A free mobile app launched Wednesday, July 29, gives hikers, cyclists, and runners on Westchester County's 150-plus miles of trails a way to share their exact location with 911 dispatchers if they get lost or hurt.
The app, called TrailEyes, pairs GPS navigation and offline maps with a feature that could matter most to trail users in wooded or remote stretches: integration with what3words, a system that divides the globe into 57 trillion 10-foot squares, each tagged with a unique three-word code. In an emergency, a user can relay that code to a dispatcher, who can pinpoint the caller's position through the county's 911 Computer-Aided Dispatch system.
"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 a county statement reported by Yonkers Times. "The precise location information provided through this app will enable help to arrive more promptly than ever."
County Executive Ken Jenkins, Acting Parks Commissioner Peter Tartaglia, and Emergency Services Commissioner Susan Spear also endorsed the launch. Jenkins said TrailEyes represents "the future of safe, connected outdoor recreation in Westchester."
Trails close to home
The county's park system encompasses more than 50 parks spanning nearly 18,000 acres, according to Westchester County Parks. Among the trails the app is designed to serve are popular local routes like the Bronx River Pathway, an 11.2-mile paved route running from Palmer Road in Bronxville north to Kensico Dam Plaza in Valhalla, and Twin Lakes Park on California Road in Eastchester, open daily from 8 a.m. to dusk year-round.
The app is free.
TrailEyes also lets users report downed trees, hazardous conditions, and maintenance concerns directly to county parks staff. It tracks activity for hiking, biking, walking, and running, and offers real-time weather updates, trail closures, and park event listings. Users can discover routes by difficulty, elevation, or points of interest, and read community ratings.
The app is sponsored by White Plains Hospital and supported by the Westchester Parks Foundation.
How to download
TrailEyes is available on the App Store for iPhone and Google Play for Android at no cost. The what3words location feature works offline using the device's GPS signal, meaning it functions even in areas without cell service, according to what3words.
