MILLERSBURG, OH — The Upper Delaware Scenic Byway (UDSB) won the 2024 Byway Partnership Award. The honor consists of eight awards presented annually by the National Scenic Byway Foundation (NSBF).

The byway won for its Festival of the Founding Fish, “ten days full of history, music, food, fish, and fun” held last May.

Byway volunteers joined forces with The Delaware Company, history preservation nonprofit; the Sullivan County Legislature; the Sullivan Catskills Visitors Association; the National Park Service Upper Delaware Scenic and Recreational River; and media sponsors, businesses and community organizers.

Activities centered on the migratory American shad, which plays an important role in Delaware River history dating back to the 1600s. It sustained the Colonial army though the winter under Gen. George Washington, and rebounded as a spawning species after a population plummet in the 2000s. 

The second annual Upper Delaware Shad Fest added a Shad Bus Run to commemorate the 20th anniversary of the byway’s designation. The popular round-trip tour from one end (City of Port Jervis) to the other (Village of Hancock) along NYS Route 97 featured narration by Sullivan County historian John Conway and stops to partake in local celebrations, educational programs, treats and libations.

“We are immensely proud of the collaborative effort and community engagement demonstrated by the Upper Delaware Scenic Byway,” said Richard H. Lowe III, UDSB chair. “The Shadfest not only celebrates the rich heritage and scenic beauty of the area, but also fosters a strong sense of community and cooperation among the various stakeholders involved. This award underscores the importance of partnership and collaboration whilst preserving and promoting the scenic, historic, and cultural values that our scenic byway offers to the public.”

John Pizzolato, the current Town of Highland supervisor, coordinated the 2022 and 2023 shad festivals as UDSB’s program manager. He will attend the NSBF’s Colorado Byways Symposium from May 1 to 4 to accept the award.

The vision for the Upper Delaware Scenic Byway is to highlight what is already an exceptional feature of the region’s appeal to residents and visitors alike: the highway itself and its spectacular scenic highway vistas, access to the Delaware River, and the uniqueness of its communities.

The byway traverses the state’s western border along a 70-mile stretch of the Delaware River, connecting the rafting and bluestone- focused Village of Hancock in Delaware County through six Sullivan County towns to the railroad City of Port Jervis in Orange County. It provides a link between State Route 17 and I-84 along NYS Route 97 with historic, natural, scenic, recreational and cultural features that tempt motorists to explore the valley.

For additional information visit www.upperdelawarescenicbyway.org or www.TravelByways.com.