Trailblazing 2024: County Executive Schedules Walk-and-Talks

PUTNAM COUNTY, NY — Warm weather brings back Putnam County Executive Kevin Byrne's annual ‘Trailblazing with Byrne’ constituent forums.

Each begins with a scheduled hour of informal discussion about various topics that concern residents, followed by a walk along a nearby trail or walking path where more informal conversation continues. Participants get the benefit of exercising their minds, legs and lungs in beautiful settings. They feature parks, trails, and preserved open spaces all over the county.

"I started it while in the Assembly," Byrne told Patch. "I’ve always believed you meet people where they are."

He said he drew the idea of meeting while walking from his time working for the American Heart Association, where sometimes meetings with clients and companies were held outside.

"We can promote healthy living while making sure we’re providing access to government," he said.

Each event is different, he said.

"Sometimes you go and there’s one person who shows up. They get a lot of my time. Other times I go and there’s 30 people," he said.

Sometimes people walk ask questions about the immediate surroundings, like crumbling cement on a bridge or a fence with a lock missing. "Sometimes it has resulted in corrective action," Byrne said.

Sometimes it's more topical.

"I’ve been cornered on all sorts of questions politically," he said. Like last year in Cold Spring, when some of the discussion was hostile, but people thanked him for actually coming and listening to the west side of the county.

He knows many of the walking paths from growing up in Putnam, recalling how when he was in Scouts they used to hike parts of the Appalachian Trail from the trailhead on Route 301 in Fahnstock State Park.

"There is something for everyone," he said, admitting that his favorite is Lake Tonetta.

Byrne has again committed to hosting a constituent forum in each of the six towns in Putnam County. These are the first three forums, with another three to be announced later:

• May 15: Town of Patterson, 8:30-10:30am Wednesday, May 15 at the Empire State Trailhead in Patterson, near 629 Route 311, Patterson NY 12563
• May 19: Town of Southeast, 1-3:00pm Sunday, May 19 at the Tonetta Lake, Empire State Trailhead, 192-198 Pumphouse Road, Brewster NY 10509
• May 23: Town of Philipstown 8:30-10:30am Thursday, May 23rd at the Cold Spring Pier/Bandstand, Intersection of Main St, and West St, Cold Spring NY 10516