Building Trails and Community with Hudson Valley Trailworks

“The Hudson Valley’s green spaces are part of the magic of living here,” explains Toni Benevento, co-owner of Hudson Valley Trailworks.

A Vision Born from Uncertainty

When the pandemic hit New York State in early 2020, life quickly felt confined. Quarantined within their small family pod, the founders of Hudson Valley Trailworks (HVT) found themselves in a creative bubble—free to explore ideas without expectations. They started by building trails in their own backyard, then their neighbors’ yards. Then asked, “What if?” What if we could do this for a living? What if more people wanted trails? What if this was way bigger than our backyard?

What began as a passion project did, in fact, grow into something bigger. Recognizing the rising demand for outdoor escapes, Mike Benevento, his brothers-in-law Eric Hennessey and Clint Reynolds, and his sister, Toni launched a trail-building business to inspire people to get outside in their own backyards. A year later, the team expanded with the addition of co-owner Tal Ilany Seweryn. Today, Hudson Valley Trailworks creates trails, bike tracks, and thoughtfully designed green spaces for commercial, municipal, and residential clients, making outdoor recreation more accessible to all.

A Home at Full Circle

In December 2024, the family-and-friends-run business moved its headquarters to Full Circle in Gardiner—a vibrant community hub that is home to other locally owned businesses Gardiner Bakehouse, Trailside Coffee, Benton, The Living Room, and Trailunity. “Being part of Full Circle feels like a perfect fit. We want to work where our friends, family, and community are,” Benevento says.

In keeping with Full Circle’s playful and collaborative spirit, Hudson Valley Trailworks has contributed several trail and park features to the property. They designed and built a natural playground with locally sourced stone nestled into a large berm. The berm doubles as a visual and sound barrier to the road.

“All of the HVT owners are parents, the location of the natural playground and its features were intentional—flanked by Benton and Gardiner Bakehouse—we just loved the idea of enjoying food, coffee, and conversation while our kids play and make friends of their own,” says Benevento.

A surfaced trail winds through the property, featuring boardwalks, bridging, points of interest, and handcrafted benches by local master woodworker Cody Claussen. Additionally, Hudson Valley Trailworks built a short but exciting bike flow trail, one of their signature offerings. Flow trails are designed specifically for mountain biking, guiding riders through a series of rollers and berms. With half of HVT’s owners and crew having built and ridden trails since childhood, their expertise in flow trails and bike jumps sets them apart in the market. All of these offerings are part of what Full Circle refers to as a “Pocket Park”—a mini escape into nature open to the public.

Bringing a Pump Track to Gardiner’s Majestic Park

A prime example of HVT’s collaborative approach is the new pump track at Gardiner’s Majestic Park. For over a decade, the town had discussed park improvements, then encouraged by Supervisor Majestic, Gardiner’s Parks and Recreation Committee applied for and secured the Ulster County Municipal Parks and Recreation Grant. With in-kind equipment, labor, and materials donated by the Town of Gardiner’s Highway Department, the project gained momentum.

After a winter of planning, the build included gravel pathways and a concrete pump track adjoining the existing skatepark. The pump track is designed for everyone—from kids on strider bikes to skateboarders and BMX riders. “On opening day, we saw the community come together—kids riding alongside their parents. It was an incredibly rewarding experience,” Benevento shares.

Looking Ahead

Designing and building trails and outdoor spaces requires careful planning, ensuring each project seamlessly integrates trails, scenic viewpoints, ecosystems, and long-term maintenance needs. “Our trails are custom-designed for each property, and thoughtful planning is key to creating the best experience,” Benevento explains.

This process also considers terrain, seasonal weather conditions, and construction timing to ensure projects are completed before winter frost sets in. Most of HVT’s builds take place between April and November, with each season presenting new challenges and opportunities.

As Hudson Valley Trailworks continues to grow, they have recently applied to be a part of the Professional Trail Builders Association, a global network of expert trail builders. Looking ahead, Benevento reflects, “We want to keep fostering the connection to the natural world by building public and residential trail experiences. Now, with our office at Full Circle, we get to meet people on a more regular basis and show them what we can do just by walking around the property, Trailside coffee in hand. Come take a hike at Full Circle and check us out—we’d love to chat about your trail!