‘Air park’ needs art

NORTH EAST — Artist Tilly Strauss appeared before the Town Board Thursday, Aug. 13, to describe the status of the Walking on Air project, which will lead to the completion of the world’s longest  elevated public park.

“This is the first state air park,� she said. “This is about walking on air.�

The project will transform the Poughkeepsie-Highland Railroad Bridge into a walkway by Oct. 3, 2009,  in time for the grand opening of the Walkway over the Hudson, part of the Hudson-Fulton-Champlain Quadricentennial celebration of Henry Hudson’s historic voyage of the river that bears his name.

Strauss has been chosen as the official artist representative for the towns of Amenia, North East and the village of Millerton and therefore is pursuing her artistic vision for the celebration. It involves flags boasting emblems representing the municipalities’ individuality and character. Strauss is hoping residents from the area will volunteer their time to help design and produce the emblems, with her assistance.

“I’ve been hosting these workshops,� she said. “The next one is at the North East Community Center on Aug. 26 in the evening, from 5 to 8 p.m. I have all the fabric and glue and the plan is to put 25 flags on a string and rope it across the bridge.�

The goal now is to get the word out.

“What I need is for you to tell people about these workshops,â€� Strauss told the board. “It’s  very easy. They can just drop in. We need designs. I’ve got all the flag [templates] made already. [Now I just need the emblems]. The deadline for the emblems is Sept. 1.â€�

“It sounds like we have a little bit of a challenge here, to get some people interested and to get some transportation,� town Supervisor Dave Sherman said.

“It sounds like this is going to be a good thing,� town Councilman Dave McGhee said. “It’s history. This is the first one in the country.�

“It’s going to be great,� town Councilman Tim Shaffer said.

“It’s a unique event,� town Councilman Dan Briggs said.

The board briefly discussed what emblems could best depict the town of North East. Suggestions included a silo, a new windmill that was recently built near Winchell Mountain and even a scene of a sunset from atop Charlie Hill Road.

The town supervisor next said he would look into options for transportation; his first step will be to contact the school district regarding available buses.

According to Strauss, it’s important the town start thinking about transporting interested residents to the grand opening event, as parking is a major issue. Fifty towns from Ulster and Dutchess counties, bordering both sides of the Hudson River, will participate in the celebration — which means parking will be at a premium. Amenia town Supervisor Wayne Euvrard has already made transportation plans; a school bus driven by volunteer Rudy Eschbach will transport 50 Amenia residents on the big day to Poughkeepsie, for a $5 fee. Strauss said North East should probably shoot for bringing about 50 or so people as well, by bus if possible.

According to Strauss, organizers are expecting approximately 3,500 people at the grand opening of the walkway. She said it’s invitation only and the event will be more of a performance than a parade. The town, meanwhile, will need 11 people to hold the rope with the flags and march with it to the side of the bridge where it will then be displayed.

From the following day, Oct. 4, on, the Walkway over the Hudson will be open to the public as a free park.

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