Broome County Planning Department seeks public input on waterfront plans

BINGHAMTON, N.Y. — The Broome County Planning Department is seeking public input as it goes through the process of updating the 2011 Intermunicipal Waterfront Public Access Plan, which includes the development of a “blueway” plan.

The plan’s purpose is to improve public access and awareness of the county’s rivers. It will map and assess the existing conditions of the waterfront and explore new opportunities to enhance access and increased recreational use throughout the county. The project is a collaborative effort of the planning department and its municipal partners.

Broome County is soliciting input for the blueway plan through a survey to collect information about how people utilize the rivers and which materials are most useful for their waterway recreation experience. Survey participants also have the opportunity to review some proposed projects and provide additional feedback for the Waterfront Public Access Plan. The planning department will use the information to assure the plans align with the community’s vision for the future of the waterfront.

The survey is available online at www.broomewaterfront.com.

Last year, Broome County organized a series of public workshops to learn what types of riverfront improvements the community wanted to see. The project received financial and technical support through the state’s Department of State Local Waterfront Revitalization Program.