February 10th, 2009 Greenway should stay
By Assemblyman Frank Skartados
The Hudson Valley continues to be one of the most beautiful areas in New York. It preserves its character while also promoting smart land use and economic growth, thanks in large part to the initiatives of the Hudson River Valley Greenway. The governor’s recommendation to eliminate the state agency and transfer its programs to New York’s Department of State will dilute the Greenway’s mission and effectiveness.
The Greenway was established in 1991 to preserve and promote the Hudson Valley’s unique resources. Communities volunteer to participate in the Greenway’s planning programs and are subsequently eligible for technical assistance and funding for land-use planning projects.
The Greenway is made up of two entities: The Hudson River Valley Greenway Communities Council and The Greenway Conservancy for the Hudson River Valley, Inc. The Council works with hundreds of communities in 13 counties from Waterford in Saratoga County to Battery Park in Manhattan, to help balance economic development with environmental protection. The Conservancy promotes the Hudson Valley as a tourist destination through its Hudson River Valley Trail system and by championing the Hudson Valley’s historic, cultural and recreational resources. Like the Council, it has grant programs to promote this purpose.
Through legislation sponsored by former Assemblyman Maurice Hinchey and Senator Stephen Saland, the Greenway has brought enormous visibility to the Hudson Valley by promoting its beauty and heritage, and by connecting one community with another to balance economic development and environmental responsibility. It is able to accomplish these goals with a lean staff, a small budget of less than $1 million and its ability to provide direct access for communities who use its services.
Now-Congressman Hinchey authored legislation to create the Hudson River Valley National Heritage Area to complement and advance the Greenway’s goals. The Heritage Area was established in 1996 to preserve the cultural and national resources of the Hudson Valley. The Greenway was designated as the local manager of this new National Heritage Area, making the state eligible for up to $1 million in federal funding annually. Dismantling the Greenway would jeopardize the basis for this funding and hamper the state’s efforts to promote heritage tourism and encourage preservation while building for the future.
I understand the governor’s push to shave programs he considers expendable in view of New York’s fiscal crisis. However, by absorbing the Greenway’s clear-cut mission into another agency, he forfeits a large part of the Hudson Valley’s identity and millions of dollars in aid. The proposed move will cost the state much more than it will save. |
