NARROWSBURG, NY — According to the minutes of the Upper Delaware Scenic Byway (UDSB) on February 24, businessman Rick Lander presented a proposal to utilize the vacant Narrowsburg School as a multi-purpose building which could serve as a visitors center for the river valley, environmental conference center, and house consolidated National Park Service facilities as well as the Upper Delaware Council and UDSB. The auditorium, classrooms and kitchen/cafeteria could be utilized as meeting and extension/outreach/adult education class sites, etc. The concept was well received.

Nadia Rajsz, supervisor of Lumberland, said that in the Adirondack region, a coalition was successful in securing funding and sustaining a successful marketing campaign. She noted that a Consolidated Funding Application grant would need to be procured from the state to fund the acquisition, but would need to be preceded by a feasibility study that the Town of Tusten would need to champion.

She stated that getting federal support would be crucial, as well as grassroots support from the Upper Delaware Council, UDSB and elected officials in the towns, the county and the state. Lander noted that the region includes two states, five counties and 15 towns.

Rajsz urged all members to discuss this concept in their individual towns, and said that Tusten should pursue a Technical Assistant Grant to undertake a feasibility study.