ALBANY – Legislation to permanently extend a law giving municipalities located within the Catskill Park the option of participating in the Hudson River Valley Greenway program has passed in the Assembly. It is sponsored by Assemblyman Kevin Cahill of Kingston. If this bill is not enacted by the end of the year, the towns of Denning, Olive and Woodstock will lose their status as Greenway Communities.

"It is important that the Catskill Park towns continue to be afforded the same opportunities as other Greenway communities,” said Cahill. “This program provides our region with the tools and expertise to create a framework that allows economic progress and success without sacrificing the historic and natural treasures of the region. It would be a shame if these towns lost their local option to participate."

The towns in Ulster and Greene County which are in the Catskill Park were expressly prohibited from joining the Greenway under the 1991 law which created the program. In 2006, the Legislature passed legislation expanding the initiative to include the towns of Denning, Shandaken, Olive, Woodstock and Hardenburgh. After gaining eligibility, Woodstock, Olive and Denning all joined the program. This new bill is needed by the end of the year to allow these towns to continue to participate in the Greenway if they so choose.

The Senate has yet to take action on the measure.

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http://www.catskillsnews.com/News/June08/18/Gwy_CatsPk-18Jun08.html