TRR photo by Tom Kane State Senator John Bonacic announces grants. (Click for larger image)

Bonacic announces $150,000 in grants for Route 97

By TOM KANE

CALLICOON — It was a festive gathering at the Town of Delaware Youth Center last Friday evening, October 25 where three river towns along Route 97 got the happy word that they were to receive grants from New York State through Senator John Bonacic.

The funding will see new sidewalks, a community center improvement, parking extensions and a general community beautification effort in the Route 97 towns.

The total amount of the grants was $150,000.

Getting $50,000 was the Town of Delaware Youth Center for an annex to the building. Another $50,000 went to the Town of Fremont for new sidewalks for Long Eddy. $25,000 is going to the Town of Tusten for improvement and extension of its parking lots and another $25,000 will be used to enhance community projects in all the river towns along Route 97.

This last grant project will be offered to the eight river towns and administered by the Upper Delaware Council, who will receive $5,000 in administration fees.

“We will ask the towns to submit their project idea with a budget and time of completion,” said William Douglass, Executive Director of the council.

Bonacic praised all three of the river towns receiving the special grant.

“The Delaware River is a gem that we must preserve,” Bonacic said. “To do that we need to assist these river town that have done so much to improve themselves.”

“We are bursting at the seams and need a storage room to free up the main hall for programs for kids,” said Youth Center President Tess McBeath.

Some of the funds will go to resurfacing the tennis courts and for the purchase of a new stove.

“The sidewalks in Long Eddy are in terrible condition,” said Fremont Supervisor James Greier. “This will give a wonderful new look to the hamlet.”

Tusten Supervisor Dick Crandall spoke of parking in Narrowsburg.

“This will allow us to extend parking behind the Fleet Bank and behind the town hall and library,” Crandall said.

In the last two years, Bonacic has brought over $100,000 to the river towns.