Hearings to be Held Across NY State on 12/9 or 12/10 (see below)
On Dec 9th and 10th, NY State will hold an extremely important series of public hearings to find out what WE, the public, think should be NY State's future land buying priorities. This is your chance to be heard and it is critical that hikers show up in force.
Some of our priorities: LI Pine Barrens, Sterling Forest, Schunemunk, the Shawangunk Ridge (connecting Minnewaska State Park to High Point NJ), Fahnestock extensions, Catskills (Vly, Bear Pen & Round Top Mountains and inholdings/buffers to Black Dome, Kaaterskill, Mink Hollow, Platte Cove and Windham) and the Long Path in Greene, Schoharie and Albany Counties. In the Adirondacks, we endorse efforts to protect Whitney Park, the Tahawus area of the High Peaks and Champion International's northern river flow corridors.
The public hearings are from 2:30 to 4pm & from 7 to 9pm (attend either session). A workshop to explain the plan is offered from 1 to 2:30pm. Please identify yourself as a member of the NY-NJ Trail Conference.
Hearings in our area:
12/10 Bethpage State Park Clubhouse, Farmingdale, LI
12/9 NYS DOT, 47-40 21st Street (Room 820), Hunter's Point Plaza, Queens
12/9 Cliff House, Bear Mountain State Park (Lower Hudson Valley)
12/9 Guilderland Public Library, 2228 Western Avenue/Route 20 (Albany Area)
12/10 Port Crane Fire Dept., Route 369 (exit off Route 88) (Binghamton Area)
You may also send written comments by 12/24 to
Open Space Plan
NYS DEC
50 Wolf Road #410-C
Albany 12233-4250
Copes of the 360-page plan are available for inspection at all regional offices of the NYS Dept. of Environmental Conservation and NYS Office of Parks. You may also examine a copy at the NYNJTC Office (please call Judith to make an appointment; 212/685-9699).
Conservation Committee, NY-NJ Trail Conference