New York Construction Report staff writer
Construction has begun on a series of improvements at Sojourner Truth State Park in Ulster County, including a new swimming facility and bathhouse pavilion, part of a $75.6 million buildout funded largely by the Clean Water, Clean Air, and Green Jobs Environmental Bond Act.
Upgrades, expected to be completed by summer 2026, include a new park entrance off Route 32 in Kingston, new roadways, expanded trails, public restrooms, and buildings for staff maintenance and administration. Additional enhancements, including a scenic overlook and community event space, are scheduled through 2027.
The centerpiece of the current phase is Lake Sophia, a public swimming area named after the daughter of abolitionist and suffragist Sojourner Truth.
The site, a former quarry lake, will become the first new swimming facility added to New York’s State Parks system in two decades. A 12,000-sq. ft. floating swim crib will offer a secure space for new swimmers and those requiring accessible facilities, while a nearby pavilion will feature public restrooms, showers, lifeguard stations, and a first aid room.
The project aligns with Gov. Kathy Hochul’s NY SWIMS initiative to expand access to swimming, especially in communities vulnerable to extreme heat and long-standing disinvestment in public recreational infrastructure.
“Sojourner Truth State Park is a step in the right direction to effect real change for Hudson Valley communities,” Hochul said in a statement. “This time next year, Ulster County residents and visitors will be welcomed to Lake Sophia to beat the heat and enjoy all that the park has to offer.”
The 508-acre park, located along the Hudson River shoreline shared by Kingston and the Town of Ulster, was formerly industrial land. It has since been reclaimed as public green space in partnership with the Palisades Interstate Park Commission and Scenic Hudson. The design prioritizes minimal environmental impact, improved accessibility, and restored native ecosystems.
Roughly $68.1 million of the total funding comes from the Environmental Bond Act, which requires at least 35 percent of funding to benefit disadvantaged communities. Sojourner Truth State Park serves an area where nearly 50,000 people live within five miles—many in low- to moderate-income neighborhoods, according to U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development data.
When completed, the park will include additional trails, educational installations on Indigenous Lenape heritage and the region’s industrial history, and revitalized historic structures that reflect the site’s past.
Sojourner Truth State Park, which opened to the public in 2022, is the second New York state park named for a trailblazing Black woman and reflects a growing statewide commitment to inclusive, accessible public spaces.
