Nonprofit buys land to boost N.Y. state parks

[lobsterdmb]

PUBLIC LANDS: Nonprofit buys land to boost N.Y. state parks

Published: Monday, November 18, 2013

One nonprofit conservation group has spent years working to increase the size of New York state parks.

Little by little, the Open Space Institute has acquired small parcels of land abutting state parks and sold them back to New York at or below cost. The group has spearheaded endeavors for more than 25 years to conserve 40,000 acres through 77 individual deals statewide -- accounting for more than 10 percent of the state park system.

"We can move quickly and hold the lands until the state can buy them," said Erik Kulleseid, senior vice president of the institute.

Before the institute took an interest in Minnewaska State Park Preserve in Ulster County, the park spanned 10,400 acres. But now, as a result of land acquisitions, the park has more than doubled in size to 21,190 acres. And Minnewaska will receive another 1,063 acres this fall.

The group also has done work to help expand the Fahnestock, Sterling Forest and John Boyd Thacher state parks (Lisa W. Foderaro, New York Times, Nov. 15). -- WW

 

[XJLI]

That's cool. It's too bad minnawaska is ridiculously anti anything except foot traffic. It has some of the best rocks in the state. I was even hassled by people for riding my MTB in the "wrong" places.

 

[billyjp2]

That's cool. It's too bad minnawaska is ridiculously anti anything except foot traffic. It has some of the best rocks in the state. I was even hassled by people for riding my MTB in the "wrong" places.

Thats the opposite of cool for us.

 

[XJLI]

Thats the opposite of cool for us.

At least it preserves the land. There never was any wheeling in that area.