Each year in October, the Walkway Over the Hudson holds their annual fundraiser Starry, Starry Night on the Poughkeepsie side of the park.
Maureen Solero, Director of the Friends of the Walkway, said, “We usually recognize leaders in our wonderful Hudson Valley and they are really the showcase of our Starry, Starry Night this year we are celebrating the magic that are our parks.”

Solero said this year New York State Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation is celebrating its 100th anniversary and the Walkway Over the Hudson has now reached its 15th birthday.

“We share a rich history of the Hudson Valley from our amazing view from 212 feet high above the mighty Hudson River,” she said.

Solero noted that 1.28 mile Walkway was once a crucial pathway for commerce via rail, “but tonight we want to celebrate you who are members of our neighborhoods, our friends and our community. You supported this crazy idea of 20 years ago to turn this phoenix of a burned bridge into a state park. It is now enjoyed by more than 600,000 people annually and has really bolstered tourism in the Hudson Valley.” It was noted that since the Walkway opened its gates in 2009 more than 8million people have visited the park.

Solero asked for a few moments of silence to honor people who were an integral part of the Walkway family: Kate Fagan, Julius Gude, Bernard Handel, Robert Levine, Mikki Meyer and Michael Risnit.

“They are no longer with us in person tonight to celebrate but all have been with us at former Starry, Starry Nights,” she said. “We know the spirit of this evening, with all of you remembering these wonderful souls while listening to the river was the right sound effect to memorialize them.”

Lori Robertson, Executive Director of the Friends of the Walkway, said, “We have come to rely on and expect high quality parks in our community. These spaces are really the backdrops of our every day lives. These are places that improve the health and wellness of those that use them, spur local economies, help to protect the environment, provide access to recreational opportunities and so much more. Parks are no longer luxuries but are critical infrastructure that make places great.”

Robertson said when they unveil their planning strategies later this year, “you will see a focus on community engagement and visitor experience at the forefront of our future.”

Randy Simons, Commissioner pro tem of New York State’s Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation, described the Walkway Over the Hudson as, “truly a special slice here in New York State.”

Simons thanked all local and state officials who have worked, “to provide historic and sustained funding for our state parks that is needed more than ever and thanks to them we are modernizing and upgrading our facilities and pushing forward for the next 100 years.”

Simons said over the last century parks in New York State were realized because of a vision and a passion to create something different for the people.

“Us parks people, you and I, don’t just create and build this and move on to the next project, we stay and nurture it and show that it can be something more,” he said. “In the next 100 years we need to focus on the connections to each other and a connection to ourselves. Nothing replaces what we have here tonight- human interaction, relationships, conversation and even greater, a shared bond and a shared passion for all things parks.”

Simons said, “parks recharge us, they rejuvenate us and they refresh us and that’s serving our physical and mental wellness and that is the core of our existence. These spaces that we’ve kept healthy have kept us healthy – mind, body and soul.”

Simons stressed that, “parks have always been about people. Share this night together and share and celebrate our similarities and our differences because that’s the spirit of parks; it welcomes all and the best way we can repay what parks provide us in our daily lives is to do the very same thing that parks does for us and that’s to celebrate each other from all walks of life.”

Simon thanked everyone for honoring NYS Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation at this years Walkway Gala.

“This honor in our eyes is really an honor and celebration of you; enjoy tonight and enjoy our state parks,” he said.