Plan to Transform Former Camp LaGuardia Site to Parkland Taking Shape

GOSHEN—After multiple failed attempts to convert the 258-acre former Camp LaGuardia property into a commercial hub, a new plan to transform the long-neglected former massive shelter for New York City homeless men into a county park is moving forward.

Orange County Executive Steve Neuhaus announced on Aug. 28 that the Orange County Legislature recently authorized a $600,000 supplemental appropriation to the 2025 County Budget for the Department of Parks, Recreation, and Conservation. The funding is to be used to support engineering and design for recreational improvements at the property located on the border of Chester and Blooming Grove.

This will be Orange County’s first new park since Thomas Bull Memorial Park was initiated in 1965. Once complete, Camp LaGuardia Park will be a major destination for outdoor recreation and community gatherings, while preserving the site’s historic significance, county officials stated.

“Camp LaGuardia has been part of Orange County’s story for generations, and it’s time we give this property a new chapter that promotes activity, recreation, and opportunity,” said County Executive Neuhaus. “This investment in design and engineering is a giant step forward. This park will rival any in the region, connect our rail trail network, and stand as a symbol of progress and pride for Orange County.”

The site’s history dates to 1934, when it was transferred to New York City’s Welfare Department and named “Camp Greycourt.” Initially housing more than 600 unemployed men during the Great Depression, it was renamed Camp LaGuardia in 1935 by then-Mayor Fiorello La Guardia’s office. It became a 1,000-bed homeless shelter before closing in 2007.

Orange County purchased the property in 2007 for $8.5 million. Since then, several private redevelopment proposals failed to secure necessary approvals that called for residential, commercial and agricultural uses, leaving the site largely abandoned for well over a decade.

In 2020, the County Planning Department secured $28 million in federal and state funding to acquire and construct the 10-mile Schunnemunk Rail Trail, which will connect directly to the county’s popular Heritage Trail at the Camp LaGuardia site.

Travis Ewald, Commissioner of Orange County’s Department of Parks, Recreation, and Conservation said, “The Parks Department is grateful for the vision of County Executive Neuhaus and the support of the County Legislature to help bring this exciting new park to fruition for Orange County residents and visitors to enjoy for many years to come. It is a terrific investment in quality of life, and I’m excited to be a part of it.”

The county reported that recent progress at the property has included:

• Removal of most dilapidated structures, with selective preservation for future use.
• Clearing and grading for greens, playgrounds, and trails.
• Construction of the first two-mile phase of the Schunnemunk Rail Trail.
• Removal of most barbed wire fencing to open the property for recreational access.
• Recognizing the opportunity to create a regional park hub, the County Executive and Legislature began planning the transformation.

“This is about connecting communities and investing in our quality of life,” said Neuhaus. “We’re moving full speed ahead, and I’m excited to see Camp LaGuardia transformed into a place where families will make memories for generations.”