LONG EDDY, NY — Three public meetings were held in Long Eddy on September 28 to gather public input on the proposed expansion of the fishing access point in the Upper Delaware River.

Sue Currier, executive director of the Delaware Highlands Conservancy (DHC), said, “I think there is lots of interest in having an improved, enhanced river access for the community. I think that was fairly clear in the information we received from the people that participated in the meeting.”

She said there was pushback as to what that would entail. “Right now there isn’t really a public place for people to go down and enjoy the river. You know, you just have to stand on the road, not exactly a great place to have a picnic or fish or whatever.” The current access point is about as wide as a small road and ends abruptly at the water, and anyone trying to use it would be in the way of people wanting to launch their boats.

She said some concerns about parking were definitely expressed, as well as worries about what could be done with a large number of cars or boats on trailers coming into the town, and those would have to be addressed.

She said those concerned are planning on arranging another public meeting on the matter at some point in the future.

DHC has not yet closed on the property, and once they do, they will enter into an agreement with the New York Department of Environmental Conservation to transfer the property to the state.

One person who has gone on record as being willing to go to court to stop the project from happening is Steven Antler, chair of the Long Eddy business Dedeco International, Inc., who wrote a letter to Currier and Town of Fremont Supervisor George Conklin on September 22.

The letter said, “Dedeco is the largest employer in Long Eddy. The operation of our business necessarily requires trucks and other vehicles to deliver goods and take goods for delivery throughout the day in order to meet customer deadlines.

“Historically, we have found that drift boaters and other day visitors represent a nuisance to our operations and, while their present level is something we were compelled to tolerate, we are prepared to litigate in order to prevent the parking lot, which would only encourage more such boaters and visitors and further interfere with our business.

“With this said, we believe that 5 Ferry Street would best serve the community by remaining a single family residence. It would also limit the ever increasing tax burden on Dedeco—Long Eddy’s largest taxpayer.”