Outdoor Recreation on Catskill Lands Brings 2.5 Million People, Thousands of Jobs, and $115 million, Study Shows

What are the open spaces of the Catskills worth to the local economy?  Plenty, according to a new study, which finds that recreational opportunities on the Catskills’ publicly owned state and New York City lands plus private lands open to the public, draw over 1.7 million visitors annually. They create an economic impact of $46,207,000 and support 980 jobs. Add those who come to enjoy other privately held lands, and the total number of people choosing the Catskills for recreation each year is almost 2.5 million, creating an economic impact of $114,768,000 and supporting 2,413 jobs.

So states a new report, “Economic Valuation Study for Public Lands in the Central Catskills” prepared by Brian Zweig of Business Opportunities Management Consulting. . .

An executive summary of the economic impact study is posted online at http://www.catskillheritage.org. The report will be released in full on January 31, 2013, at a public forum entitled "What are the Catskills Worth? The Economic Value of Catskill Park and NYC Watershed Lands" hosted by the Catskill Center, Catskill Mountainkeeper and the Catskill Heritage Alliance and held at the Olive Town Meeting House (50 Bostock Rd, off Route 28 in Shokan, NY) from 4:30pm - 6pm. The event is free and open to the public and light refreshments will be served.

At the forum, Mr. Zweig will present the study’s findings, answer questions and participate in a panel discussion with development experts on implications for future development priorities.  Panelists include Peg Ellsworth, executive director of the MARK Project in Arkville, New York, and Ed Goodell, executive director of the New York/New Jersey Trail Conference.. .