DEC fishing site for sale

By FRITZ MAYER

SPARROWBUSH, NY — The state fishing access is located down a long winding roadway off Route 97 in Sparrowbush. It’s a nice spot for fishing, and it’s probably a nice spot for a lot other things, or at least that’s what the folks at Chant Realtors are probably thinking. One of the company’s signs lets passerbys know that the property is for sale.

A kayaker named Herbert Meyerson spotted the sign while on the river on October 31, and contacted the NYS Department of Environmental Conservation about the matter. Meyerson received an email from Bill Rudge, the natural resources director at DEC Region Three, which said, “This is a site that we had a term easement that allowed the DEC to manage the property as a public fishing access site. Unfortunately, the easement expired last year. We are working to try to resolve this issue in a way that would allow continued public access. However, as I imagine you are aware, given the current fiscal crisis in NYS, the department does not currently have funding to acquire this property. We will continue to work in hopes of finding a solution but currently our options are limited.”

John Meder of Chant Realtors said the fishing access comes with 17 acres, and has an asking price of $850,000.