Hudson River Valley National Heritage Area Draft Management Plan -- by the Half Moon Press

Dec./Jan., 2000 issue

Hudson River Valley National Heritage Area Draft Management Plan Highlights Local communities and municipalities, Governor Pataki and state agencies, private partners, and the federal government are investing hundreds of millions of dollars in the Hudson River Valley. Great progress is being made with the protection and restoration of the region's well-renowned, scenic natural, historic, cultural and recreational resources.

This management plan proposes that federal funds ($10 million over the next ten years) assist these partners, and build upon past successes with regard to the identification, conservation, stewardship and interpretation of priority landscapes and heritage resources of national significance. This includes economic activity and sustainable business investments that protect the Hudson River Valley's heritage and that are endorsed by local and regional communities. Specifically, it is proposed that the federal resources support demonstration projects, regional promotion and responsible economic development by expanding local and regional capacity and rewarding increased global collaboration.

Mission: Preserve and interpret the environmental and historic heritage of the Hudson River Valley, and encourage consistency between protection of this Heritage and economic development.

Program Initiatives:

The plan proposes program initiatives based on mission. Each program includes a series of specific implementation actions, including one or more demonstration projects.

1. Cooperative Landscape Conservation and Stewardship

Demonstration projects for Cooperative Landscape Conservation and Stewardship include:

* A valley-wide exhibition of the works of the Hudson River Painters to celebrate the beauty of Hudson River Valley landscapes.

* Mapping of Significant Open Space, Environmental and Historic Landscapes which if protected with local support help to preserve the valley's nationally significant heritage.

This initiative will provide technical assistance and funding to strengthen local, regional, state and national initiatives to identify, conserve and enhance the valley's nationally significant environmental, historic, cultural, recreational and viable agriculture landscape resources.

2. Heritage Interpretation

Demonstration for Heritage Interpretation include:

* Regional Promotion to include a map and brochure introducing the Hudson River Valley national Heritage Area, as part of a coordinated marketing effort to expand recognition.

* An American Revolution Heritage Trail including Fort Montgomery, West Point and additional sites throughout the valley.

* The Great Estates Cultural Corridor from Locust Grove to Olana.

* The Capital Region Urban Cultural Park with RiverSpark, Cohoes and the Capital.

* Sleepy Hollow Country Interpretation at numerous sites in this area.

* Six designated visitors centers and a virtual @ Hudson River Library on the Internet.

* Integrated and consistent Hudson River Valley signage and literature.

The Heritage Interpretation initiative will enhance opportunities for the public to engage in the rich heritage and resources of the Hudson River Valley through education and heritage tourism. The management and interpretation plans propose heritage trails and touring geographies based around the region's most popular destinations while following state scenic byways, Greenway trails, and other routes to connect sites and interpretive programs celebrating the interpretive themes of the Heritage Area. These themes have been defined as follows:

a) The Landscape of Beauty, based on the natural environment and vistas that serve as home to the river and a corridor of historic mansions, parks and trails. These landscapes inspired Hudson River painters and today's environmental movement.

b) The Landscape of Freedom, tells us of the Revolutionary War through the stories of a series of sites and heroes of America such as George Washington.

c) The Landscape of Invention celebrates our industrial and literary history while the Landscape of Bounty brings us to the Hudson, one of America's most productive estuaries, the landscape of farms, orchards and vineyards, of economic history and economic opportunities, and the heritage of people who were and are part of this land.

3. Economic Heritage Development

Demonstration projects for Economic Heritage Development include:

* The Economic Transitions Forum to discuss changing economic patterns.

* The adaptive reuse of old industrial sites such as the GM site in Sleepy Hollow, in cooperation with the Village of Sleepy Hollow, Scenic Hudson, the State and GM.

This initiative will encourage tourism, agriculture and appropriate economic development that is focused, concentrated and consistent with conserving and interpreting Hudson River Valley Heritage while providing sustainable economic growth. This initiative will support and help facilitate local public and private economic redevelopment initiatives that revitalize the waterfront, redevelop previously industrialized areas, enhance historic main streets and provide public spaces and river access.

National Heritage Area Program Administration grants:

Technical assistance and grants programs will support the above and similar National heritage Area initiatives. A National Heritage Area Committee will assist the Hudson River Valley Greenway management entities with coordination of National Heritage Area activities. Program evaluation and feedback mechanisms, including the creation of baseline economic and other data, will assist with future evaluation of program effectiveness.

Principles:

The draft management plan for the Hudson River Valley is based on three principles:

* Protect the river, our heritage, our environment and our quality of life.

This plan reaffirms that conservation and responsible stewardship of our natural, historic and cultural heritage, and the biodiversity of the Hudson River Valley is the basis for the quality of life and future vitality of the Hudson River Valley.

* Instill productive Hudson River Valley partnerships. National Heritage Area funding will support initiatives that are undertaken in partnership with the communities, organizations and agencies active in the Hudson River Valley. Programs and projects complementary to many of the proposals in the management plan are currently sponsored by various state agencies and other public and private entities.

* Maintain local control and ownership while sharing a regional vision. All National Heritage Area supported initiatives complement a regional vision. Specific projects will be consistent with the goals of local and regional communities, and participation will be voluntary.

Through continued and expanded collaboration in the National Heritage Area, we can preserve and tell the region and the world the unique stories of the Hudson River Valley.

Public hearings in six cities will be held throughout the National heritage Area. During each hearing, highlights of the management plan will be presented and the public will have an opportunity to offer comments and discuss the final draft.

All of the hearings will be held from 7 - 9 p.m., at the following locations.

Wednesday, November 29 - Yonkers

Monday, December 4, Newburgh, Orange County Community College Extension Center.

Tuesday, December 5, Poughkeepsie, Marist College, Henry Hudson Conference Room - Fontaine Hall.

Wednesday, December 6, Kingston, City Hall, 420 Broadway Avenue

Monday, December 11, Hudson, Columbia-Green Community College, 4400 Route 23 - Lecture Room 202.

Tuesday, December 12, Troy, The Rensselaer Newman Foundation Chapel and Cultural Center, 2125 Burdett Avenue.

Written comments may also be submitted to The Hudson Valley Greenway National Heritage Area, Capitol Building, Capitol Station, Room 254, Albany, NY 12224 or faxed to: (518) 473-4818, or e-mailed to wwwhudsongreenway.state.ny.us.

For further information or a copy of the management plan, call Mary at (518) 473-3835.