Above: Looking Glass Pond in Fulton, where two of a statewide list of 50 proposed projects to increase access to outdoor recreation are located. Photo by Flickr user Doug Kerr; published under Creative Commons license.
Gov. Andrew Cuomo recently proposed 50 new outdoor recreation projects around New York State, which if adopted would add up to a roughly $6 million investment in new trails, access points and other projects aimed at outdoor tourism. The projects would open up 380,000 acres of state land to new access for hikers, hunters, anglers and boaters.
More access to outdoor recreation would be a boon to both New Yorkers and tourists alike, Cuomo said in a press release about the projects:
"Expanding access to more of the beautiful lands that New York has to offer will open recreational opportunities that for too long have not been available to our residents and tourists," Governor Cuomo said. "These projects will enrich the outdoor activity offerings, improve the quality of life in our communities, and position New York State as a recreation destination."
The local Catskills area spans five of those projects, two in Schoharie County and three in Ulster County. The local projects include:
- A new fishing access site on the Lower Esopus River in the town of Ulster, with a fishing platform, parking area, floating dock and informational kiosk (projected cost: $300,000)
- 35 miles of new hiking, mountain biking, and multi-use trail in the Sundown Wild Forest and Vernooy Kill State Forest, in Wawarsing and Rochester, with a new parking area and informational kiosk (projected cost: $155,000)
- Two miles of new trail at the site of the future Catskill Visitor Interpretive Center in Mount Tremper, and a new bridge to connect the Center to the state forest preserve on Mt. Tobias (projected cost: $85,000)
- Two projects at the Looking Glass Pond Schoharie Reforestation Area in the town of Fulton: A new accessible trail around the pond with two parking areas (projected cost: $200,000) and the construction of new amenities for anglers at the site, including new access points, a boat slide and a composting toilet (projected cost: $130,000)
A detailed list of all the projects statewide can be seen at this link.
