For generations, Newburgh’s identity has been tied to the Hudson River. It was the city’s highway, its economic engine and its front porch. Yet for decades, Newburgh has watched as other communities rediscovered the value of their waterfronts while its own deep-water potential remained largely untapped.

Now, with state funding in place to construct a new deep-water pier at Newburgh Landing, the city has a once-in-a-generation opportunity to reclaim its place as one of the Hudson Valley’s premier river destinations. It is an opportunity that should be embraced without hesitation.

History reminds us what Newburgh once was. The Hudson River Day Line made Newburgh one of its principal stops during the golden age of steamboat travel. Millions of passengers traveled aboard the famed “white flyers” between New York City and Albany, and Newburgh was a regular destination. The city’s relationship with the Day Line was even stronger than most communities. Marvel Shipyards built the magnificent Hendrick Hudson here in 1906, one of the grandest sidewheel steamers ever to sail the river.

The Day Line’s dock at the foot of Fourth Street welcomed thousands of visitors who stepped ashore to experience Newburgh’s bustling downtown, restaurants, shops and historic landmarks. The city was more than just another stop—it was a destination.

When scheduled Day Line service ended after the 1948 season, Newburgh gradually lost one of its most visible connections to the Hudson. The river remained, but many of the economic opportunities that came with passenger traffic faded away.

Today, those opportunities are returning.

Just upriver, the Town of Marlborough has demonstrated exactly what a modern deep-water pier can accomplish. The Milton Landing Pier was built with the vision of reconnecting the community to the Hudson River. That vision has become reality.

Since American Cruise Lines began docking in Milton under a long-term agreement, visitors from across the country—and around the world—have stepped off their ships to tour wineries, orchards, farms, restaurants and historic sites. Those passengers spend money in local businesses, creating an entirely new stream of tourism revenue for the community. Cruise line officials have repeatedly praised the region’s attractions and indicated that new docking opportunities help expand their itineraries.

Milton’s success offers an important lesson. Cruise passengers are looking for authentic communities with history, culture, shopping, dining and unique experiences. Newburgh possesses all of those assets—and more.

Few Hudson River cities can match Newburgh’s combination of Washington’s Headquarters, a nationally recognized historic district, award-winning restaurants, galleries, the waterfront, Downing Park, the Newburgh-Beacon Ferry and proximity to Storm King Art Center, West Point and the Hudson Highlands.

The challenge has never been whether Newburgh has enough to offer visitors. The challenge has been getting visitors here.

A deep-water pier changes that equation.

Small-ship river cruises continue to grow in popularity because they offer travelers intimate experiences and opportunities to explore communities that large ocean vessels simply cannot reach. Every docking represents hundreds of potential customers walking through local businesses, dining in local restaurants and discovering attractions they otherwise may never have visited.

The economic impact extends far beyond a single afternoon. Visitors often return with family and friends after discovering a community during a cruise stop. Businesses gain new customers, hotels benefit from extended stays, and the city’s reputation grows through word-of-mouth recommendations.

The recently announced $2 million state investment in a new deep-water pier at Newburgh Landing recognizes this potential. Combined with infrastructure improvements already underway downtown, the project positions Newburgh to capitalize on a tourism market that is already proving successful elsewhere along the Hudson.

The investment is about far more than constructing a dock. It is about restoring Newburgh’s connection to the river that built the city.

For too long, Newburgh has turned its back on one of its greatest natural assets. A restored landing pier would once again make the Hudson River a gateway instead of merely a scenic backdrop.

History has already shown what happens when passenger vessels call on Newburgh. The success unfolding today in Milton shows what is possible in the 21st century.

The Hudson River is once again becoming a destination for tourism. Newburgh should not watch that opportunity sail by.