Monday, November 27, 2006

History buff plugs for bridge
Yorktown man joins fight for railroad span

By Robert Marchant
The Journal News

David Rocco is a man with a rather unique mission, one that bridges the past with the future.

From his home in Yorktown, Rocco has become a leading voice in the cause of historic preservation and the transformation of one of the Hudson Valley's engineering wonders into a regional centerpiece for recreation and culture.

"It's the perfect project for me — I love the rail trails, I love forgotten railroad history, and I love the Hudson River," said Rocco, 50, a former carpenter with the New York City Housing Authority.

Rocco's goal is to turn the 1889 Poughkeepsie-Highland Railroad Bridge into a place where hikers, bikers and anyone who appreciates a beautiful sunset can congregate 212 feet above the Hudson River.

The old railroad bridge that was nearly torn down for scrap metal is poised to become a tourism attraction that organizers say will draw visitors from near and far.

The long-term goal is to tie the bridge into a network of trails running through Westchester, Putnam, Dutchess and Ulster counties, creating a destination for a day trip or a weekend getaway.

Since coming across the nonprofit organization Walkway Over the Hudson a few years ago, Rocco has been "beating the pavement" about 20 hours a week, contacting other nonprofit groups, lobbying officials and spreading the word at local festivals and cultural events.

Getting hooked

He happened to chance upon the Walkway project while renewing his passport at the Dutchess County office building and, as a history buff, he was hooked.

His wife, Ruby, may wonder what has become of her husband as he devotes himself whole-heartedly to restoring a rusting behemoth more than 30 miles from their home. Rocco tells her, jokingly, it will be a great place to walk their dogs; but more importantly, it's a cause he truly believes in.

"It's not our bridge, it's your bridge. I refer to it as the people's bridge," he said. "And whether you bike, walk or just sit there, the view is awesome. It's a spectacular bridge."

The span was closed in 1974, the year a major fire burned off the bridge's timbers. An earlier non-profit venture led by volunteers was unable to make headway after more than a decade of earnest labor.

In 2004, a new team took over the project and enlisted the support of government and business leaders, along with professionals in a variety of fields who have committed themselves to the walkway goal.

A little more than a $1 million in grant money, most of it from federal coffers, is available to move the walkway toward reality.

A comprehensive plan is under way to lay out the costs involved and to identify potential funding sources, said Fred Schaeffer, chairman of Walkway Over the Hudson and a Poughkeepsie lawyer.

He estimates the bare minimum to bring the project to completion by 2009 is $10 million, with $15 million paying for a range of amenities and enhancements.

Schaeffer credited Rocco for the "enormous enthusiasm" he brought to the cause, one that raised the energy level of the whole project. The project, he said, tends to sell itself once people get a chance to take a walk across the span.