Park access changes considered
ESOPUS, N.Y. » Town Board members are reviewing Waterfront Advisory Board subcommittee recommendations for Sleightsburgh Park hours and access.
The issues were briefly discussed during a meeting Tuesday, with board members noting that decisions will need to be made on monitoring suggestions.
“We’re going into budget (discussions) and ... we’re going to want to know where the money is going to come from,” Councilman Jared Geuss said.
Among suggestions is the installation of video surveillance at the boat ramp.
“This should be wired into the Sheriff’s office and the feed available to the public to view so they can determine if there is parking available before entering the park,” committee members wrote.
The committee also suggested that complaints about traffic control could be addressed through stops signs at the corners of Third Street and North Broadway and First Street and North Broadway.
“To reduce the number of park users that might enter with (boats that are) too large signage is recommended at the top of Broadway near
the bus turn ... to advise boaters regarding the size of boats allowed and park hours,” they wrote. “More visible signs showing the way to the park would also be helpful to reduce the number of park users that get lost and drive around the neighborhood.”
Recommendations also included having the park gate operational for entering between 6 a.m. and 9 p.m., with boaters that are returning allowed to exit the facility until 11 p.m.
Disputes over predawn and post-sunset activities have played out at board meetings for more than two years between neighbors of the park and visitors who launch boats or use the site for hunting. Committee members noted that some of those differences remained unresolved despite having a county mediator available for two stakeholder sessions over the summer.
“Professional mediators were provided by the nonprofit Ulster County Dispute Resolution Center,” committee members wrote.
“The first mediation session ... did look like there might be opportunities for a compromise solution,” they wrote. “Although there were many solutions the stakeholders agreed upon the second mediation session ... did not yield resolution between the groups regarding hours of access.”
Committee members specifically noted that the groups have differences that would prevent them from being able to handle problems themselves.
“Self-policing between residents and sportsmen should be strongly discouraged,” committee members wrote. “The two groups could not reach agreement under controlled mediation and they will not be able to as individuals. To reduce the tendency to self-police ensure there are clear instructions on when and how to call authorities and who to contact for non-urgent non-compliance.”