George Pataki

State Parks History In the New Millennium

March 17, 2025 by Guest Contributor Leave a Comment

Over the past 25 years New York State Parks saw great diversity in its leadership. Following the resignation of Orin Lehman in 1993, the agency spent 26 years with women leading the charge in preserving New York’s public lands.

At the start of this era, Commissioner Bernadette Castro was well into her tenure as the head of the agency, working to expand the park system’s footprint. In the mid-2000s, leadership would change several times with Commissioner Carol Ash assuming the role in 2006 and Commissioner Rose Harvey rising to the role just four years later. [Read more…] about State Parks History In the New Millennium

State Parks History: From Nelson Rockefeller to George Pataki

January 24, 2025 by Guest Contributor Leave a Comment

One of the most influential families in New York and American history, the Rockefellers had a deep interest in conservation. In 1959, Nelson Rockefeller, son of John Rockefeller Jr., was elected as New York’s governor, introducing an era which would come to be known as the Rockefeller Period.

During this period, New York State Parks would undergo significant changes and one of its most rapid periods of expansion since its inception. [Read more…] about State Parks History: From Nelson Rockefeller to George Pataki

Calls for Governor Hochul to Protect Whitney Estate: A Historical Perspective

November 14, 2024 by Editorial Staff 1 Comment

Eight conservation organizations called on Governor Kathy Hochul this week to act swiftly to protect 36,000 acres of forests, lakes and rivers in the Central Adirondacks owned by heirs to the vast Whitney and Vanderbilt family fortunes.

The Whitney estate, a vast tract of some of the most ecologically sensitive lands in the Adirondack Park known as Whitney Park, contains 22 lakes and ponds with more than 100 miles of undeveloped shorelines, connected by navigable rivers and streams in the Town of Long Lake, Hamilton County. [Read more…] about Calls for Governor Hochul to Protect Whitney Estate: A Historical Perspective

DEC Should Conduct A Nationwide Search For A New State Forester

March 24, 2022 by Peter Bauer 2 Comments

The current New York State Forester at the NYS Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) announced that he is retiring in April.

This position doubles as the Director of the Division of Lands and Forests, and as such is the top public lands manager in the state, supervising the management of the 3-million-acre Forest Preserve, more than 750,000 acres of conservation easements, over 700,000 acre of State Forests, and thousands of acres of Wildlife Refuges and various other properties. [Read more…] about DEC Should Conduct A Nationwide Search For A New State Forester

Replica Half Moon May Move To The Netherlands

October 9, 2014 by John Warren 12 Comments

The historic ship Half Moon, a replica of the ship Henry Hudson sailed in 1609 to the river which now bears his name, has announced intentions to move to Hoorn in The Netherlands.

The announcement came late Thursday in an e-mail message to supporters from Chip Reynolds, Director of the New Netherland Museum and Captain of the Replica Ship Half Moon. Reynolds cited ongoing financial hardships exacerbated by annual budget shortfalls, and an inability to find a permanent berth and site for programming. “Continued operation of the Half Moon in our current capacity is financially unsustainable,” Reynolds said. [Read more…] about Replica Half Moon May Move To The Netherlands

George Pataki

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