Palenville Pocket Park officially opens

PALENVILLE—A small patch of land is taking on a big new role in the heart of Palenville.

The new Palenville Pocket Park, located at 3295 Route 23A, officially opened Friday, September 11, giving residents and visitors a new place to sit, gather, enjoy the scenery and learn about the history of the hamlet.

The park is the result of an ongoing effort by Palenville the Hamlet, a community group dedicated to improving the community and preserving its unique character.

According to Palenville the Hamlet member and Palenville historian Crane Davis, the idea for the park's current location started when he and local librarian Bathsheba Orlando could gaze out the window of the former library location on Route 23A.

“We would look out the window and see this natural alley that could have such wonderful potential,” Davis explained.

That vision has now become reality thanks to musicians, volunteers, local businesses and residents—with even more work still to come.

The park, on land that is no longer needed by the state Department of Transportation, is designed to retain as much of the area's natural character as possible while providing a place for families and visitors to enjoy the outdoors.

Picnic tables and benches offer places to relax while taking in views of Kaaterskill High Peak. Flower beds and landscaping have begun transforming the property, while commemorative plaques throughout the park tell stories from Palenville's past.

The plaques themselves carry another local connection. Their laser engravings were produced right across the street by Nervous System.

Perhaps the most striking feature will be something that predates the park itself by generations. The northern abutment that once anchored Palenville's legendary Swinging Bridge is being repurposed as the park's new gateway. It gives the new recreational space a direct physical connection to one of Palenville's most recognizable landmarks while preserving a piece of the community's past.

During this summer's Palenstock Music Festival, participating musicians helped raise money specifically for the park's development.

Charlie Tolmmie, Sr. of the Charlie Tolmmie Band, said they were able to donate $1,000.

Daniel Lucas, who organized Palenstock with Jeffrey Lucas, noted that last year's Palenstock proceeds were directed toward helping the Palenville Fire Department. Following the success of this year's festival, the event is already scheduled to return in 2027, and “much bigger and better,” says Jeffrey Lucas.

Another major source of funding for the park has come directly from the people of Palenville who have purchased personalized commemorative bricks. So far, 68 have been sold.

Jennifer Gerard, a member of Palenville the Hamlet, said the brick campaign has already provided money that has made a marked improvement to the park. And it isn't over.

Bricks are still available for anyone who would like to become part of the park's history while helping fund its continued development.

Future plans call for playground equipment, including swings and climbing equipment for children. Before that equipment can be installed, however, the appropriate safety underlayment must be put in place.

That underlayment will require approximately $40,000 worth of flame-resistant wood chips, representing another significant fundraising challenge for the community.

Members of Palenville the Hamlet said they want the playground and the rest of the park to remain as natural as possible. The goal isn't to turn the property into a heavily developed recreational complex, but rather to create a small outdoor space that fits naturally into Palenville.

Gerard also emphasized that money isn't the only thing the park needs. In particular, they are looking for people willing to help maintain the flower beds and assist with general upkeep.

The grass and other landscaping has been watered and tended by Catskill cemetery workers and the Palenville Fire Department.  Gerard urged anyone interested in helping to reach out through the Palenville Connection Facebook group and offer their services.

For Davis, the importance of the project goes beyond the boundaries of Palenville.

He described the pocket park as something of a test run for other surrounding towns and hamlets that may want to create small outdoor recreational spaces of their own.

And the concept is relatively simple: take an underutilized piece of land, bring the community together and turn it into something useful without sacrificing the natural character of the location.

In Palenville, that’s now a place to relish in the mountains, listen to the waterfalls, and remember the past—while giving the next generation somewhere to make memories of their own.