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Warren County seeks inclusion in Gateway Community pilot under EXPLORE Act to address visitor impacts at Delaware Water Gap
Summary
The board unanimously approved a resolution requesting support for inclusion of Delaware Water Gap local communities in a Gateway Community pilot program established by the EXPLORE Act; commissioners described safety, parking and wildfire risks tied to visitor use.
Warren County commissioners voted Feb. 26 to request support for inclusion of the Delaware Water Gap area and nearby communities in a Gateway Community pilot program established by the federal EXPLORE Act. Director Jason J. Sarnoski said the initiative could help assess and mitigate visitor impacts across the Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area and neighboring municipalities.
The resolution (RESOLUTION 114-25) lists local safety and infrastructure issues county officials say are strained by recreation-area visitation: responses to lost or injured hikers, river rescues, forest fires and illegal parking along I-80 and near trailheads. The resolution identifies Knowlton, Blairstown, Hardwick and other Warren County municipalities as potential participants and requests that municipal and county officials send support letters and resolutions to federal representatives advocating for pilot-program inclusion.
The resolution also states the county’s intent that any future participation should not rely on eminent domain or alter access to established rock-climbing locations. Commissioners recorded a unanimous vote in favor of requesting support and outreach to affected municipalities and state representatives.
