FOR RELEASE:
IMMEDIATE, Wednesday
February 11, 1998

GOVERNORS PATAKI, WHITMAN: STERLING FOREST PURCHASE COMPLETE

Largest Addition to NY Parks in 50 Years Protects Drinking WATER for millions in NJ

New York Governor George E. Pataki and New Jersey Governor Christie Whitman joined representatives of leading environmental and open space groups to announce the completion of the acquisition of the 15,800-acre Sterling Forest, which will now become one of the largest state parks in New York State.

The property, located in Orange County, is the last large privately-held open space in the New York City metropolitan region and protects a major source of drinking water for New Jersey. Both states, the federal government and private interests worked together to raise $55 million to purchase Sterling Forest to preserve it as open space.

"This purchase and acquisition represents one of the most significant conservation achievements in New York State of this decade," Governor Pataki said.

"Today's historic announcement will forever preserve Sterling Forest. as we create a new state park and protect water quality for both New York and New Jersey residents," the Governor said. "It's a majestic, nearly pristine natural refuge in the midst of one of the nation's most densely populated areas, a remarkable piece of woodland, a watershed for millions, and an outdoor recreational area that now becomes accessible to 26 million people."

Governor Whitman noted that Sterling Forest contributes to the drinking water supply of 86 New Jersey cities and towns that are home to more than 2 million people.

"The State of New Jersey was proud to contribute $10 million toward this purchase," Governor Whitman said. "That's about five dollars for every New Jersey resident who right now relies on the water supply that Sterling Forest naturally cleanses. And, of course, it will continue to clean that water for generations to come.

"Saving open space is the right environmental choice, the smart economic policy and one of the best things we can do for families," Governor Whitman said. "That is why I have proposed that New Jersey dedicate $50 million as a down-payment toward my goal of preserving 300,000 acres of open space and farm land over the next four years."

The Open Space Institute (OSI) and the Trust for Public Land (TPL) signed a contract with Sterling Forest Corporation in February 1997, giving OSI and TPL one year to purchase the 15,800 acres, or roughly 90 percent of the forest. The formal closing was completed February 5.

The property will be managed by the Palisades Interstate Park Commission, a bi-state agency administered in New York by the State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation. The new park will be used for passive recreation, including hiking, fishing and hunting in approved areas.

"As New York State's historic preservation officer, this is an historic day," said Parks Commissioner Bernadette Castro. "For 10 years the acquisition of this precious natural resource was just a dream. But thanks to Governors Pataki and Whitman, this dream has become a reality."

Governor Pataki noted Congress" approved $17.5 million for the purchase, while New York contributed $16 million and New Jersey $10 million. Both the Lila Acheson and DeWitt Wallace Fund for the Hudson Highlands and the Doris Duke Charitable Foundation contributed $5 million, while the Victoria Foundation contributed $1 million. More than 400 individuals also donated money toward the purchase.

While the purchase protects New Jersey's drinking water and creates an extraordinary recreational greenbelt, it also will preserve resident habitat and migratory species.

"Sterling Forest contains the single largest block of intact forest in the entire Hudson Highlands area," said Governor Pataki. "This unbroken deep-forest habitat is crucial for the survival of many resident and migratory species, including black bear, a variety of hawks and songbirds and many rare invertebrates and plants."

The acquisition will also preserve Sterling Forest's links to Abram S. Hewitt State Park in New Jersey with Harriman State Park in New York, and protects the corridor around the Appalachian Trail, which traverses the northern portion of Sterling Forest, and the full length of the Sterling Ridge Trail.

Christopher S. Elliman, president of the Open Space Institute said the Sterling Forest acquisition will go down as one of the most important in the environmental history of New York.

"This is a monumental environmental victory, not only for OSI and TPL, but for literally hundreds of people who have played a role in protecting this beautiful terrain," he said. "We won't rest in our fight to protect the region's natural landscapes, but we can breathe a bit easier now, knowing that we have saved over 15,000 acres in our own backyard. Sterling Forest is a giant step in a long march toward our environmental health for the 21st century."

Rose H. Harvey, senior vice president of the Trust for Public Land said, "Protection of Sterling Forest is much more than just a happy ending in a long struggle. It's a beginning. It's a model of land protection efforts we can and must replicate in the future. We see Sterling Forest as the keystone of a future New York-New Jersey greenbelt that will cross municipal, regional and state boundaries, and create a wild preserve at the edge of the nation's largest metropolis. This greenbelt may take 20 more years, but Sterling Forest has launched a great initiative."