Julie Noble, wife of Mayor Steven Noble, on the pier
KINGSTON – Kingston’s new fishing dock on the Rondout was formally opened to the public on Thursday as state DEC officials and Mayor Steven Noble cut the ribbon on the facility at T.R. Gallo Park.
Noble was joined by Frances Dunwell, Hudson River Estuary coordinator at the DEC and Martin Brand, the DEC’s regional director.
“This is the first and only public access fishing point in the city, for those interested in fishing along the Rondout Creek,” Noble said, calling iIt is an important project for the community. “This is a very well designed dock. It’s really beefy, meant to be able to withstand flooding events and rough weather. As we expand our public access points, we hope that possibly this dock can be moved to a location that’s better for fishing.”
This is a place that has a lot of interesting fish that you can catch, noted Dunwell. And it’s a place where people until now have not had a place where you can legally fish, especially where they wouldn’t be in conflict with other users such as kayaks, she said.
Among the available species in the creek are perch, bullhead, sunfish, striped bass, herring, and American eel. It’s a great day for people who love fish, Dunwell said.
“Were pleased to provide funding through the Estuary Program, under Governor Cuomo’s initiative to open up previously under-utilized public and private lands, to allow people to get out and enjoy nature,” added Brand. Hudson River Improvement Fund also gave matching funds.
The dock is also ADA compliant for wheelchairs.
Fishing requires a DEC permit except for children under the age of 16. Warning signs posted nearby advise against eating fish caught out of the Hudson River tributary.
The dock is located along the promenade, about 500 feet south of the Connelly suspension bridge.
