There are many visions in the river valley

I was remarkably impressed with the varied visions of the river valley that were expressed on the occasion of the recent celebration of Riverfest.

There were the artists and artisans who exhibited the creative visions of their works. They had paintings, wood carvings, pottery, jewelry and other artifacts, each with its own aura and energy. Much of it was about scenes of the river valley or was inspired by aspects of the river.

There were writers, a few of whom were writing explicitly about life in the river valley.

There were woodworkers showing their wares and musicians playing their compositions or the compositions of others as the crowds walked up and down the street, learning, looking, listening and celebrating the river.

The event brought a cross section of the people of the river valley who live here, visit here and cherish this place. There were natives, transplanted New Yorkers who live here full time, weekenders who have second homes here and visitors who keep returning. Everyone seems to love this place and are happy to be here even if it is only part-time or to visit for a day or two.

The Upper Delaware is uniquely special in ways that both inspire and calm us.

What Riverfest seemed to impart, silently and in impressive creative expression, is that the economic, artistic, cultural, environmental and intellectual community here in the Upper Delaware is healthy and full of community spirit.

There is an energy, humming and hopefully growing, that is evident in many of the people who want to do all they can to preserve our way of life in their communities.

During the past two and a half years, the visioning committee found out how much the people care about this area when it held 15 evening community meetings in the towns and townships on both sides of the river to discuss the coming growth and what could be done to manage it. These meeting were attended by large numbers of people who care for their communities and want to do what they can to preserve the rural way of life.

That interest is continuing as was evident from the many questions asked at the visioning booth. The momentum is moving as the counties, towns and township revisit and rewrite their comprehensive plans. Town and township boards are embracing the concept that we need to use all of the proven land-use strategies available to preserve and conserve the beauty and unique quality of life found here.

And the visioning committee is working to continue to support at atmosphere of collaboration and communication among layers of government and numerous communities within the valley.

Stay in touch, and keep the faith. Register at upperdelaware.com.

Tom Kane is the coordinator of the Visioning Committee and a reporter for The River Reporter.]