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Bear Mountain State Park, the Hudson Valley icon just an hour north of Manhattan, is about to swap its hiking boots for a little Botox. Governor Kathy Hochul announced this week that the 115-year-old landmark is set for a $25 million glow-up that will roll out over the next two years.
If you’ve picnicked by Hessian Lake, skated at the outdoor rink or climbed Perkins Memorial Tower for those jaw-dropping Hudson Highlands views, you’re already part of the park’s 2.3 million annual visitors. That number has surged by 25% over the last decade and the state says it’s time the facilities caught up with the crowds.
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So what’s on the makeover list? For starters, a destination playground carved right into the mountain slope, complete with rock scrambles, immersive play zones and slides stretching up to 70 feet. Picnic capacity is doubling too, with expanded lawns around the lake and fresh landscaping to keep things lush. Visitors can also expect new restrooms, a central plaza and long-overdue infrastructure updates (think modern electrical systems and better stormwater management). In other words: less mud, more fun.
The state is promising the park will stay open during construction, which kicks off after Labor Day 2025 and should wrap by summer 2027. That said, brace for a few growing pains: Expect limited capacity during peak weekends while the diggers do their thing.
Founded in 1909, Bear Mountain has a resume that would put most national parks to shame: more than 50 miles of hiking trails (including the OG stretch of the Appalachian Trail), lakefront fishing, boating, a pool, a zoo, winter ice skating and even a hand-carved merry-go-round featuring black bears, bobcats and deer. The new upgrades aim to make all of that easier to access—and more Instagram-worthy—for generations to come.
“By expanding access, upgrading infrastructure and enhancing recreation opportunities, we’re making it easier for everyone to get offline, get outside and enjoy time together,” Hochul said in announcing the plan.
For a park that once saved the Hudson Highlands from becoming a prison site, a little sprucing up feels like a well-earned reward. Call it a century-old classic that’s getting ready for its close-up.