PHILIPSTOWN A land preservation organization has taken over 655 acres of land from Surprise Lake Camp, potentially adding a major link to the Hudson Highlands.
The Open Space Institute announced this month that it bought 200 acres for $1.89 million and acquired a contiguous 455 acres through a conservation easement, which will restrict future development on the site.
The 102-year-old camp, which has famous alums, including Eddie Cantor, Walter Matthau, Jerry Stiller and Larry King, will continue to operate in the summers for youth recreation and during the winters with environmental study programs.
"This results in preservation of one of the largest tracts of open space in Putnam County," OSI Vice President Jennifer Grossman said Friday.
Jordan Dale, executive director of the camp, said the acquisition would be good for all parties involved.
"The land is a treasure for the community and for the children of Surprise Lake Camp. We are delighted we can benefit both," he said Thursday.
The camp, Grossman said, had kept the land in its natural state, maintaining the habitat for trees and plants and wildlife, including deer, fox, beaver and timber rattle snakes.
"They were great stewards of the land and it will continue," she added.
Longtime resident Lars Kulleseld, who is head of a land conservation committee of the Hudson Highlands Land Trust, praised the acquisition.
"It is tremendous in terms of preserving open space and making sure we don't have a large development on that location," he said. "I have lived in Philipstown for 40 years … and this is, in part, because of the preservation of open space and local history here."
Kulleseld, an avid hiker, said the property offers a picturesque trail, which at its highest elevations provides views of the Hudson River, Bull Hill and Breakneck Ridge.
The land deal provided a way for the camp to preserve open space, which Dale said is consistent with the camp's mission of teaching respect for natural resources.
"It is an important priority for the local community and part of our agency's commitment to protecting the environment," Dale said.
State parks, he said, have been neighbors of the camp for a long time.
Hudson Highlands State Park forms a virtual horseshoe around the camp and Clarence M. Fahnestock Memorial State Park is roughly one mile away.
OSI officials said their eventual hope is that they could acquire additional property to fill in the gaps and connect the two parks.
The camp is a nonprofit agency, an independent organization of the UJA Federation. Nearly 950 campers attend two four-week sessions in the summer. Campers stay in traditional bunks. It is accredited by the American Camping Association and is considered one of the oldest Jewish sleep-away camps in the country.
"The additional money will strengthen our financial position and enable us to continue our camping tradition," Dale said, adding that nearly half the campers receive a scholarship.
Three years ago, when the camp proposed expanding its facilities by constructing year-round cabins, a handful of North Highlands residents waged fierce opposition and sued the camp and the town of Philipstown. They said the growth would have caused increased traffic and unsafe conditions on the long winding Lake Surprise Road.
The camp pulled back its original building plans and also altered camp schedules to accommodate new residents to the road.
Reach Barbara Livingston Nackman at bnackman@thejournalnews.com or 845-228-2272. Reach Barbara Livingston Nackman at bnackman@thejournalnews.com or 845-228-2272.