Assemblymember Kevin Cahill (D-Ulster, Dutchess) announced today that the Legislature passed his bills to expand both the Shawangunk Mountains Scenic Byway (A.8186) and the Hudson River Valley Greenway (A.5939). The measures will be sent to the Governor in the coming weeks.
“The Shawangunk Mountain Scenic Byway and the Hudson River Valley Greenway have proven to be tremendous assets to our communities. By capitalizing on the unique historic and natural attributes of the region, these partnerships are reinforcing the fact that conservation and environmental stewardship are key components to our economy,” said Assemblymember Cahill. “The passage of these pieces of legislation will help to ensure their continued success.”
Assembly Bill 8186 allows for the establishment of a 5.8 mile Alternate Route that bisects the existing Shawangunk Mountains Scenic Byway Corridor and follows portions of United States Route 44 and New York State Route 55. This addition in the Town of Gardiner has been desired since the Byway’s foundation and was included in the original Corridor Management Plan.
“This legislation provides for the extension of the Shawangunk Mountains Scenic Byway into the hamlet of Gardiner and further unites the communities in the Shawangunk Mountains Region,” said Al Wegener, Executive Director of the Partnership. “This will enable us to move forward with our plans for economic growth through tourism while preserving the scenic, natural, historic and recreational resources of this region of New York State.”
Assembly Bill 5939 will allow municipalities in the areas of Ulster County located within the Catskill Park to be reinstated to the Hudson River Valley Greenway. Through voluntary participation in the program, these communities will once again have the option of taking advantage of Greenway’s technical expertise and funding to protect the natural beauty, safety and ecological balance of the area in ways that encourage and stimulate economic growth.
Earlier this year, Assemblymember Cahill led a bipartisan coalition of 19 legislators to defeat proposal that would have repealed the Hudson River Valley Greenway Law and transferred the responsibilities of the Greenway Communities Council and Heritage Conservancy to the Department of State.
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