Press release

Town of Delaware is TAGed

Posted 9/7/21

NARROWSBURG, PA — The Upper Delaware Council (UDC) awarded $6,000 to the Town of Delaware for its recent completion of a river-adjacent recreational access study under its fiscal year 2021 …

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Press release

Town of Delaware is TAGed

Posted

NARROWSBURG, PA — The Upper Delaware Council (UDC) awarded $6,000 to the Town of Delaware for its recent completion of a river-adjacent recreational access study under its fiscal year 2021 Technical Assistance Grants (TAG) program.

The Delaware Town Board engaged Shepstone Management Company to study the feasibility of linking to a prospective trail that was identified in a 2020 Town of Hancock TAG study. That walking trail would start in Hancock and go to Long Eddy in the Town of Fremont.

Working with sub-consultant Woodland Design Associates, also based in Honesdale, PA, Shepstone Management Co. documented land ownership, identified route options, produced maps, collected cost estimates, analyzed permitting requirements, and noted the steps necessary for the Town of Delaware to move forward with trail implementation.

The study area started at the Cochecton/Delaware town line and proceeded along the New York State Route 97 Upper Delaware Scenic Byway, largely paralleling the nationally designated Upper Delaware Scenic and Recreational River, to the Long Eddy river access near the Sullivan/Delaware County line.

The analyses conducted indicate that there is excellent trail potential along the entire route, with significant possible routes and river accesses already in place. However, the plan would require securing private landowner permissions and improving existing river access to create practical trailhead locations.

A phased approach is recommended, starting with designations of certain low-traffic public roads as formal routes with accompanying maps and signage to promote trail use. Parking arrangements are critical to all trail development and should be prioritized as routes are selected for designation. Numerous collaborators are mentioned, with a suggestion to seek a lead entity to coordinate further exploration of options.

FY 2021 TAG applications were awarded by UDC resolution October 1, 2020, and had to be completed by August 20, 2021.

From 1988-2021, the council has awarded a cumulative total of $916,952 to fund 260 municipal projects.

Visit the technical assistance grants page at www.upperdelawarecouncil.org, or contact UDC Resources and Land Use Specialist Shannon Cilento at 845/252-3022 or shannon@upperdelawarecouncil.org for more information.

Shepstone Management Company, Delaware Town Board, walking trail, Woodland Design Associates, Upper Delaware Council, technical assistance grant

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