Atomic Veterans Memorial Bridge Upgrades To Mark History And A Trail

YORKTOWN, NY — A key bridge that also memorializes those exposed to ionizing radiation while defending their country on active duty, will get a spiffy upgrade marking a fascinating history and an unlikely link to a hidden trail system.

Yorktown officials and the Yorktown Trail Town Committee will hold a ribbon-cutting this Saturday, at 10 a.m., to commemorate new signage for the kiosks by the Atomic Veterans Memorial Bridge a/k/a The Bridge To Nowhere.

Yorktown says that the new signage highlights the history of how the bridge, the only pedestrian bridge over the Taconic Parkway, came to be. The new signage, made possible through funds from The Hudson River Valley Greenway and the town, also describes how the bridge links trails in three of Yorktown’s parks: Woodlands Legacy, Granite Knolls and Sylvan Glen.

"Yorktown is blessed with more than 40 miles of public trails that serve as an invigorating amenity for our residents and visitors who want to commune with nature," Supervisor Ed Lachterman said. "We encourage walkers, hikers and bikers to visit the new markers while spending quality time with Mother Nature."

The trail kiosk sits along the Yorktown Trailway, a 3.4-mile dirt mountain biking and hiking trail that is parallel to the west side of the Taconic Parkway from the Bear Mountain Parkway.

Parking for the event will be available at Woodlands Legacy Field Park, which is located at 3100 Strang Boulevard in Yorktown Heights. The walk to the kiosks should take approximately five minutes.

After the ceremony, the committee will lead guests on a 2.8-mile moderate hike to the giant boulder in Granite Knolls East. The round-trip hike will take about 90 minutes.