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Project to Reshape River Access Garners $250,000 Grant

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Barryville, NY – A $250,000 grant from the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation’s Delaware Watershed Conservation Fund will be paired with local funding and in-kind services to complete renovations to the Highland Access Point, a portal to the Delaware River in Barryville.

“This is part of a larger, ongoing effort to restore and add access points all along Sullivan County’s portion of the Upper Delaware River,” explained Freda Eisenberg, commissioner of the County’s Division of Planning & Community Development. “My team has diligently worked to secure support to protect and enhance one of our most popular natural resources, and we are very gratified by the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation’s decision that this is a project worth significant funding.”

Over the course of 2020-2021, the Highland Access Point will be reconstructed by restoring native plants and installing bioswales (a combination of a rain garden and a ditch) and pervious pavement that will absorb stormwater runoff better than standard asphalt. The access itself will be replaced with a more gently sloping and stabilized path. Signage with educational information about the on-site best management practices will be added in order to encourage visitors to explore similar best practices on their own properties, and facilities will be installed for temporary boat and bicycle storage.

The local share of costs will be borne by the County, with in-kind services also coming from the Town of Highland, the NYS Department of Transportation, the NYS Department of Environmental Conservation and the National Park Service. The value of those contributions amounts to $305,345, bringing the total project to $555,345.

“The Delaware River is a precious asset, one that we cannot take for granted,” remarked District 2 Legislator Nadia Rajsz, who represents the Barryville area on the Sullivan County Legislature and is a member of the Upper Delaware Council. “The restored Highland Access Point will serve both the environment and the public for years to come, and I thank our planners, our partners and the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation for devoting so much time and assistance to this important effort.”