Welcome to the The Ra(c)quette River Corridor Project  Website 

Finally, the report also provides an implementation strategy for all projects and initiatives describing the relative priority, who is responsible, potential partners and potential funding sources.

“They key to developing the Raquette River as a catalyst for regional economic development will be how well the communities along the corridor connect with each other to make it happen,” noted Jim Murphy, Economic Developer for the Village of Potsdam and a member of the Blueway Corridor Advisory Committee. “Communities need to look at the Raquette as an opportunity to develop a regional identity that can not only compete with other well-branded tourist destinations, but also provide more jobs, greater recreational opportunities and better protection of this invaluable resource.”

The degree to which this initiative will be successful will almost entirely depend on the level of cooperation that comes from all the municipalities along the river corridor, Murphy noted. “Communities must work together to implement this shared vision of the future of the Raquette in order to reap the benefits that will come from a well-planned Blueway corridor,” he added.

Utilizing tourism as an economic development tool can also help to maintain the unique cultural and environmental qualities of the area, as these are a central attraction for heritage and nature base tourism, the report noted.

Goals and objectives developed as part of this plan include:

• Developing a framework for voluntary regional cooperation;

• Encourage improvements to corridor access and infrastructure;

• Encourage responsible use of the river’s fragile ecosystems;

• Provide more complete corridor information for visitors;

• Support educational uses of the river corridor;

• Encourage a corridor-wide approach to promoting assets, and

• Promoting the corridor as an engine driving local economies.

“Community collaboration will be vital as we move forward, so it’s especially important that people with a stake in the future of the Raquette come to Wednesday’s session and share their hopes, dreams and ideas,” Murphy said. “This session will be an important first step in publicly discussing the merits and priorities outlined in the Blueway Trail Plan, which will serve as our roadmap to the future of the corridor. This session will also be a good opportunity for anyone interested in the Raquette – for any reason – to come together and join our growing network of stakeholders.”

For more information about the public session or the Raquette River Blueway Corridor Advisory Committee, please email us at raquetteriver@localnet.com .

The Ra(c)quette* River Corridor Project Mission Statement

• To develop a sense of unity and cooperation among the corridor communities of this second longest river in New York State;
• To promote economic development and tourism through enhancement of riverside assets and recreational activities while protecting the natural resources of the corridor and riverside hamlets, and being respectful of public and private property;
• To engage municipalities, local and regional organizations, businesses, and individuals in joint promotion of the scenic and recreational resources of the river corridor;
• To foster a cooperative effort that strengthens the capacity of each municipality to address its local priorities while participating in the development and implementation of a coordinated corridor plan.