Madam Brett Park

Madam Brett Park (Photo: Robert Rodriguez, Jr.)

Connecting with Beacon’s past and some of its natural treasures.

BEACON, Dutchess County (12 acres) — You step into history and nature at this park. Catheryna Brett, the first European settler in the present-day city, operated a gristmill here along Fishkill Creek, which later powered the Tioronda Hat Works (whose ruins sit adjacent to the park). More impressive — and intact — are the natural features. Fishkill Marsh furnishes a home for amphibians and aquatic mammals and provides hunting grounds for ospreys and bald eagles and a stopover for migratory birds. A waterfall on the creek is especially impressive, and raucous, in spring or after heavy rains.

Free and open year-round, sunrise to sunset.

IMPORTANT COVID-19 SAFETY UPDATES

The safety of our park visitors is our top priority. Due to COVID-19, we continue to require that all group visits be pre-approved and limited to 25 people or fewer (please fill out this form and email Anthony Coneski to coordinate a group visit).

Starting Monday, May 24, Scenic Hudson is adopting outdoor safety guidelines that align with the recommendation of the Centers for Disease Control and Presentation (CDC) and New York State:

Vaccinated individuals are no longer required to wear a mask in most settings, but we do recommend that everyone wear masks in large public groups.
Unvaccinated individuals, under both CDC and NYS guidance, must wear masks in all public settings.

Activities

Accessible opportunity
Dog walking on leash
Fishing
Walking
Wildlife watching
X-country skiing & snowshoeing

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More to explore

Check out the shops and eateries along Beacon’s vibrant Main Street and Dia:Beacon, a world-class museum featuring late-20th-century art housed in a former factory. To learn more about the remarkable life of Catheryna “Madam” Brett, visit her 1709 house, the oldest in Dutchess County.