Appeals court rules for Wallkill Valley Land Trust in rail trail dispute

GARDINER – A state appeals court has ruled in favor of the Wallkill Valley Land Trust in a property dispute involving the Wallkill Valley Rail Trail.

The Appellate Division, Third Department, on Oct. 15 reversed portions of a 2025 Ulster County Supreme Court order, granting the land trust’s motion to dismiss property claims and defenses asserted by William Richards and Tracey Bartels.

The dispute began after the land trust alleged Richards conducted excavation, tree trimming, and land clearing in 2023 on property along Sand Hill Road, with some work extending onto the adjacent rail trail, owned by the Town of Gardiner.

The land trust sued Richards, seeking damages and restoration of the affected property. Richards and Bartels, who acquired the property after the lawsuit began, claimed ownership of adjoining parcels through adverse possession and sought recognition of a permanent farm crossing over the trail.

Bartels is a former Ulster County legislator and served as its chairwoman.

The appeals court ruled the town was a necessary party because any decision recognizing additional property or easement rights could affect its ownership of the trail. Richards and Bartels had agreed to dismiss their third-party claims against the town with prejudice, requiring dismissal of those claims because the town was no longer a party.

The court also ruled Richards could not continue asserting related property claims as defenses in the land trust’s lawsuit, finding the prior agreement barred those claims.

The ruling does not resolve the underlying allegations about work performed on the trail.