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Trust for Public Land to build Callicoon park

Isabel Braverman - Staff Writer
Posted 5/18/20

CALLICOON — The Delaware Town Board met virtually through Zoom on Wednesday night and announced that the Trust for Public Land had closed on the old campground property along the Delaware River in …

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Trust for Public Land to build Callicoon park

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CALLICOON — The Delaware Town Board met virtually through Zoom on Wednesday night and announced that the Trust for Public Land had closed on the old campground property along the Delaware River in Callicoon.

For some time now, the town board had been in talks with the Trust for Public Land, a non-profit organization with a mission to create parks and protect land, to hatch a plan to purchase some of that land to build a new wastewater treatment plant.

The town's current plant is almost 30 years old and is in need of replacement. The plan is for the town to buy five acres of the 43 acres owned by the Trust for Public Land on which to build the plant.

Former Town of Delaware Supervisor Ed Sykes said on Wednesday night that he had just heard the news about the property.

“That's a big milestone,” he said. “They [the Trust for Public Land] are going to be coming to us, they want us to buy that five-acre parcel. I would think the town would want to get the engineering report before we move ahead with the purchase.”

The plan to build a new wastewater treatment plant has been in the works for a while and it was spearheaded by Sykes.

Current Town Supervisor Steve Lundgren thanked Sykes for his efforts during the town board meeting.

“We all owe you a real debt of gratitude for all of the work that you put in in bringing this about in the past, so thank you,” Lundgren said to Sykes. “This is fantastic news.”

The Trust for Public Land is planning to build a new riverfront park on the land. The property, which sits behind the Delaware Youth Center, is the former Delaware Campgrounds once owned by the Freda family since the early 20th century and was largely destroyed by flooding following Hurricane Irene.

Working with the town, the county and the state, the Trust for Public Land will transform the property into a public park with walking trails, a boat launch, seating by the shore and possibly a dog park.

“I remember how much business the campground used to bring in to this end of the county and I look forward to seeing more of that,” Sykes remarked.

There will be a public design process and Callicoon residents are asked to provide their thoughts and feedback. You can email Trust for Public Land Project Manager Francis O'Shea at francis.OShea@tpl.org.

“Everyone needs safe, equal access to the outdoors and this new park will provide a new waterfront on the Delaware River, a unique natural resource for Callicoon and Sullivan County," said Carter Strickland, New York State Director for The Trust for Public Land. "Community is at the center of this project, and we look forward to working with residents to create a park that is designed by and for them. Now, more than ever, we know how important nature is for healthy resilient towns, and this park will be a vital resource for all of Sullivan County."

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