MOUNTAINTOP - Strolling to the park will become even more sweet for the mountaintop towns of Prattsville and Tannersville with the influx of nearly a quarter of a million dollars in grants.

New York State Department of Environmental Conservation officials have announced the awarding of $123,141 and $125,000, respectively, to the waterway-connected communities.

More than $677,000 is being distributed thru the Catskill Park Community Smart Growth program for seven overall projects, according to a recent DEC press release.

"The Catskill Park is home to vibrant communities that play a crucial role in protecting globally significant landscapes,” said DEC Commissioner Amanda Lefton.

And the grants, “represent a vital investment in our communities, fostering sustainable development, economic prosperity and enhanced quality of life for all New Yorkers, while safeguarding the natural resources that make the Catskills such a special place to live, work and visit,” Lefton said.

Prattsville will utilize its gift, available in reimbursement payments, to capitalize on the ongoing improvements to the Pratt Rock Park trail system by extending the Main Street sidewalk to link up with a currently underutilized park entrance.

New sidewalks compliant with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) will enhance safe access to the park by relieving parking congestion at the primary entrance, along Route 23 on the north end of town.

The sidewalk extension will connect three town attractions: Main Street, Pratt Rock Park and the Schoharie Creek Barrier Dam. 

An existing trail within the park will be reseeded and enhanced with eastern hemlock tree plantings, which hold historical significance to Prattsville.

“We’re very happy to be working with DEC on another project in Prattsville,”  town supervisor Greg Cross said. “This was a team effort led by [town councilman] Mason [Chase] and [town clerk} Theresa [Whitworth].”

“We have a good relationship with DEC,” Chase said. “This is the same series of grants [former town historian] Carolyn Bennett applied for and secured for improvements at Pratt Rock Park.

“This is all about the park and tourism. We also hope to leverage these funds to seek more grants in next year’s rounds,” Chase said, possibly accessing Department of Transportation dollars, as well.

It is expected groundbreaking on the project will be approached slowly as the town pursues those additional grants and the conceptual layout of the pathway, leading to bid-letting for the work later this year.

New walkways will be set from just past Huntersfield Creek at the Barrier Dam to Pratt Rock Park, on the east side of Route 23.

As for the west side, nearer the Schoharie Creek, “I can imagine a sidewalk to Connine Field but at this point it’s a little bit of a pie in the sky dream,” Cross said.

“Let’s face it, we occasionally get floods In Prattsville so that would be a major undertaking but let’s not say never either,” Cross said.

Tannersville will get 125 G’s as part of the Gooseberry Creek Revitalization Strategy Implementation Project to help design upgrades to the Gooseberry Creek watershed.

This includes parklands owned by the Village of Tannersville around Rip Van Winkle Lake. The proposed project features floating walking paths in two locations to connect Upper Lake Park to the Huckleberry Rail Trail, which is part of the Hunter Regional Trail Network. 

It also includes the installation of two fountains in Rip Van Winkle Lake to improve the water quality and circulation.

“We are very appreciative of this grant,” village of Tannersville mayor Lee McGunnigle says, praising village clerk Robin Dumont for masterfully compiling the required paperwork.

“These floating walking paths are beautiful. The fountains will allow to to aerate the water and better control the [overly invasive] lily pads,” McGunnigle says.

Tannersville has received multiple grants over the past two years. “That tells me that State sees that our financials are in order and that we accomplish these grants in a timely way,” McGunnigle says.

The latest round of Smart Growth grants include:

—Multi-County (Greene, Ulster, and Delaware). The Catskill Center for Conservation and Development: $62,467.

“This project will improve accessibility at the Catskills Visitor Center (CVC) through the installation of a new, ADA-accessible trail,” the DEC press release states.

The CVC is designated as a DEC Accessible Recreation Destination, with an accessible building and hiking trail (the Interpretive Loop Trail).

The 3-part project includes the design of two trails that connect the main CVC building to the existing 0.5-mile accessible Interpretive Loop Trail.

Also on tap are the construction of two ADA -accessible trails from the building west and the sidewalk east to provide a safe and accessible path from the building to the Interpretive Loop Trail; and the installation of new interpretive signage along these trails to guide and educate visitors.

—Delaware County. Town of Middletown: $50,000, funding a feasibility study for the Town of Middletown to assess the viability of implementing a cluster septic system and connecting it to existing wastewater collection systems in the hamlets of Clovesville and Kelly Corners.

Engineering services will evaluate technical options, projected costs, environmental impacts and logistical considerations, enabling informed decision-making about future infrastructure investments that support smart growth and protect water quality.

—Ulster County. RUPCO: $118,250, replacing a pedestrian bridge over Alton Creek that will lead to a vegetated park area at 310 Main Street in the Hamlet of Pine Hill. 

This important infrastructure is part of The Wellington Restoration Project’s overall landscaping and green space plan that will add affordable housing to the hamlet, as well as a community food market.

The bridge will allow residents and visitors to cross the creek via a pedestrian trail and access a patio seating space, DEC states.

—Town of Shandaken: $100,000, supporting the development of a comprehensive plan for town zoning. 

Within 20–22 months, the town expects to adopt the new zoning code based on the smart growth goals and other changes added to an upcoming new comprehensive plan, DEC states.