WAWARSING – Funding and grant opportunities could be on the way to the Town of Wawarsing and the Village of Ellenville if Congressman Maurice Hinchey has his way. In late-October, the congressman announced proposed legislation to launch a study that would examine areas of the Hudson Valley that could be added in some way to the National Park Service. "Basically what the bill does, is it authorizes the national parks service to conduct a study of the Hudson valley to determine whether it would be a good fit as a unit of the national parks service," says Jeff Lieberson, Communications Director for Congressman Hinchey.

"The lead example that we've been looking at is the Mississippi River: there is the Mississippi National River and Recreation Area, which is based out of Minnesota," he says. The Mississippi National River and Recreation Area was established by the federal government in 1988, spans 72 miles, and gathers resources for tourists who wish to take advantage of trails and events in the area.

As it stands, communities and businesses around the Hudson Valley have already been trying to find ways to capitalize on the region's natural resources in the absence of major manufacturing or other industry that used to be the area's bread and butter. The recent fanfare generated for the opening of the Walkway Over the Hudson — the walkable bridge that spans the river between Poughkeepsie and Lloyd that's the most recent addition to the National Parks Service — showed how focused the area has become on tourism and attracting visitors.

If passed, the legislation would fund a federal study examining the Hudson Valley region stretching from Washington County to Westchester County. The study would, according to a press release published by Hinchey's office, "entail significant outreach to local communities and extensive research and cataloging of the region's resources." If the study found that the region's assets would make a suitable addition to the system, the congressman said he would immediately introduce the necessary legislation to make the addition a reality.

In Ellenville and Wawarsing, the municipalities' grant writers see possibilities for the designation, should it go through. Glenn Gidaly, a planner with Barton & Loguidice, is optimistic for the kinds of opportunities that Hinchey's proposal can bring to Ellenville, and compares it to the Hudson River Valley National Heritage federal designation that Congressman Hinchey was involved in establishing in 1996.

"That's been bringing in a million dollars a year for ten years into the Hudson Valley for planning projects, economic development, and the promotion of tourism," says Gidaly. The proposal to add the region to the National Parks Service can provide for similar benefits, he says.

"It puts us on the radar screen of people in terms of visiting, and understanding what an incredible part of the world this is, and the more attention that can be focused on the Hudson Valley, the better. In terms of actual grants, it is possible that if this works out there could be grant programs — small grant programs — developed, that will help with recreation, trail planning, proper municipal planning — those types of activities," he says.

The Town of Wawarsing's grant writer, Mark Blauer, sees the proposal as an extension of the work that he has already been doing with the town, and says that adding the Hudson Valley Region to the parks service would aid the town in moving in the direction they've been heading for quite some time.

"We're going to be doing a lot of work as a town and a village and as a local development corporation regardless of whatever happens with this study, so that, ideally, that study's going to take into account what we're doing," said Blauer, pointing out the town's work to improve water and sewer infrastructure, as well as sidewalks in Kerhonkson.

The legislation to fund the study has yet to be voted on by the House of Representatives, but if approved, it is proposed to take two years to conduct.