Letter from Sandy Bright

Public Invited To Weigh In on WRP

Ever since I-88 was built and opened in the early 1970s, our community has been essentially cut off from one of our greatest natural resources, the Susquehanna River. The city and town of Oneonta are developing a joint Local Waterfront Revitalization Program to establish community goals and strategies for future waterfront and downtown development. Its stated purpose is to “foster economic development, improve public access to the Susquehanna River and its tributaries, and encourage the protection of valuable natural resources.”

Oneonta is conducting a survey to determine residents’ thoughts and opinions. This survey has many questions about economic development and housing in the proposed waterfront area. While these are important goals for the community at large, we feel the main emphasis of the Waterfront Revitalization Project should be on increasing public access and encouraging public interaction with the natural setting of our rivers and creeks. Any housing and economic development should not impinge on citizens’ ability to enjoy our natural resources.

To learn more about this project and make your preferences and opinions count, please take the survey at surveymonkey.com/r/W2TJM8Z.

Sandy Bright
Secretary, Oneonta Susquehanna Greenway Committee