Celebrate Expansion of Sterling Forest State Park in Monroe, NY Friday, September 30

Location: Arrow Park, 1061 Orange Turnpike, Monroe NY 10949 (scroll down for directions).  

Time: 11am for guided hikes; 2pm for dedication

Trail and open space lovers are invited to join us at Arrow Park, Friday, September 30 at 11:00 a.m. for a hike, dedication, and celebration of 462 acres of new state parkland in Monroe, NY, along the Appalachian Trail in Sterling Forest State Park.  This strategic preservation is exciting for two reasons:

1. It will significantly enhance the Appalachian Trail corridor and view shed, by creating a protected land buffer along the northern edge of Sterling Forest.

2.  It expands outdoor recreational opportunities for residents of the New York metropolitan area, especially those living in Orange County and nearby Rockland, Bergen and Passaic Counties (the last two in New Jersey).

Anyone interested in exploring the property is invited to join us at 11:00 a.m. for short guided hikes. The land comprises two parcels: a portion of Arrow Park, a private non-commercial retreat since 1948 that has been used extensively by families of the New York Fire Department since 9-11; and 61  additional adjacent acres known as the Shirazi property, which features a 1,000-foot high ridgeline, extensive wetlands, a stream that feeds Arrow Lake, woods, and rock outcrops. The New York-New Jersey Trail Conference contributed to the protection of both parcels, taking the lead on protecting the Shirazi parcel, with support provided by a $5,000 grant from the New York-North Jersey Chapter of the Appalachian Mountain Club.

“The Shirazi preservation project represents a great accomplishment and an outstanding partnership. We applaud the New York-New Jersey Trail Conference for expanding recreational opportunities for New Yorkers while adding to the preservation of Sterling Forest, a cherished landscape and State Park that is an important part of the Hudson Valley’s $4.7 billion tourism industry,” said Ethan Winter, New York Conservation Manager for the Land Trust Alliance. “This project demonstrates how New York’s Environmental Protection Fund can enable local communities, New York State, and partners like the New York-New Jersey Trail Conference to strengthen and invest in the region’s natural assets.”

In addition to short hikes, there will be live music, Native American drumming, boat rides on Arrow Lake, and a presentation of historical films and photographs related to the property and the 4,000-mile journey of the Healing Totem Pole from Seattle, WA, that was dedicated on the site in 2002 in memory of those who died on 9-11.

At 2:00 p.m., there will be ceremonies and dedications at the Healing Totem by the New York-New Jersey Trail Conference and landowner Mehran Shirazi, and the New York Fire Department.

Admission is free; participants should bring their own lunch.

We hope you will meet us at the park to celebrate this historic land protection success and learn more about the benefits it and recreational trails bring to our communities. For more information or to confirm your attendance, please contact Joanne Reinhardt at 201.512.9348, ext. 26.

The New York-New Jersey Trail Conference partners with parks to create, protect, and promote a network of over 1,700 miles of public trails. We offer volunteer opportunities for people who love the outdoors.

Financial support for Trail Conference work on this project came from the Environmental Protection Fund and the New York State Conservation Partnership Program in Collaboration with the Land Trust Alliance and the state Department of Environmental Conservation.

(For a higher-resolution map image, click here)

Directions to Arrow Park:

Directions from Route 17 North
Rt. 17 N. pass Red Apple Rest Left onto Orange Turnpike (Rt. 19) approximately 3 miles, Arrow Park entrance on the left.

Directions from New York State
New York State Thruway 87 S. Exit 16 right onto Woodbury Commons Drive, left onto Rt. 17S. pass three lights, after railroad trestle, right onto Grove St., left onto Church St.,Church St. becomes Harriman Heights Rd. follow to end, left onto Orange Turnpike. Park is on the right.

Directions from New York City
George Washington Bridge follow signs for Garden State Parkway North. Parkway becomes New York State Thruway 87, Exit 15A Sloatsburg, left onto Rt. 17 N. Follow directions above.

Directions from Westchester
Tappan Zee Bridge Rt. 287 W. onto New York State Thruway 87 N., Exit 15A left onto Rt. 17 N. (or exit 16). Follow directions above.

Directions from NJ and Southern NY
Garden State Parkway North. Parkway becomes New York State Thruway 87 N., Exit 15A, left onto Rt. 17 N. Follow direction above.

Directions from Western New Jersey
Rt. 287 East onto New York State Thruway
87 North, Exit 15A, left onto Rt. 17 N. Follow directions above.

Bus Transportation from New York City
From Port Authority take Short Line Bus
(212-736-4700) to Monroe, Mill Pond Parkway stop. Monroe taxi (845-782-8141) to Arrow Park, Orange Turnpike.

Train Transportation from NY & NJ
From 34th St. take Path train to Hoboken, NJ stop. Change for New Jersey Transit train (1-800-772-2222) to Harriman stop. Monroe taxi (845-782-8141) to Arrow Park.