Press Release: NYS, October 2, 2000

Governor George E. Pataki today announced $300,000 for a comprehensive study and master plan for the revitalization of the south Albany waterfront. The study will focus on the area's early Dutch heritage and will examine the feasibility of recreating examples of the early Dutch settlement, as well as providing a permanent home for the replica of the Half Moon.

"For more than 200 years, the Hudson River has been a critical corridor for trade and communication for Native Americans and the generations of European settlers who followed Hendrick Hudson's route north from New York Harbor," Governor Pataki said. "Today, waterfront towns and villages up and down the Hudson are being rediscovered for their quiet charm, their abundance of historic buildings, and the beauty of their setting along America's great river.

"Albany's southern waterfront presents a rich opportunity to link the past and the future," the Governor said. "Albany's Dutch heritage and the Half Moon will once again be a part of Albany's waterfront for New Yorkers and visitors to enjoy."

City of Albany Mayor Gerald Jennings said, "Historic recreations are some of the most successful revitalization tools a city can have. With Albany's waterfront and history, a recreation of the City's early Dutch settlements has tremendous potential to attract visitors year round. The steady stream of visitors that the Half Moon receives every time it comes to Albany is testimony to history's ability to bring people to the riverfront. I am grateful and thankful that the Governor recognizes this potential for the City of Albany and I look forward to the creation of a site that will honor the past of the Capital City and the State of New York."

This grant will assist the city in creating a master plan for the redevelopment of this area with the goals of to identifying the best ways to rediscover the city's Dutch heritage, increase economic activity, and most importantly, make another large stretch of the Hudson River an integral part of the life of the city.

The feasibility study and master plan will include a detailed analysis of existing conditions in the 100 acres that comprise the city's southern waterfront, a market analysis of the attractions that could be developed, the transportation needs of a redeveloped waterfront, the opportunities for restoring natural resources at the water edge, and the public access that will be provided.

Along the city's waterfront between the Port of Albany and the downtown are the sites of some of the earliest development in the city's history beginning with the very earliest settlement, Fort Orange.

Today, however, the area is characterized by storage facilities, small industrial enterprises, vacant land, and abandoned buildings. This large stretch of the city's waterfront is not fully realizing either its economic potential, its potential for public enjoyment of the waterfront or the opportunity to celebrate and interpret the city's heritage.

This project will complement the other cooperative efforts of the city and state to revitalize all of Albany's waterfront, the improvements to the Port of Albany, the pedestrian bridge and improvements to the Corning Preserve, and a soon to be begun redevelopment plan for the city's northern waterfront.

Governor Pataki also today announced the establishment of the "Governor's Half Moon Voyage of Discovery" program to allow middle school aged students to learn first-hand about the ecology, history, culture, and economy of the great Hudson River by re-tracing the path of Hendrick Hudson's 1609 voyage.

"As we continue to build on our success in the renewal of the Hudson River, we must also instill in our children an appreciation of the River and its surroundings," the Governor said. "Educational opportunities like the Half Moon voyage will help to create a new generation of environmental stewards who will preserve, protect and enjoy the unique history and spectacular natural resources of the Hudson River long into the future."

The program will consist of a Spring 2001 six-day voyage on the Half Moon with two six student teams from New York State middle school classes. The two teams will be chosen by a committee of educators, environmentalists, community leaders, State agency representatives, and Half Moon captain, Chip Reynolds.

The modern replica of the Half Moon was built in Albany in 1989 by the New Netherland Museum, and operates as a sailing museum of early Dutch culture. Using traditional methods, students selected for the program will function as full crew members of the vessel, learning to handle, sail, steer and navigate the ship. In addition, students will pursue an academic program combining science and history education in a hands on environment.

Along the way students will maintain a log both of their personal reflections and of their academic projects. This information will be communicated to classrooms over the internet, allowing schools to monitor the progress of the voyage and permitting students in the classroom to participate in a virtual voyage.

Additional information on the program will be available after November 1.