Full Breakdown
Nyack School Trip Girls Emerge from Stormwater Culvert After Half-Mile Underground Walk
6/12/2026, 11:40:03 PM
Incident Overview
On June 10, 2026, dozens of elementary-school girls on a field trip at Nyack Memorial Park entered a large storm-water drainage culvert beneath the park. They walked about half a mile in darkness before emerging onto the patio of the Hudson House restaurant, where owner Matt Hudson found them.
Culvert Details and Statistics
The concrete storm-water culvert beneath Nyack Memorial Park spans roughly 0.5 mile and channels village runoff. The incident involved “dozens” of girls; no injuries were reported and first responders arrived shortly after they emerged.
Key Figures
- Mayor Joe Rand – Nyack mayor overseeing the response.
- Matt Hudson – Owner of Hudson House restaurant where the girls emerged.
- School officials – Teachers and chaperones responsible for the field trip.
- First-responder teams – Local emergency personnel who secured the site.
Timeline
- Morning, June 10, 2026 – School group arrives at Nyack Memorial Park.
- Mid-day – Girls discover the culvert entrance and enter.
- ~30 minutes later – They reach the Hudson House patio and climb out.
- Immediately after – Staff alerts authorities; first responders confirm all are safe.
Safety Implications
Rand noted that rain can increase water flow, making the culvert “much more powerful” and capable of “picking up” anyone inside. He said the site lacks adequate signage to deter recreational entry and will undergo a safety audit.
Official Statements & Responses
Mayor Rand thanked first responders, warned that the culvert becomes “much more powerful” in rain, and announced a safety-protocol review and public reminders that such structures are not for recreation. Hudson described hearing children chattering, the surprise of seeing them climb out onto his patio, and his relief that all were unharmed.
Verbatim Quotes
- “They saw the culvert, they saw the cave, and they thought, let's go take a look, see what's there,” — Joe Rand, Mayor of Nyack
- “I was in the office when I heard kids chattering,” — Matt Hudson, Owner, Hudson House
- “Sure enough, we came back here into the patio, looked here, and it was filling up with kids,” — Matt Hudson
- “But it was dangerous, they shouldn't have been doing it. Because ... we could've gotten rain this afternoon, and if it rains, this thing gets much more powerful, and the water could have really picked up on them.” — Joe Rand
What's Next
Mayor Rand’s office will audit the culvert’s safety, consider barriers or signage, and work with the school district to revise field-trip protocols. Updates will follow the audit’s findings.
