Governor Announces Purchase of 942 Acres in Sullivan County

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
June 25, 2004
GOVERNOR ANNOUNCES PURCHASE OF 942 ACRES IN SULLIVAN COUNTY

Acquisitions Enhance Recreation, Protect Resources along Popular Shawangunk Ridge Governor George E. Pataki today announced that the State has purchased 942 acres of land -- encompassing five separate parcels -- which will result in expanded hiking and recreational opportunities in the Catskills and protect critical natural resources along the Shawangunk Ridge and Trail in the Town of Mamakating in Sullivan County.

"New York is home to some of the most breathtaking and unique natural resources in the world, like the Catskills, and we're proud to lead the nation in preserving and protecting our natural assets for the enjoyment of future generations," Governor Pataki said. "During the last several years, we have worked extensively with local governments and land trusts to protect properties in the 'Gunks' and expand this popular trail system, which one day will connect hikers from Northwest New Jersey to the Catskill Park and link the Appalachian Trail with the Long Path.

"The Shawangunk Ridge is a unique natural and recreational asset that offers New Yorkers and all outdoor enthusiasts a chance to enjoy the scenic beauty of the Catskills," the Governor said. "The purchase of these lands builds on our historic commitment to open space preservation and marks another milestone in our ambitious goal of preserving one million acres of open space within ten years."

Since 1995, the State has protected more than 780,000 acres of open space across New York -- an amount of land roughly equal in size to the State of Rhode Island. Governor Pataki has committed to making New York a national leader in open space preservation and in his 2002 State of the State address, set the ambitious goal to protect one million acres of valuable open space within 10 years.

Today's announcement includes the acquisition of five properties: the 370-acre Konstantinoff parcel, the 182-acre Howell parcel, the 151-acre Stutzman parcel, the 162-acre Wurtsboro Steam Laundry parcel, and the 77-acre Lazar parcel. The acquisitions will help expand and enhance the Shawangunk Ridge hiking trail, providing a link from the Bashakill Wildlife Management Area to the Wurtsboro Ridge State Forest and northeast to the Shawangunk Ridge State Forest. The purchase price for the five properties is $937,700 and will be paid for through the State Environmental Protection Fund (EPF).

Senator John Bonacic said, "I have been pleased to support the funding needed to make today's land purchase possible. As our region continues to grow, it has become increasingly important to promote land acquisition efforts. Equally important, this property will stay on the tax rolls, which makes this a win for the environment and property taxpayers."

Charles Penna, Supervisor, Town of Mamakating, said, "Governor Pataki has once again shown his support in improving the local economy as well as the preservation of our natural resources. Mamakating and Sullivan County are especially delighted to boast calling home to a major segment of the Ridge and parks connection. To reassure our community we're pleased that the State will continue to pay taxes on the property and the Town will not lose any revenue. With the natural beauty and employment opportunities that await and surround us, we continue to look forward to smart growth and preservation together with others and very proud of Mamakating."

The Shawangunks hold a special place in the hearts of hikers, rock climbers and nature lovers from around the country and the world. This remarkable landscape supports an outstanding array of rare plant and animal species and provides exceptional recreational opportunities for more than 500,000 New Yorkers and visitors to the region each year. It is a highly visible natural landmark that forms the dramatic backdrop for a large portion of the Mid-Hudson Valley in Ulster, Sullivan and Orange counties.

The area encompasses a portion of the 35-mile Shawangunk Ridge Trail, a hiking trail that traverses the geologically unique Shawangunk Ridge, linking public lands from the Bashakill Wildlife Management Area to Minnewaska State Park and the Mohonk Preserve and providing several scenic viewpoints.
The Shawangunk Ridge also is a critical watershed recharge area, supplying water for the aquifers that provide drinking water for the communities along the Ridge.

"New York State possesses the finest public trail system in the country,"
State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) Commissioner Erin M.
Crotty said. "Literally thousands of miles of trials grace our public lands, from remote trails traversing the wilderness of the Adirondacks and Catskills, to waterfront promenades serving urban residents in our great cities. No Governor has done more to expand trail opportunities than Governor Pataki, who has made the protection of open space a cornerstone of his administration. We also are grateful to our many partners who have helped us extend our outdoor legacy along the Shawangunk Ridge and elsewhere throughout the State."

The State was assisted in these land purchases by the Open Space Institute (OSI), the Trust for Public Land (TPL) and the New York/New Jersey Trails Conference, three non-profit conservation organizations working closely with the State to expand open space protection efforts along the Shawangunk Ridge and elsewhere in New York State.

Open Space Institute President Joseph J. Martens said, "OSI is delighted to join with Governor Pataki to help extend New York's trail system along the Shawangunk Ridge. This is a magnificent area with exceptional environmental and recreational resources upon which OSI has worked closely with the State to preserve and protect for the public's use and enjoyment."

Philip Nicholas, Project Manager for the Trust for Public Land, said, "TPL and OSI are pleased to be working with Governor Pataki and the State to knit together the stretches of public land along the ridge into a continuous corridor. Under the leadership of the Governor, huge strides have been made to forge a continuous ridge-top greenway from Rosendale to the New Jersey state border at Port Jervis."

Ed Goodell, Executive Director of the New York-New Jersey Trail Conference, said, "The acquisition of these five critical properties is a major milestone in creating a permanently protected Shawangunk Ridge corridor between the Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area in New Jersey and the Catskills Park Preserve in New York."

The State is also working with the Shawangunk Ridge Biodiversity Partnership, composed of The Nature Conservancy, State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation (OPRHP), Palisades Interstate Park Commission (PIPC), DEC, OSI, Friends of the Shawangunks, Mohonk Preserve and the New York Natural Heritage program, to protect the elements of biological diversity and other natural and scenic resources of the Shawangunks by sharing resources and ideas.

The Bashakill Wildlife Management Area consists of approximately 2,200 acres of uplands, wetlands, and hiking trails. Facilities at the WMA include handicapped access, boat access, parking lots, viewing tower, scenic vistas of the Shawangunk Ridge and Bashakill, bird watching, cross-country skiing, snowshoeing, hunting, fishing and trapping.

The Shawangunk Ridge is listed as a priority project in the State Open Space Conservation Plan in recognition of its unique natural resources, abundant recreational opportunities and scenic significance. During the past decade, in addition to the projects announced today, the State has acquired more than 6,700 acres along the Ridge and connecting linkages to the Catskill Park, investing more than $6 million in EPF resources to conserve this important natural asset.
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