Governor Kathy Hochul has announced the start of construction on key features at Sojourner Truth State Park in Ulster County, including a new swimming facility and bathhouse pavilion. Funded partly by the Clean Water, Clean Air, and Green Jobs Environmental Bond Act, the project aims to complete a new park entrance, trails, restrooms, and maintenance buildings by summer 2026.
Named after the 19th-century abolitionist and suffragist Sojourner Truth, the park reclaims over 500 acres of Hudson River shoreline between Kingston and the Town of Ulster. It reflects New York’s commitment to investing in disadvantaged communities through the Bond Act. Truth was born in the Hudson Valley in 1797 and was enslaved in New York until she escaped in 1826. In historic proceedings at the Ulster County Courthouse, Sojourner Truth became the first Black woman to successfully sue for her son’s emancipation from slavery. Sojourner Truth spent the rest of her life traveling the country fighting for the abolition of slavery.
A highlight of the buildout is Lake Sophia, a spring-fed quarry lake swimming facility named for Sojourner Truth’s daughter. It will be the first new swimming area added to the State Parks system in 20 years. The 12,000-square-foot floating swim crib will provide safe, accessible swimming for hundreds, complemented by an adjacent pavilion with restrooms, showers, first aid, and lifeguard stations.
Other upgrades include a new park entrance off Route 32, improved roadways and parking, and restoration of historic industrial buildings. By 2027, additional trails, a scenic overlook, and community event spaces will be added, along with installations interpreting the park’s Indigenous, industrial, and natural heritage.
“A lack of access to safe and convenient swimming opportunities has denied far too many New Yorkers the chance to get off line and get outside by engaging with the water and learning foundational water safety skills,” Governor Hochul said. “The buildout at Sojourner Truth State Park is a step in the right direction to effect real change for Hudson Valley communities. This time next year, Ulster County residents and visitors will be welcomed to Lake Sophia to beat the heat and enjoy all that Sojourner Truth State Park has to offer, with more exciting park amenities continuing to be unveiled through 2027.”
The $75.6 million project is funded primarily through $68.1 million from the Environmental Bond Act, with an additional $7.5 million from New York Works funding. The design emphasizes minimal environmental impact, enhanced accessibility, and the restoration of native ecosystems, aiming to boost recreational opportunities for underserved communities in the Hudson Valley.
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