Hikers at Marshlands Conservancy, cyclists near Playland Park, and families exploring Cranberry Lake Preserve in Harrison can pinpoint their exact location for 911 dispatchers if something goes wrong on the trail.
Westchester County Parks launched TrailEyes on Tuesday, July 28, a free mobile app covering more than 150 miles of county trails. The app pairs GPS navigation and offline maps with a safety feature that could matter most to parents and solo runners: integration with what3words, a system that assigns a unique three-word address to every 10-foot square on Earth. In an emergency, a user shares that three-word code with 911, and Westchester's Computer-Aided Dispatch system locates them instantly.
"Our officers are often called upon to assist lost or injured persons on trails in Westchester, including in remote areas," Public Safety Commissioner Terrance Raynor said in the county's announcement. "The precise location information provided through this app will enable help to arrive more promptly than ever."
The app works even without cell service in many areas. That matters on remote stretches of trail where a phone might otherwise be useless.
What it does
Beyond safety, TrailEyes lets users filter trails by difficulty and elevation, check real-time weather and trail conditions, track activities with photo capture, and report downed trees or hazards directly to county parks staff. The app also lists nearby restaurants and cafés.
County Executive Ken Jenkins called the app "the future of safe, connected outdoor recreation in Westchester," noting it supports local businesses along trail corridors.
Local trails covered
Rye-area residents can use TrailEyes at several county-managed properties:
- Marshlands Conservancy: a 150-acre coastal sanctuary with a 2.4-mile loop trail
- Edith G. Read Wildlife Sanctuary: a short, flat loop near Playland, suitable for all ages
- Playland Park along Long Island Sound
In Harrison, the app covers Cranberry Lake Preserve, a 190-acre park with forest, swamp, and an educational nature center, and Silver Lake Preserve with its scenic lake views.
How to get it
TrailEyes is available as a free download on the App Store and Google Play. White Plains Hospital sponsors the app, with additional support from the Westchester Parks Foundation.
Acting Parks Commissioner Peter Tartaglia encouraged residents to download it before their next outing, saying the app helps users explore confidently while discovering new trails and nearby businesses.
What's next
No community demo or launch event has been announced. The app is available for download as of Tuesday, July 28.
