EAST STROUDSBURG, Monroe County, Pa. — State and local conservation officials on Wednesday celebrated the Delaware River, recently chosen the commonwealth’s River of the Year, with a festival.
The River of the Year Festival, held at Minisink Park, included an afternoon of river-themed activities such as a River of the Year Paddle, live music, educational exhibits and more.
"The River of the Year Festival is a powerful example of how we can bring communities together to celebrate and appreciate Pennsylvania’s incredible waterways," Department of Conservation and Natural Resources Secretary Cindy Adams Dunn said in a news release.
"The Delaware River, with its Wild and Scenic designation and role as a major trail corridor — a symbol of ecological restoration and regional pride."Department of Conservation and Natural Resources Secretary Cindy Adams Dunn
"With 28 designated water trails spanning more than 2,100 miles, our rivers are vital natural resources that connect people to nature, history and recreation.
"The Delaware River, with its Wild and Scenic designation and role as a major trail corridor — a symbol of ecological restoration and regional pride.”
The festival was held alongside the Delaware River Sojourn. In its 30th year, the annual sojourn is a weeklong guided paddling excursion, ending in Phillipsburg, New Jersey.
The Delaware originates in the Catskill Mountains in upstate New York and flows for more than 300 miles southward into Delaware Bay, emptying into the Atlantic Ocean.
In the Valley, the Delaware River acts as the border between Northampton County and New Jersey.
Formerly so contaminated and polluted “it blackened ship hulls,” the Delaware has dramatically recovered, officials said.
“It now boasts more National Wild and Scenic designations than any other river in the country and supplies drinking water to over 14 million people,” according to the news release.
“It also holds deep historical significance, from George Washington’s iconic crossing during the Revolutionary War to its role in powering the Industrial Revolution.”
‘A powerful way to connect’
Administered by the Pennsylvania Organization for Watersheds and Rivers, or POWR, with funding from the DCNR, the River of the Year award aims to elevate public awareness of specific rivers and recognize important conservation needs and achievements.
“The River of the Year program continues to be a powerful way to connect people to their local waterways and to celebrate the unique stories each river has to tell."Janet Sweeney of POWR
“POWR would like to extend heartfelt congratulations to everyone who rallied behind the Delaware River. We commend the overwhelming support shown for the river,” Janet Sweeney of POWR said.
“The River of the Year program continues to be a powerful way to connect people to their local waterways and to celebrate the unique stories each river has to tell.
"This recognition not only highlights the Delaware River’s breathtaking natural beauty, ecological and historical significance, but also shines a light on the passionate individuals and organizations working tirelessly to protect and enhance this vital resource.
“As Pennsylvania’s 2025 River of the Year, the Delaware River will celebrate throughout the year with various events and gatherings.”
For nominating the river, the Upper Delaware Preservation Coalition will get a $15,000 Leadership Grant from DCNR and POWR to support public events and outreach.
It also received a commemorative poster.
This is the third time the Delaware River has received the award, following wins in 2002 and 2011.
The Delaware was not the only Lehigh Valley waterway to be nominated in this year’s contest. Perkiomen Creek, a 37.7-mile tributary of the Schuylkill River, stretching through Berks, Lehigh and Montgomery counties, also was nominated.
