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The concept for the trail, dubbed the “ChapLine,” was presented at the New Castle Town Board meeting on Tuesday night, Oct. 14, by Chappaqua resident Dan Googel, who is currently involved with a subcommittee for the town’s master plan update.
Googel noted that the trail is already there. He believes that it was formed between 2004 to 2007 for sewer line work. An existing connection of the trail to the high school was formed, Googel believes, for truck movement.
Maps show that the trail runs parallel to the east of Metro-North train tracks and is separated by several homes due to a wooded buffer space. The maps also reveal that the path terminates by tennis court space for the Chestnut Oaks condos near North Greeley Avenue. Googel explained that easements would be needed for five properties that the trail goes through, but added that it is in a wooded area and is downhill from the homes.
In making the case of the trail, Googel brought up public feedback from the master plan update’s outreaching process, which included interest in improved connections for trails and sidewalks, along with creating a trails network.
“People wanted the town to be more walkable.”
Googel also highlighted the 1969 Chappaqua Business Area Plan, which mentioned the possibility of extending North Greeley Avenue up to Roaring Brook Road. That plan, Googel’s research shows, suggested that an extension would lead to improved access to the train station, business area and the high school.
Googel suggested the trail, which would be 1.6 miles from Roaring Brook Road to the downtown intersection of King Street and North Greeley Avenue, could be done in phases. The first phase, he suggested, could involve a dirt/gravel path from the school to downtown, with the second for paving that stretch. A third phase would involve a northern extension to Readers Digest Road, bringing the Chappaqua Crossing link. Googel’s proposal calls for installing a bridge for a northern section, which would go over a ravine.
Googel explained that the trail would be for regardless of what happens at Chappaqua Crossing. However, Googel has suggested that future residents at Chappaqua Crossing could take advantage of it. Zoning on part of Chappaqua Crossing allows for up to 111 condos and townhouses, while the Town Board is considering rezoning another section to allow for 120,000 square feet of retail space.
Googel’s early financial analysis pegs the trail’s cost at $850,000 to $1.4 million. Work that would need to be done includes grading and sub-base work. For funding, he suggested sponsorships that could come from corporations, non-profits and residents.
In an interview, Supervisor Rob Greenstein spoke favorably about the concept.
Asked what the town would need to do next, Greenstein said they “have to decide if there’s consensus on the Town Board to move ahead with it.”
A presentation of the concept, which is from Googel, can be viewed here.
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