Upper Delaware Valley Greenway passed by NY legislature

By TOM KANE

ALBANY, NY - The New York Senate and the Assembly last week passed two bills introduced by Senator John Bonacic and Assemblywoman Aileen Gunther to establish the Upper Delaware River Valley Greenway.

The measure amends the Environmental Conservation Law to create, upon local approval, the greenway that will affect the New York communities that border the Delaware River.

“The matter now must go to committee where the two bills will be reconciled,” Gunther said. “Even though the current session is over, the legislature may be reconvened. If it is, this legislation could be settled.”

When the legislation is formalized, it will go to the governor for his signature.

“The enactment of this measure will provide state funding and technical assistance opportunities to aid eligible localities along the Upper Delaware River in their recreational, planning and beautification efforts,” Bonacic said.

Gunther said that the Upper Delaware River Valley is currently at the center of a serious debate regarding the placement of high voltage power lines. She said that this legislation may serve as another obstacle to the approval of New York Regional Interconnect (NYRI) Article 7 application.

“This piece of legislation will help give local communities the resources they need to protect this local, state and national treasure,” Gunther said.

The legislation is modeled after the Hudson River Valley Greenway. The Hudson River Valley Greenway Act of 1991 created a process for voluntary regional cooperation among the 259 communities in the 16 counties in the Hudson River Valley. Of all the 259 communities, 211 have joined the greenway, which stretches from Waterford in Saratoga County in the north to Battery Park in Manhattan in the south.

When Bonacic introduced the local legislation over a year ago, he obtained the support of a majority of the towns along the river. At that time, every town, except Fremont and Hancock, supported the project.

Participation by the towns is entirely voluntary, and towns that agree to participate can drop out of the project at any time, Bonacic said.

“The project is a community planning tool that, in this case, will help Port Jervis, Deerpark, Lumberland, Highland, Tusten, Cochecton and Delaware improve the scenic, natural, cultural, historical and recreational assets of the Delaware River,” Gunther said.