Reclaiming the Hudson The Saratoga County Riverscape Project Reclaiming the Hudson The Saratoga County Riverscape Project The vision ivers define communities. The Hudson River is R With change comes opportunity. The no exception. This quintessential American river upcoming Hudson River dredging project conjures up images of the past as we recall the story of provides a chance to reevaluate the role Henry Hudson and his crew of the Half Moon and tales of the Hudson River in our communities. of Native Americans and early settlers who enjoyed the New projects will be initiated to create bounties of the upper Hudson River. For generations, exciting new public spaces, highlight the the Hudson River has been the backbone of many exceptional educational and recreational resources along the river, and spark Saratoga County communities. Together with the economic development opportunities Champlain Canal, completed in 1822, the river brought throughout the corridor. There are two great prosperity to the region through the 19th century. corridor projects that are a shared goal This waterway corridor links centuries of historic for all the communities: a continuous events, notable people, and landmarks that shaped our greenway trail from Waterford to Moreau nation. Today, the region attracts tourists interested in and the navigational dredging of the Champlain Canal. heritage tourism with interpretive attractions ranging The Riverscape Project is designed from the influential Native American era, through to illustrate the present and planned the American Revolution , to the importance of the initiatives along the Hudson River/ Industrial Revolution, and the construction of the Champlain Canal corridor and how Champlain Barge Canal. this project is framed by federal, state, Many historic and recreational sites already anchor and regional planning strategies. the corridor. These include the Waterford Historical The strategy Museum and Cultural Center and Peebles Island State Together great things can be Park in Waterford, the Saratoga Battlefield in Stillwater, accomplished. Working collaboratively, and the Gerald B. H. Solomon Saratoga National seven municipalities – Moreau, Cemetery, Saratoga Monument, Schuyler House, and Northumberland, Saratoga, Stillwater, Victory Woods in Saratoga. Mechanicville, Halfmoon, and Waterford For Saratoga County residents who grew up in the – will champion more than 35 projects towns and villages along the Hudson, the river and canal along the Hudson River and Champlain Canal to make the waterways more were not just about history – they represented a reliable accessible for both residents and visitors. source of employment and commerce that sustained By working in partnership, Saratoga their communities. The river and canal also provided County and its municipalities have exceptional swimming, boating, and fishing opportunities. developed a unified approach to The In recent times, under the specter of environmental Saratoga County Riverscape Project, contamination and industrial decline, the grand Hudson developing connections to a network of sites that complement one another and River is highly underutilized and underappreciated. provide a seamless experience for visitors. The anticipated environmental cleanup of the Hudson River presents many new opportunities. We The rewards will work together to reestablish the river as one of our Being responsible and creative great regional assets and share its beauty with others. stewards of our natural and built As we redefine the riverscape, all will gain a new resources can only lead to good things – appreciation of the river as a great natural resource. for the county and for the people who come to enjoy the region. Saratoga Rivers have a way of inspiring people. Of beckoning County has the potential to develop a them to creative and unusual actions. The corridor major tourism corridor along the communities are poised to reclaim the river, revitalize Hudson River/Champlain Canal. local economies, and welcome another century of Residents and visitors will enjoy a visitors to the Hudson riverscape. greatly improved image of Saratoga County’s Hudson River corridor following the dredging of PCBs. The Saratoga County Riverscape Project will reflect and build on the unique attributes of the area. By resurrecting the great assets of the Hudson River and Champlain Canal, civic pride will be revitalized in river communities, and the romance of the waterway and tradition of natural resource protection will be preserved. Reclaiming the Hudson. It’s a plan worth undertaking. Federal, State, and Regional Partnerships Federal, state, and regional programs to Whitehall. Route 4 is part of a federal implementation of the Canalway Trail. Upon serve as the impetus, foundation, and and state Scenic Byway and one of only completion, the 348-mile long Canalway framework for the more than 35 individual 20 highways to be designated as an “All- Trail will be the nation’s longest continuous initiatives sponsored by communities in American Road” by the Federal Highway hike/bike trail. The Champlain Canal Trail The Saratoga County Riverscape Project. Administration. represents the Champlain Canal Hudson River segment; an overall completion date Erie Canalway National National Park Service for this trail segment is planned to coincide Heritage Corridor Visitor Center with the 250th anniversary of the Battles of The U.S. Congress established the Erie A new facility to be developed at an Saratoga in 2027. Canalway National Heritage Corridor in appropriate location will give visitors to 2000 to recognize the significance of the Saratoga National Historical Park an Old Saratoga on the Hudson canal system in our nation's history. overview and orientation at the outset of Old Saratoga on the Hudson is a The Erie and Champlain Canals connected their visit, regardless of where they begin community-based intermunicipal effort to people, places, and ideas; they strengthened their exploration of the park. The Old develop a linear park that connects a the union and fostered social reform Saratoga facility will include classroom and remarkable concentration of historic, scenic, movements celebrated in art, literature, public assembly space and a gallery high - natural, and recreational resources on both story, and song. These canals helped lighting sites of importance in the region. sides of the Hudson River. The geographic establish an American identity both here The center will be available year-round area that makes up Old Saratoga on the and abroad. and formally staffed in high season. Hudson takes in some of the most beautiful, The Erie Canalway National Heritage geologically important, and historically Corridor partners with communities, Erie Canal Greenway significant landscapes in our region. The Erie Canal Greenway, initiated by government agencies, and nonprofit Historic Saratog a-Washington organizations to ensure that the canals’ New York State, is designed to coordinate history, legacy, and landscapes are saved with the federal Erie Canalway National on the Hudson Partnership for future generations while encouraging Heritage Corridor initiative. The Greenway As a natural progression emerging from community revitalization and tourism. will incorporate a regional approach to the successes of Old Saratoga on the strengthen local ties while protecting and Hudson, legislators recently approved Lakes to Locks Passage enhancing natural and cultural resources the formation of the Historic Saratoga- The Saratoga County Riverscape Project along the state’s canal system. A high Washington on the Hudson Partnership. is geographically tied to the Lakes to Locks priority for the NYS Canal Corporation is the This organization will address collaborative Passage, which promotes the “The Great agriculture and open space protection, Northeast Journey,” encouraging recreational tourism development, revitalization of main boaters and other tourists to explore the streets, recreational development, and sites and communities along “America’s first protection of natural and cultural heritage operating waterway.” The Lakes to Locks in an area known as the Historic Saratog a- Passage provides access to 234 miles of Washington on the Hudson Reserve. The historic and recreational sites along the partnership is an innovative framework waterway; the Champlain Canal Region that will build and expand on existing portion is a 64-mile stretch from Waterford public and private initiatives. The Hudson Reserve consists of the towns of Northumberland, Saratoga, Stillwater, Halfmoon, and Waterford and the City of Mechanicville in Saratoga County, and the towns of Fort Edward, Greenwich, and Easton in Washington County. Saratoga County Green Infrastructure Plan This endeavor to identify and protect a network of green space and recreational resources has created a sustainable open space plan for Saratoga County. Saratoga PLAN (Preserving Land And Nature), What does it mean? initiator of the study, will be providing “Riverscape” refers to the exceptional scenic vistas – technical assistance to local communities both of the water and from the water. The Saratoga to protect their natural, recreational, County Riverscape Project will offer the opportunity to historic, and scenic resources. enjoy the natural resources of a historic waterway and the charms of nearby towns and villages. T Hudson Falls h l a n a e C Town of Moreau in a l p 1 New Town Center Vision m S a 1 h 2 Rebuild Royal Block House C a 3 River Trail from New