GOVERNOR ANNOUNCES PRESERVATION OF 900 ACRES IN GREENE COUNTY

Purchases Will Expand Outdoor Recreational Opportunities In Catskills Mountains

Governor George E. Pataki today announced the State will acquire six parcels of land totaling 889 acres in the Greene County towns of Durham, Windam and Halcott, expanding public access to the 326-mile Long Path Trail and Bearpen Mountain State Forest and enhancing recreational opportunities for hikers, campers, cross-country skiers and other outdoor enthusiasts.

"Providing expanded opportunities for the public to enjoy New York State's magnificent lands and forests is a critical part of our long-term environmental strategy," Governor Pataki said. "These acquisitions allow outdoor enthusiasts to explore new parts of the Catskills, gaining a deeper appreciation of our State's vast environmental treasures and a broadened understanding of the importance of conserving our natural resources." The State will purchase a 500-acre tract in the Town of Halcott for $375,000, providing permanent protection for the vast majority of Vly Mountain's summit. With an elevation of 3,529 feet, Vly Mountain was one of the last Catskill peaks above 3,500-feet in elevation remaining in private ownership. The mountain is among the highest on a long ridge, offering excellent hiking opportunities and providing breathtaking views of the Catskills in Greene, Delaware and Ulster counties. Assembly Republican Leader John J. Faso said, "Governor Pataki's commitment to Greene County will mean a greater number of people will now be able to enjoy the great natural beauty these areas contain. It's a state investment that will pay dividends for decades to come." The Vly Mountain parcel lies directly to the east of Bearpen State Forest, which includes the recently acquired summit of Bearpen Mountain. Combining the newly acquired Bearpen and Vly properties with the existing Greene-Delaware Reforestation Area, more than 2,600 acres of continuous land is now available for hiking, cross-country skiing, camping, nature observation and other public uses. Five smaller parcels totaling 400 acres will be purchased for $402,000 to help consolidate the Greene County portion of the Long Path hiking trail which runs from the George Washington Bridge near New York City to John Boyd Thatcher State Park in Albany County. The land acquired by the State will connect the Long Path with a 175-acre state-owned parcel on the southwest ridge of Ginseng Mountain in the Town of Windam. State acquisition of the properties guarantees the future of the Long Path Trail in Greene County and allows hikers to avoid using a one-mile stretch of paved roadway when traveling through the area. The goal is to extend the Long Path to the Mohawk River and Adirondacks. "Thanks to Governor Pataki, these beautiful and important properties will provide new recreational opportunities for hikers, skiers, campers, hunters, birdwatchers and other outdoor enthusiasts," State Department of Environmental Conservation Commissioner John P. Cahill said. "New Yorkers and visitors to our State can now learn more about this extraordinary part of the Catskills, expanding their love and respect for New York State's great outdoors." Neil Woodworth, counsel to the New York-New Jersey Trail Conference, New York's oldest and largest trail advocacy group, said, "We are thrilled with the purchase of Vly Mountain, a very valuable addition to State lands in the Catskills. This purchase preserves this beautiful mountain, guarantees hiking access to this popular Catskill High Peak and protects a designated Important Bird Conservation Area. The purchase of Huntersfield and Ginseng Mountains enables the Long Path to be extended north of the Catskill Forest Preserve towards the Mohawk River, providing hikers with spectacular, ridge- top views from the summits of these mountains." The acquisitions were supported by the 1996 Clean Water / Clean Air Bond Act and the State Environmental Protection Fund (EPF). Since 1995, Governor Pataki and the State Legislature have committed more than $300 million to protect more than 300,000 acres of environmentally significant open space statewide.