Town seeks $450,000 for kayak launch

The Town Board has authorized spending up to $6,000 to apply for $450,000 in state grants that would cover half the cost of installing a handicapped-accessible kayak launch at Bristol Beach Park.

At a meeting Wednesday, the board agreed to pay the consulting firm Barton and Loguidice $4,000 to prepare an application to the state’s Hudson River Estuary River Access Program and $2,000 for a consolidated application for funding from the state Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation.

“On both of these grants, our match would be in-kind service,” town Supervisor Greg Helsmoortel said. “Any cash match that we would be required to do ... will be coming out of the Winston Farm Alliance donation to the town of Saugerties.”

The Winston Farm Alliance provided the town with about $80,000 from funds remaining when the group disbanded, town officials said.

The town will be seeking a $400,000 grant from the state Hudson River Estuary River Access Program, with a $400,000 local match required. The state Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation application seeks $50,000, which would require a $23,000 local match.

Town Councilwoman Leeanne Thornton said the town is working with community groups to determine priorities at the park and seeking to accomplish projects as funding becomes available.

“From the Eve’s Point area, we have been expanding the parking area there,” she said. “There’s a (ridge) there and it would be a leveled, tiered access to put a kayak in at that point.”

The 65-acre park is in the hamlet of Malden, immediately north of Main Street, and has about 1.1 miles of Hudson River shoreline. Projects under consideration include developing a hiking trail from Main Street to Emerick Road; converting an existing structure into an interpretive center along the river; creating a beach from a sandy area along the shoreline; and using a deep water area as a launch for larger boats.

“There is strong sentiment for having it showcase the history of the (former) brickyard,” Thornton said. “The kilns are still there. It could be a walking history tour that shows the history of brickyards in the Hudson Valley and how it was part of the history of this community.”