History, Natural History & the Arts
Private developers are planning for the clean-up and reuse of the historic Victory Mills complex located on Fish Creek in the Village of Victory, Saratoga County.
Developers are working to turn the 1918 cotton mill into 186 apartments and a brewpub at a cost of about $60 million. [Read more…] about Plans Afoot For Historic Victory Mills Near Saratoga Battlefield
In June, the 10th Mountain Division of the U.S. Army, based at Fort Drum in Jefferson County, released a draft Programmatic Environmental Assessment (PEA) that outlined ambitious “air and land-based training activities” to possibly take place across nine counties in Upstate New York, including four (St. Lawrence, Lewis, Oneida, Herkimer) that are partially within the Adirondack Park, and two (Hamilton, Essex) that are entirely within the Adirondack Park Blue Line. [Read more…] about Army Proposal For Air, Ground Training On Forest Preserve Problematic
The New York State Department of Transportation (DOT) has begun tearing up the former NY Central Adirondack Division tracks connecting Lake Placid, Saranac Lake and Tupper Lake, part of a $1.9 million State project to build a rail trial suitable for use by bicyclists and snowmobilers.
The 34-mile rail corridor being removed was key to a once-thriving 119-mile railroad which operated almost continuously from 1892 until 1972, first as the Mohawk & Malone, and then by the New York Central starting in 1913. [Read more…] about Former NY Central Adirondack Division Rails Being Removed
The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) has released for public review and comment revised draft amendments to the Kildare Recreation Management Plan and the Five Mile Interim Recreation Management Plan (RMP).
The revised draft amendments to the Kildare Tract Conservation Easement and the Five Mile Tract Conservation Easement RMPs will provide for public motor vehicle/overland access to the Kildare tract for the first time since it was acquired in 1989. The Tract is located in Hopkinton, St. Lawrence County. [Read more…] about Plans for Kildare, Five Mile Tracts Include Roads
New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) has created a new strategic planning initiative to promote the sustainable management of public use in the Catskill Park, in line with statements made by Governor Andrew M. Cuomo in his State of the State earlier this year.
The Adirondack and Catskill Parks, which are composed of a combination of New York State Forest Preserve lands and private property, have witnessed a dramatic increase over the last 20 years of visitors which has strained facilities and management of the Parks. The COVID-19 Pandemic has exacerbated the problem leading to another boost in visitors to even higher record levels. Overall, tourism in the Adirondack and Catskill Parks are up 22 percent since 2011 according to the Governor’s office. [Read more…] about Catskill Park Sustainability Planning Process Launched
The Open Space Institute (OSI) has announced that a series of projects aimed at improving public access at its historic, 212-acre Adirondac Upper Works property in Newcomb in the Adirondacks, are near completion. The property serves as a southern entrance to many popular High Peaks Wilderness Area trails. *
OSI acquired the 10,000-acre Tahawus tract in 2003. OSI then transferred most of the property to DEC, but retained 212 acres for educational, historic, and recreational purposes. Since then, OSI and partners have invested nearly $900,000 in improvements at Adirondac Upper Works, including site planning; the initial stabilization of the blast furnace; the creation of an interpretative trail with educational panels that guides visitors from the northern parking area, through the former Village of Adirondac, to the historic 1854 Blast Furnace; and the structural preservation of MacNaughton Cottage. Built in 1845, MacNaughton Cottage is the site from which then Vice President Theodore Roosevelt began his midnight ride to the presidency in 1901. [Read more…] about Historic High Peaks Trailhead Area Getting Makeover
The Adirondack Park Agency will hold its monthly meeting at its headquarters in Ray Brook on Thursday, September 10th and Friday, September 11th, 2020. Thursday’s meeting will begin at 1 pm and Friday’s session will commence at 9:30 am.
In accordance with New York State’s ongoing efforts to mitigate the Coronavirus, the public should use the live Webcast event to watch the meeting. To watch the meeting, visit the APA website and click the September meeting agenda found under News and Activities. [Read more…] about Hinckley Reservoir, Fish Creek Campground on APA Agenda
The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) has announced that the Westport Boat Launch on Lake Champlain will be temporarily closed to remove sediments accumulated in front of the ramp. [Read more…] about Westport Boat Launch Being Closed For Sediment Removal
The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) has announced that a Draft Unit Management Plan (UMP) for Fish Creek Pond Campground and Day Use Area located in Franklin County is now available for public review.
DEC encourages the public to provide input on the draft plan, which will guide future management of the facility over the next five years. [Read more…] about Fish Creek Pond Campground Management Comments Sought
Improvements to the Kenneth L. Wilson Campground and Day Use Area in Ulster County have been completed.
Updates to the campground’s shower house and three comfort stations include several accessible features to make camping fun for people of all abilities, will help connect more New Yorkers to the outdoors and reduce the facility’s environmental footprint. [Read more…] about Accessibility Improvements Made At Wilson Campground