The Supreme Court of the state of New York, Greene County, ruled Nov. 21 that the residents of Palenville can no longer access or restore the Swinging Bridge. The footbridge has crossed Kaaterskill Creek between Route 23A and Malden Avenue in Palenville for at least 125 years, and was destroyed in the storms associated with Hurricane Irene in 2011. Special Referee David J. Wukitsch's legal decision is a walk through Palenville history, from the 1870s until this decade. The land owner on the north side of the bridge has refused access to the site, claiming that no legal “right of way” exists across his lands. Josie Edwards, who is 100-year-old, testified that she and her family repeatedly crossed the bridge in the 1920s and 1930s without asking permission because, “We all thought it was our road.” Palenville activists have not announced what they will do next.