WHAT’S NEXT FOR RYERSON?
2024–Present
WHAT’S NEXT FOR RYERSON?
2024–Present
In the summer of 2024, Colleen Nelson decided it was time to bring the community together at the park again after the pandemic. She called the park to ask about restarting the nonprofit group, the Friends of Ryerson Station. Colleen says that within twenty minutes of her call, park manager Casse Criss had sent out an email to reorganize the group.
Over the next few months, the Friends of Ryerson met a few times to elect a board and start planning ways to improve the park. While large restoration efforts remain under state control, the Friends group can support smaller initiatives like maintenance projects, school outreach, and community events.
In April 2025, the Friends of Ryerson hosted a public presentation by DCNR State Parks Region 2 Manager Jeremy Rekich, who shared a long-awaited update on plans for the former Duke Lake lakebed. Rekich confirmed that there is enough funding for the project and explained that delays were caused by continued ground movement discovered during pool construction, which forced engineers to revise the nearly completed design.
The new design was displayed at the 2025 DRYerson Festival, as seen in the Friends of Duke Lake film. The updated plan includes a restored stream navigable by kayak, rehabilitated wetlands habitat, multipurpose trails, and a fishing pond—which Shelly Richardson suggests naming “Little Duke.”
As of May 2026, construction is projected to begin in late 2026. The park will need to close for a minimum of one year during construction. This page will be updated as more information becomes available.
Drawing by Colleen Nelson for the 2026 Greene County Calendar showing children running a 5k race at Ryerson in the near future.
ARTICLES
Observer-Reporter
ANNUAL DRYERSON FESTIVAL CELEBRATES RYERSON’S PAST, FUTURE
Jun 16 2025
★ Mentions our film!
Greene County Magazine
RYERSON STATION STATE PARK GETS BY…WITH A LITTLE HELP FROM ITS FRIENDS
May 9 2025
★ Written by Colleen Nelson and mentions our film!