Poughkeepsie, NY

 

In 2004, the Friends of Peach Hill Park, a group of neighborhood organizers and engaged, private citizens, successfully lobbied to acquire what was once a 160 acre family-run, commercial apple orchard (formerly peach) to prevent its future development and to ensure its use for the public. The park features 3.2 miles of trails and the highest point in the town of Poughkeepsie, offering panoramic views of the Hudson River Valley, Hudson Highlands, and the Catskill Mountains. Through private donations and other fundraising efforts, the Friends of Peach Hill Park actively maintain the park.

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Apple trees require continuous, active management, much more than the Friends could sustain. Since 2000, when site-wide, active management ceased, invasive vines have overtaken much of the apple trees, narrowing trails and restricting views. 

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The Friends engaged Crowley Cottrell to envision a new future for the park: how and where to preserve apple trees, to highlight existing and enhance more habitat diversity and panoramic views, and how and where to prioritize maintenance for the park.  Crowley Cottrell prepared a master plan book to illustrate these objectives and to provide the Friends a document for future fundraising.