OurHudson Barge Tour

By Dave Lucas

Hudson, NY – The OurHudson barge tour has been touted as "an unprecedented grassroots effort to gather ideas and build momentum towards sustainable prosperity across the Hudson Valley." Hudson Valley Bureau Chief Dave Lucas boarded the barge this week when it stopped at Hudson, New York...

The majestic Hudson River: A spectacular October day... for more than 400 years the river has carried explorers, adventurers and entrepreneurs; sloops, steamboats and warships; yachts and kayaks. For the last several weeks Pennsylvania Railroad Barge # 399 has been docking at riverside communities: better known as the "OurHudson" barge, this artifact of a lost industrial era has been re-purposed as a floating town hall, exhibition space, and movie theater.

OurHudson is a project of the Hudson River Watershed Alliance, with the support of Hudson River Greenway, Clearwater, Hudson River Foundation, Scenic Hudson, Riverkeeper and other environmental and civic organizations.

OurHudson spokesman Roger Meyer says the mission is to get people intersted and involved in the ongoing recovery and restoration of the Hudson and the valley it flows through.

The"OurHudson" project has been over two years in the making: It has been championed by Congressman Maurice Hinchey and civic leaders up and down the river. Initiatives included convening task forces of 120 civic organizations and businesses, on-water listening tours, a documentary film to be aired on PBS and book on the future of the region.

The tour has been engaging citizens and civic leaders in a conversation about the economic future of the Valley and premiering a documentary film about the region's challenges and opportunities. It encourages people to consider: How DO we make our work, our land, our river, our food, and our downtowns greater and greener?

How the OurHudson project will change the river's destiny and how its grassroots effort dovetails with Governor Cuomo's recently announced regional council is yet to be seen.