Amanda Purcell is reporting for Columbia-Greene Media plans for a trail that would traverse the city of Hudson's North Bay by the Columbia County Land Conservancy, Columbia County and the city are progressing. The preliminary design, which was presented to the public on November 16, includes a half-mile trail that would connect North Second Street to the Greenport Conservation Area. The 1,000 acre parcel, known as the North Bay Conservation and Recreation Area, includes the site of a closed county landfill, capped in 1997. The landfill comprises almost 30 of the 105 acres that surround the proposed trail. The site has been deemed safe by the state Department of Environmental Conservation and will not require monitoring after 2026. However, the project faces other challenges. The lower portion of the trail, including a proposed footbridge, would be located in a flood plain. Other difficulties include establishing protections for wetland wildlife, especially migratory birds, and providing accessibility for people with disabilities, as required under federal law. The design phase of the project is scheduled to conclude in the spring. Watch Dan Udell's video recording of the November 16 Columbia Land Conservancy public meeting at the WGXC Newsroom page. Read the full story at HudsonValley360 [dot] com.