Late last year we informed you when the Adirondack Park gained 69,000 acres, and we’re now updating you with the news that the state has closed on a second piece of property to increase the park’s land in a second phase of that deal.

The complete 69,000 acre tract purchased by New York State was previously owned by Finch, Pruyn & Co., a timber and paper company that predates the Adirondack Park’s creation 120 years ago. The Nature Conservancy obtained these lands and New York State has purchased them from that organization. The purchase will take place over five years.

The Adirondack Park Agency [is] preparing for the first of what’s expected to be several years of work to classify [the] 69,000 acres of the former Finch lands. The state made that $50-million landmark deal with The Nature Conservancy last year. Some of those lands are set to be opened up for public recreation later this year. (NCPR)

About the New Addition to Adirondack Park

At a cost of $6.3 million, the state purchased the 9,300 or so acres from the Nature Conservancy and will pay full property taxes on the land, according to a press release. (Press Republican)

Gov. Andrew Cuomo remarked that, “With these newest acquisitions, we are building upon past state investments in the Adirondacks as we enhance a world-class Park that contains a wealth of private and public lands in one of the most beautiful settings on earth”  (Denpubs).

To help with the effort of preservation and promoting recreation in these lands the Nature Conservancy also granted $500,000 to the state to support community connections and economic development linked to these new park additions (Denpubs).

Where is the Adirondack Park gaining more land? The newly purchased properties include: “the OK Slip Falls tract in Hamilton County; the Casey Brook tract in Essex County; the Spruce Point tract in Washington County; the Saddles tract in Washington County; the Hudson Riverside/Ice Meadow Tract in Warren County; and the Indian River tract in Essex and Hamilton counties” (Denpubs)

Find more details about each tract of land here.

Protecting the tracts not only benefits tourism, recreation and wildlife, said Bill Ulfelder, executive director of the Nature Conservancy in New York, and “helps keep New York’s water clean and reduces the risk of floods during extreme weather events like hurricanes Irene and Sandy.” (Press Republican)

For more information about the Finch lands project, including video links, press releases and news clips, visit www.nature.org/comingsoonadirondacks.

Related articles

• Town of Essex Wins Excellence in Design Award (www.essexonlakechamplain.com)
• Adirondack Museum (www.essexonlakechamplain.com)
• State buys 9,300 acres in Adirondack Park (pressrepublican.com)
• What will NYS do with Finch, Pruyn Adirondack lands? (northcountrypublicradio.org)
• Park Agency sets hearings on Finch lands uses (northcountrypublicradio.org)