City of Poughkeepsie Approves City Updates

POUGHKEEPSIE – The City of Poughkeepsie has approved strategic updates to its Local Waterfront Revitalization Program, reflecting changes that have occurred to the area since the City last adopted an LWRP more than 20 years ago.

The program updates includes:
* Increasing public access and working on efforts to create a continuous public walkway along the waterfront.
* Resolving conflicts that may occur with increased waterside uses and ensuring compliance with the policies.
* Incorporating principles of sustainability and potential impacts of climate change.
* Improving chances of receiving state funding for capital projects.

“We all know the City of Poughkeepsie’s waterfront has so much potential,” said Mayor Marc Nelson. “Updating the LWRP has been a long and complicated process, but an essential one if we are going to protect the valuable assets and maximize the many opportunities on the waterfront. I want to thank Common Council Chair Natasha Brown for her collaborative approach to her new role in city government. With her leadership the Council has at last taken a critical step to assure we can achieve strategic and sustainable development along our southern waterfront, and indeed throughout the entire LWRP zone.”

Common Council Chair Natasha Brown said, “Only those who have closely watched the long arduous process play out over the last several years will fully appreciate the satisfaction I have at this particular accomplishment being the first order of business as we begin a new year with new leadership both on the Council and in the Mayor’s Office. Thank you to the City staff, our consultants, the Waterfront Advisory Committee and the many stakeholders and partners who did the hard work to get this across the finish line.”

The City of Poughkeepsie’s previous LWRP was locally adopted in 1998, but was never adopted by New York State. The new plan expands the defined zone to include the Fall Kill area with the focus being to increase public access, mitigate flooding and improve creek conditions.

The adoption of the LWRP, and state approval, opens pathways to grant funding to support local projects. Potential projects include connecting and extending the riverside walkways, providing storage and rental opportunities for kayaks, creating a dog park, building a floating dock for swimming and improving signage and creating interactive maps to help people better find their way and enjoy the waterfront. Find out more at www.cityofpoughkeepsie.com/lwrpupdate.