The opening ceremony of the Walkway Over the Hudson State Historic Park, on October 3, 2009, featured music by Pete Seeger, and was attended by Governor David Paterson, Senator Chuck Schumer, Congressman Maurice Hinchey, president of nearby Vassar College Catharine Bond Hill, John May, engineer of the last train across the bridge, and other officials.
 Paterson said, "This bridge is now the longest footbridge in the world."

The walkway immediately saw many more visitors than the expected 267,000 per year.
In its first three months, it saw about 415,000 people.

The walkway is operated as part of the New York State Historic Park System, open from 7:00 a.m. to dusk.
Limited, wheelchair-friendly parking is available on either end of the bridge:
East end:  61 Parker Avenue, city of Poughkeepsie; charges $5 fee to park
West end: 87 Haviland Road, Highland
There are restrooms located at the ends of the walkway, although at the time of a 2008 engineering survey of the bridge, there was "not a johnny on the spot."
Pets are permitted, but owners should bring equipment to clean up.
Bicycles and roller blades (but not skateboards) are permitted, and the walkway is flat and relatively wheelchair-friendly.

The walkway connects with the Dutchess Rail Trail on the Poughkeepsie side and the Hudson Valley Rail Trail on the Highland side, making it part of a 15-mile continuous trail stretching from Hopewell Junction to the hamlet of Highland, with further extensions planned.
It is also part of the Empire State Trail.
The opening ceremony of the Walkway Over the Hudson State Historic Park, on October 3, 2009, featured music by Pete Seeger, and was attended by Governor David Paterson, Senator Chuck Schumer, Congressman Maurice Hinchey, president of nearby Vassar College Catharine Bond Hill, John May, engineer of the last train across the bridge, and other officials.  Paterson said, "This bridge is now the longest footbridge in the world."
The walkway immediately saw many more visitors than the expected 267,000 per year. In its first three months, it saw about 415,000 people.
The walkway is operated as part of the New York State Historic Park System, open from 7:00 a.m. to dusk. Limited, wheelchair-friendly parking is available on either end of the bridge:
East end:  61 Parker Avenue, city of Poughkeepsie; charges $5 fee to park
West end: 87 Haviland Road, Highland
There are restrooms located at the ends of the walkway, although at the time of a 2008 engineering survey of the bridge, there was "not a johnny on the spot." Pets are permitted, but owners should bring equipment to clean up. Bicycles and roller blades (but not skateboards) are permitted, and the walkway is flat and relatively wheelchair-friendly.
The walkway connects with the Dutchess Rail Trail on the Poughkeepsie side and the Hudson Valley Rail Trail on the Highland side, making it part of a 15-mile continuous trail stretching from Hopewell Junction to the hamlet of Highland, with further extensions planned. It is also part of the Empire State Trail.
Walkway over the Hudson