HCP Pocket Wetland History

Hudson Crossing Park lies between Lock 5 of the
Champlain Canal and the Hudson River. The current
Champlain Canal parallels British General Burgoyne’s
1777 route to try to gain control of Lake Champlain and the
Hudson river valley. These bodies of water would have
been important trade routes for the British during the
Revolutionary War. General Burgoyne’s efforts failed and
he surrendered in Saratoga.

Years after the Revolutionary War had ended,
construction on the Champlain Canal was authorized. On
April 15, 1817 construction on the canal began and by
September 10, 1823 the Champlain Canal was finished. Old
Champlain Canal lock 5 was constructed in 1822 in
Waterford. These canals provided alternative
transportation from New York to the Great Lakes states
for people and commercial products. During the period of
canal construction, the steam-powered dredge emerged.
The dredge was used to create waterway channels,
destroying nearby wetlands.

In 1912 construction began to expand
the Champlain canal and by 1918 the
new canals opened. The current canal
system mostly runs parallel to the old
canals. Before the expanding
construction, the pocket wetland in
Hudson Crossing Park was connected
to the larger wetland on the other side
of the play garden. Due to the
construction of the new Canal Lock 5
this wetland was separated into two.