’ve partnered with RAA as an Inclusion Partner — working to evaluate, train, and implement accessibility best practices across the park’s operations. Hudson Crossing Park

Their accessibility work includes:

Inclusive Training & Awareness

• Staff have completed Inclusion Ambassador Training, gaining tools for welcoming visitors of all abilities with confidence and respect. Hudson Crossing Park

• They’ve also achieved Inclusion Accessor Certification, deepening their skills in applying inclusive practices throughout the park experience. Hudson Crossing Park

Hudson Crossing Park has been working through a mentored Inclusion Partnership with RAA and is deligently, and very strategically, working through their Recommendations Report which is full of ways they can continue to enhance their park and connect with the community so that more people can benefit from all it has to offer.

Accessible Features That Invite Everyone to Explore

Hudson Crossing Park offers multiple features that enhance access for visitors of all abilities:

Sensory Nature Trail🦋

This trail runs along the Hudson River and was recently refreshed with grant support to ensure wheelchair accessibility. Thoughtful features include wooden edge planks that help visitors with visual impairments detect path changes, and nearby bronze bird sculptures that invite tactile exploration while listening for the real birds around you. Check out the description here:  Hudson Crossing Park.

Interpretive Trail Signs with QR Codes

Trail signage includes QR codes that allow visitors to choose between reading or listening to stories about the park’s natural and cultural history, creating multiple ways to engage. Hudson Crossing Park

Accessible Kayak Launch 

One of the park’s most exciting accessibility additions is a newly funded accessible kayak launch — professionally installed to help paddlers with mobility challenges enter and exit the water comfortably and confidently. Saratoga TODAY newspaper shares the story here.

Check out their Press Release about the Kayak Launch here.

This project also brought adaptive kayaks — both tandem and single — to the park, expanding opportunities for people with mobility disabilities, older adults, families, and adaptive athletes to share time on the water together.

A Welcoming Approach for Every Visitor

Hudson Crossing Park’s team knows that accessibility isn’t just about physical features — it’s about relationships and communication. That’s why they have an Inclusion Point of Contact, Wendy DeLaCruz, ready to talk with visitors about specific needs or accommodations so everyone can plan a comfortable and successful visit.

They also continue to evolve and improve their programs and facilities, asking for community feedback and integrating inclusive practices into park events and activities.

Come See What’s Possible

Whether you’re rolling the Sensory Trail in a wheelchair, scanning trail QR codes to hear a story by the river, or (soon!) dipping a paddle into the Champlain Canal from an accessible launch, Hudson Crossing Park is showing how outdoor spaces can be welcoming, thoughtful, and full of possibility for visitors of all abilities.

This commitment aligns beautifully with the spirit of inclusion we champion — and we are very excited to watch this partnership grow. 🌈

👉 Want to plan your visit or learn more about accessibility at Hudson Crossing Park? Visit HudsonCrossingPark.org or reach out to Wendy, their Inclusion Point of Contact!