Montgomery residents recently formed the Friends of Benedict Park Committee, which will promote the historical and recreational elements of Montgomery’s town parks.

Created by town residents Susan Cockburn, Bill Leahy, Jeanne Cook and Sam Phelps IV, the 501c3 non-profit will take donations and secure funding from various state and local government funds for historical and recreational projects.

Cockburn said potential projects on the committee’s docket include the restoration of the Benedict Farm House, the restoration of community events such as the farmer’s outing, and the construction of a bridge connecting Veteran’s Memorial Park in the Village of Montgomery and Benedict Farm Park in the Town of Montgomery.

Cockburn, who is also a member of the Historic Preservation Commission, said the commission is currently working to put the Benedict Farm House on the local and state historic registers, which would allow the committee to apply for government grants for restoration projects.

The house has undergone an interior demolition in recent months after being vacant for more than a decade. Cockburn said the house could be a museum or educational area featuring Montgomery artifacts, such as Ice Age-era artifacts found in the park, information regarding the mastodon found in Montgomery, or local farming artifacts.

While an educational area is a possibility, Cockburn said, there are other possibilities for the house based on the community’s desires.

Another goal of the committee is to facilitate a dialogue with residents on what programs and features they would like to see in the parks.

“We’re going to start a dialogue with the community on what people want to see,” Cockburn said.

Bruce Shafer, who has family ties to the Benedict house, said he is happy to see members of the community coming together to preserve their history. The Benedict Farm House is an important artifact and resource for the community, he said.

The committee is also working to build a bridge across the Wallkill River, which would connect Benedict Farm Park and the parking lot at Veteran’s Memorial Park. Ross Winglovitz, Managing Principal with Engineering and Surveying Properties, P.C, said the bridge would also include the creation of a trail connecting the bridge with Benedict Farm Park.

Winglovitz said a future project is to create a trail along Route 17K to connect Benedict Farm Park with Orange County Winding Hill’s Park, creating a cohesive park system.

Winglovitz said the bridge across the Wallkill would cost approximately $1 million. The project could be funded through various contributors and funds, Cockburn said.

The committee also plans to bring back events, such as the farmer’s outing. Held years ago, the outing featured local growers, artists, artisans and musicians, and was held in Benedict Farm Park.

Because the committee acts independently of town government, Cockburn said it will provide continuity between administrations for park projects. If one supervisor or administration leaves or enters office, it won’t affect the projects the committee is working on.

Leahy said the parks hold potential for many different programs, resources and features.

“[Benedict Farm Park] has a lot of potential for what it could be,” Leahy said.