On June 4, 1998, following the long nonpayment of Dutchess and Ulster County taxes on the bridge by prior owners Gordon Schreiber Miller and his successor, Vito Moreno, Moreno deeded the bridge to a nonprofit volunteer organization called Walkway Over the Hudson, which took title through its nonprofit New York corporation, the Poughkeepsie-Highland Railroad Bridge Company, Inc., hoping to turn it into a pedestrian and cyclist walkway.
The deed was recorded in both counties on June 5, 1998.
The former Central Hudson power lines were finally removed in 2009, as part of Walkway construction.
On December 21, 2010, the Walkway corporation conveyed the entire structure to the New York State Bridge Authority, which restored high-limit liability insurance and "deep-pocket" maintenance assurance for the first time since November 2, 1984.
On September 5, 2009, conversion work and repairs to the structural steel and the laying of concrete slabs for the walkway were completed.
The volunteer head of "Walkway", as it is known locally, said in 2008, "We think people will come from all over.
It's the equivalent of the Eiffel Tower, or the Golden Gate Bridge."
The project initially received support from local residents, city and state officials totaling about $1,000,000, plus forgiveness of $550,000 in taxes inherited from the previous owners.
Walkway then solicited funding from both the State and Federal governments for historic preservation, and from private philanthropic organizations.
Funding sources as of January 13, 2016, include:
The Dyson Foundation, which has donated almost $20 million, including guaranteeing $8.1 million in loans that were made by Ulster Savings Bank and M&T Bank to complete the project in 2009 (now paid-off), plus $2.3 million to build the elevator that was completed in 2014.

New York State funding, from various entities, totals about $22.5 million.

Federal government funding, from various entities, totals about $3.5 million.

Scenic Hudson, Inc., which has donated $1 million.

The Jane W. Nuhn Charitable Trust has donated $500,000.

The M&T Charitable Foundation has donated between $50,000 and $100,000.

Amy P. Goldman and Sarah Arno have donated between $100,000 and $250,000.

The total budget as of October 2009 totaled about $38.8 million.
 The Walkway Group raised a total of $30.7 million as of October 23, 2009.
The $8.1 million deficit was financed by lines of credit from Ulster Savings Bank ($4 million) and M&T Bank ($4.1 million) that were drawn-upon to complete the project in 2009.
 These lines of credit were converted to loans, with an additional $2.3 million allocated to 2014 elevator construction, and were guaranteed and paid-off by The Dyson Foundation (see above).

The project was separated into four phases, with the first two completed as of October 2009:
Phase 1 – attain ownership of the bridge.

Phase 2 – structural analysis of the bridge and creation of a comprehensive plan, including budget and timeline for completion.
The group also had to find funding for the project and secure funding for the start of construction.

Phase 3 – construct and open the first 1,800 feet (550 m) of the walkway on the Ulster side.
The Dutchess side will get an elevator and 900 feet (270 m) of walkway.
This phase was complete on October 3, 2009 (the grand-opening date), excepting a $2.3 million elevator installation in Poughkeepsie that was completed during the summer of 2014.

Phase 4 – construct and open the remaining 4,068 feet (1,240 m) of the walkway and its resultant connections to the Hudson Valley Rail Trail in Highland and the Dutchess Rail Trail in Poughkeepsie.
The walkway was completed on September 5, 2009, and opened to the public on October 3, 2009.
The Hudson Valley Rail Trail connection was finished in the autumn of 2010.
The Dutchess Rail Trail connection has also been completed.

The piers were inspected in 2008 and given a clean bill of health.
Similarly, Bergmann Associates, P.C. (of Rochester and Albany, New York), project engineers and managers, has stated in writing that the wind loads were carefully
On June 4, 1998, following the long nonpayment of Dutchess and Ulster County taxes on the bridge by prior owners Gordon Schreiber Miller and his successor, Vito Moreno, Moreno deeded the bridge to a nonprofit volunteer organization called Walkway Over the Hudson, which took title through its nonprofit New York corporation, the Poughkeepsie-Highland Railroad Bridge Company, Inc., hoping to turn it into a pedestrian and cyclist walkway. The deed was recorded in both counties on June 5, 1998. The former Central Hudson power lines were finally removed in 2009, as part of Walkway construction. On December 21, 2010, the Walkway corporation conveyed the entire structure to the New York State Bridge Authority, which restored high-limit liability insurance and "deep-pocket" maintenance assurance for the first time since November 2, 1984. On September 5, 2009, conversion work and repairs to the structural steel and the laying of concrete slabs for the walkway were completed. The volunteer head of "Walkway", as it is known locally, said in 2008, "We think people will come from all over. It's the equivalent of the Eiffel Tower, or the Golden Gate Bridge." The project initially received support from local residents, city and state officials totaling about $1,000,000, plus forgiveness of $550,000 in taxes inherited from the previous owners. Walkway then solicited funding from both the State and Federal governments for historic preservation, and from private philanthropic organizations. Funding sources as of January 13, 2016, include:
The Dyson Foundation, which has donated almost $20 million, including guaranteeing $8.1 million in loans that were made by Ulster Savings Bank and M&T Bank to complete the project in 2009 (now paid-off), plus $2.3 million to build the elevator that was completed in 2014.
New York State funding, from various entities, totals about $22.5 million.
Federal government funding, from various entities, totals about $3.5 million.
Scenic Hudson, Inc., which has donated $1 million.
The Jane W. Nuhn Charitable Trust has donated $500,000.
The M&T Charitable Foundation has donated between $50,000 and $100,000.
Amy P. Goldman and Sarah Arno have donated between $100,000 and $250,000.
The total budget as of October 2009 totaled about $38.8 million.  The Walkway Group raised a total of $30.7 million as of October 23, 2009. The $8.1 million deficit was financed by lines of credit from Ulster Savings Bank ($4 million) and M&T Bank ($4.1 million) that were drawn-upon to complete the project in 2009.  These lines of credit were converted to loans, with an additional $2.3 million allocated to 2014 elevator construction, and were guaranteed and paid-off by The Dyson Foundation (see above).
The project was separated into four phases, with the first two completed as of October 2009:
Phase 1 – attain ownership of the bridge.
Phase 2 – structural analysis of the bridge and creation of a comprehensive plan, including budget and timeline for completion. The group also had to find funding for the project and secure funding for the start of construction.
Phase 3 – construct and open the first 1,800 feet (550 m) of the walkway on the Ulster side. The Dutchess side will get an elevator and 900 feet (270 m) of walkway. This phase was complete on October 3, 2009 (the grand-opening date), excepting a $2.3 million elevator installation in Poughkeepsie that was completed during the summer of 2014.
Phase 4 – construct and open the remaining 4,068 feet (1,240 m) of the walkway and its resultant connections to the Hudson Valley Rail Trail in Highland and the Dutchess Rail Trail in Poughkeepsie. The walkway was completed on September 5, 2009, and opened to the public on October 3, 2009. The Hudson Valley Rail Trail connection was finished in the autumn of 2010. The Dutchess Rail Trail connection has also been completed.
The piers were inspected in 2008 and given a clean bill of health. Similarly, Bergmann Associates, P.C. (of Rochester and Albany, New York), project engineers and managers, has stated in writing that the wind loads were carefully 
Walkway over the Hudson