SPONSOR
In support of the goal of the Hudson Fulton Champlain Quadricentennial Commission to advance a vision and practical agenda for the Hudson Valley, this project is sponsored by the Hudson River Watershed Alliance, a regional coalition of stakeholders working to protect, restore, and conserve the water resources of the Hudson and its tributaries, through information sharing and collaborative networking.
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OVERVIEW:
On October 22, 16 people participated in the Newburgh-New Windsor listening workshop. The group included stakeholding interests representing a variety of regional and county agencies and nonprofit organizations (planning, tourism, environmental, cultural/heritage, land use, higher education, recreation, etc.). Participants noted that the audience was not fully representative of the region’s ethnic, racial, age or professional diversity. In particular, the group encouraged future representation from: the private business sector (esp. agriculture and river-based businesses); students; infrastructure-related agencies (e.g. railroads, utilities); etc.
DISCUSSION:
The discussion focused on the need to create a new awareness and consciousness for the Hudson River Valley in which environmental sensitivity and social justice and equity would be woven into issues of economic and technology development. Even though people want to remove the fears and risks associated with our times (e.g. pollution, public safety, environmental deterioration, etc.), they are better able to think globally and live locally — to integrate larger issues and experiences into their near-in daily lives (e.g. they have become “loca-vores” – consumers of products produced nearby). The Valley has many spectacular resources that can serve as a foundation for future strategies, but past policies, forms of governance, patterns of ownership, and the regulatory environment hinder more sustainable and inclusive strategic directions.
PRIORITY THEMES:
28 ideas were generated by the group to address the concerns raised in their discussion. The participants then selected those ideas they felt to be most promising. Priority Themes that emerged include:
• Engaging in more environmentally and socially appropriate planning and development;
• Focusing on tourism development and regional marketing;
• Promoting “green awareness” and action;
• Establishing educational programs that connect the river resources and issues with youth;
• Increasing access to the River; and
• Strengthening agricultural resources.