“We want to open it up for the public to enjoy. It has some of the most beautiful views in the Hudson Valley,” said Scenic Hudson’s Meg Rasmussen of the park, which will be called Harrier Hill Park.

The park will include a 40-by-30-foot pavilion, picnic tables, a handicapped-accessible hiking trail to a scenic overlook of the river, a pond, information kiosks, and a crushed-stone parking lot for eight vehicles, with overflow parking for many more.

Phase II of the park—which will require separate Planning Board approval—will include additional trails that will stretch several thousand feet onto land owned by the State Department of Environmental Conservation and may link to trails on Scenic Hudson’s property in Greenport and the Greenport Conservation Area.

The proposal drew concerns from about a dozen residents in the crowd, most of them members of the Stottville Rod and Gun Club, who expressed concern about park users wandering onto their property and potentially creating safety concerns for those using the club’s property for target practice, skeet shooting, and hunting.

“We’re not totally against this. We are just concerned over liability and safety issues,” said one member.

Others in attendance at the meeting cited traffic concerns, saying the dead-end road is dangerous because of a “blind,” virtually 90-degree right-hand turn, as well as many other curves and hills. Planning Board member Don Meltz said additional signage along the stretch may be necessary and advised Scenic Hudson to pursue the matter with the Town Highway Department.

The parkland was acquired by Scenic Hudson as part of 95 acres the Poughkeepsie-based not-for-profit acquired from the Saurasitis family three years ago, Rasmussen said. The land stretches from Rod and Gun Road to the railroad tracks along the Hudson River. Subsequently, she said, 89 acres were turned over to the State Department of Environmental Conservation, which will maintain the land as grassland.

Last summer, Scenic Hudson conducted an "open house" at the site to detail plans for the land and gather public input.

Rasmussen said the park will be like the forty others owned by Scenic Hudson and is intended to be used for “community use and general passive recreation such as bird watching, hiking, dog walking,” and the like. She said because of the views, an occasional concert and gatherings to view the frequent fireworks displays staged in Athens are also envisioned. With the Planning Board approval, Rasmussen said the organization will seek construction bids ASAP. “The goal is to have an opening event in October.” “It’s a beautiful area that should be open for the public to use,” she said.