Foundry Dock Park, One of Putnam’s Western Wonders

For someone from the eastern portion of Putnam, a visit to the shoreline of the Hudson River seems like a long trip—so long that it is easy to forget that you are still on home turf.

But it is still Putnam County, and the westernmost edge of the county is full of natural wonders and historically significant spots. Little Stony Point State Park and the West Point Foundry Preserve (both subjects of previous articles), as well as the famous Breakneck Ridge, and many other sights too numerous to list, are among the highlights.

If you stay reasonably around the speed limit, it easily takes a minimum of 40 minutes to get from downtown Brewster to downtown Cold Spring. To a 7-year-old, 5-year-old, and 7-month-old stuck in their car-seats, a 40-minute drive might as well be forever, because that’s how long it feels to them. So, when my family and I “head west,” we try to give ourselves the entire day, so that we are not rushing or spending too much time in the car.

If you are planning a day trip to western Putnam and making a list of your planned stops, include the Foundry Dock Park on your list. A small waterfront park that makes a nice place for a picnic lunch, this manicured setting provides a peaceful background for some amazing views of the Hudson River.

To get there from the intersection of Route 9 and 301, take 301 west about 2.5 miles into downtown Cold Spring. Just before the main road ends, make a left onto Lunn Terrace. Lunn Terrace will curve right and go over the train tracks. Make a left onto Market Street. Market Street leads into the Cold Spring train station. The park will be on your right and has a few parking spots. On weekends, there is additional parking in the train station, which is where we parked.

According to Scenic Hudson’s website, this property was once an industrial site that hosted a loading dock for the West Point Foundry, but by the 1980s and early 1990s had became a magnet for trash and debris. Scenic Hudson bought the property and did a really nice job cleaning it up.

As you enter the park, there is a small pull-off and parking area lined with pavers. Gravel paths lead toward the water, with a larger path on the north side of the park leading down to a boat access area. The grass along the boat access road was lined with kayaks from one of the local kayak rental outfitters.

There are two wooden viewing platforms with benches, and a nice grassy area to sit. In addition to the boat access area, there is another small sandy beach, but swimming is not allowed.

Referencing one of the historical markers posted in the park, my kids just had to call their Nana while we where there, because they wanted to let her know that the sisters who wrote “Jesus Loves Me” had their own sign at the park.

This is a small park, so I would not suggest making this your sole destination. But the peaceful setting and the wonderful views of the Hudson make it worthy of a visit. I recommend combining a visit to Foundry Dock Park with a visit to one (or many) of the other sights in the area. Foundry Dock Park is a good lunch spot.

Foundry Dock Park is owned by Scenic Hudson, Inc, and is handicapped accessible. Pets are allowed, but keep them leashed and clean up after them. For more information on Scenic Hudson’s mission, parks, and preserves, visit scenichudson.org.

Steven Mattson has been a resident of Brewster for 10 years. He is currently writing a family-oriented book about the sights and adventures in and around Putnam County. He can be reached at dutchess92@comcast.net.