Revitalizing Hudson Riverfronts

Revitalizing Hudson Riverfronts, Scenic Hudson's latest publication, promotes the careful land-use planning that is needed to turn the tide of urban sprawl in the Hudson Valley

Revitalizing Hudson Riverfronts -- Scenic Hudson's 100-page illustrated guide to responsible waterfront planning -- is available as a 10MB downloadable PDF file. Printed copies can be requested by sending an email to kbiszick@scenichudson.org.

Scenic Hudson is proud to announce the publication of Revitalizing Hudson Riverfronts: Illustrated Conservation & Development Strategies for Creating Healthy, Prosperous Communities. This 100-page illustrated guide is meant to help local officials, planners, developers, citizen activists, and other stakeholders enhance and preserve the unique qualities of the Hudson River waterfront. The principles in the guide, developed by Scenic Hudson with a grant from the New York State Department of State, provide tools to promote the development of lively, pedestrian-friendly, mixed-use riverfronts in and adjacent to municipal centers while conserving forests, farms, wetlands, and fields, and providing for a continuous public greenway corridor along the river.

A PDF version of Revitalizing Hudson Riverfronts is can be downloaded via this link. Printed versions can be requested by contacting kbiszick@scenichudson.org.

Programs such as the Clean Water Act and efforts by Scenic Hudson and other environmental organizations has vastly improved the water quality in the Hudson River over the past 30 to 40 years. Riverfronts no longer support industrial activity as they did in the 19th and early 20th centuries and, as a result, communities are once again embracing the Hudson as the face they present to the world. However, redevelopment of these abandoned industrial sites, sometimes tainted with contamination, must ensure that the public gains access to the shoreline, views of the Hudson remain open, resources are protected and buildings are designed within the character and scale of the community.

Likewise, careful land-use planning is needed to turn the tide of urban sprawl in the Hudson Valley. The lack of planning has resulted in the fragmenting of communities with auto-oriented development that has consumed open space at a rate four times population growth. Prime, productive farmland has been lost at an alarming rate. Historic sites have been encroached upon by suburbia and big box retail, and megastores and strip development have drained economic vitality from our downtowns.

Scenic Hudson works with concerned citizens, local officials, developers, community groups and policy makers to encourage "Smart Growth" that protects resources and focuses mixed-use and appropriately-scaled development in and adjacent to existing communities, thus reducing auto-dependence and creating a vibrant, walkable environment that will enhance community character, preserve the Hudson Valley's unique sense of place and help protect farmland and open space.